Talking about Form with Kinders

Talking about Form with the younger classes is always a challenge because I requires some vocab that they usually aren't familiar with yet. It's a tough concept to wrap your mind around. In kindergarten last week we look at a reproduction of the Mona Lisa and a clay vase. First we established that they were both pieces of art. Then we searched together for the differences between the two pieces. Let me tell you, those super observant kinders found lots of differences!

 

 

After we talked about the differences, I suggested that there was one HUGE difference that we had not talked about yet. I turned the Mona Lisa over and asked them if there was any art work on the back on the paper. Since it was blank white, they said no of course. We talked about how if it was hanging up and you walked around it, there would only be art to look at in the front, none in the back. Then we talked about the vase. We discussed how if you walked around it, or even looked inside of it (!) that you could still see art. 
I asked the students what type of art they usually made in art class. And of course the answer was flat, one-sided artwork. Then I shared with them that art that you can walk around and has art on all sides is called 3-D Form and that they were going to make a project with Form today!
Now I'm sure you've all seen a variation of this project somewhere on the internet. I originally found it on Pinterest, but I've seen it on other blogs. We created paper sculptures. The kids were given a white piece of tag board and five strips of colored paper (which they chose) and each table had a tape dispenser. I showed them a couple basic folding techniques and how to use the tape dispensers correctly and then basically let them go to town. They had a glorious time and really got creative with their sculptures. What's more important is I'm pretty sure most of them understood the difference between flat artwork and artwork with Form. This was a one day project and I let them take their pieces home that day. I'm sure the classroom teachers appreciated the presence of artwork that couldn't be smushed when it was packing up time!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A quick update

The ceramic pieces are coming out of the kilns and they look great! I just wanted to show some of our finished pieces, since we've been working on these forever! Take a look!

 

 

 

 

Two for One: Printmaking and Symmetry!

There is hope that this week will be a full week! Although I heard we're supposed to get lots of snow tomorrow... we shall see. At least it's not as bitter cold as it has been.

For this post, I wanted to share two concepts that are being learned in art class. The first graders are learning about symmetry and the second graders have learned all about printmaking.
We talked a lot about symmetry in first grade, they did several small projects leading up to our final symmetry project which dealt with insects. I can tell you right now, there were mixed reactions to doing a drawing of an insect but in the end, everyone was into it. We talked about insects and the different parts of it. We looked a diagram similar to this one.

Then we talked about how an insect has symmetry. We folded a large paper in half and drew our own insects. Students were told to draw large and fill the page. They were also told that whatever they drew on one side of the paper had to be drawn on the other side of the paper so that the insect would be symmetrical. Then we painted them using tempera cakes, which I have to say are not my favorite.

 

 

Then the second graders learned about printmaking. We spent a whole class talking about what we thought printmaking was and then we watched a video to support our thoughts.(Printmaking Video)

I also did a demo of how to ink a plexi-glass plate and lay down scraps of soft fabric and such to make the print. Technically these were Monoprints, but we did end up pulling two images; a negative and a positive.

The next class we set up stations at tables. Those who were waiting for their turn helped by putting names on prints and running them to the drying rack. I'm gonna warn you right now, the ink dries fast and we definitely had some issues with that. Some of the prints turned out great and some not so much, but the experience was fun for all involved!

 

 

 

 

 

A Color for Every Hour of the Day

First of all, I hope everyone is staying warm! We don't have school again tomorrow because of how cold it is. I don't know if I mentioned it, but we haven't had a full week since before Christmas break. Either because of snow, ice, cold, or other holidays. At this point I can say that I'm ready to be in the class room for a full week. Snow days are nice once in awhile as a surprise to lighten your week. However, I am all caught up on extra work and ready to be teaching those kiddos some art! We did have school today so let me catch you up.

Here's an update on the clay bowls and spoons that the fourth graders are working away at industriously. They are glazing and doing an excellent job, with only a few students forgetting and painting the bottoms of their bowls :) Here are some images of them glazing up a storm.

But what I want to focus on in this post are the wonderful Color Wheel Clocks that our third graders have finished. It was quiet the process. We reviewed color theory and learned some new things about Intermediate Colors as well. We spent a whole class period reviewing how to use a ruler and learning how to use a protractor, (look Geometry in 3rd grade! Math and Art!) in order to divide our circles up evenly. Then using only yellow, blue, and red, students mixed and painted a twelve section color wheel! They were fabulous!

That finished, they outlined and numbered the twelve sections to resemble a clock. This part was a little tricky considering that the numbers some times turned out upside down. Everyone had to be sure to keep the color wheel still and not rotate it while writing the numbers. The 12 always had to be right side up!

I spent some time laminating and all that was left was to put on the clock mechanism.

Each mechanism came with the parts that were needed. They were left over from the pervious art teacher so I'm not sure where they came from, but they were easy to figure out. Students were given a cardboard circle to go behind the clock for extra support. Each clock had a hour, minute, and second hand, all battery operated with on AA battery. So far we've gotten great reports from students that they are hanging on their walls and ticking away!

 

Back after forever! Talking about pattern!

So hello to all. I know here the holiday break was much longer than we expected. We had several days off because of snow and temperatures. I haven't had a full week since then because of various other commitments, I think next week will be my first full week since before Christmas! Craziness.

We came back in full swing in the art room. The 4th graders are right in the middle of clay. We will be glazing today and next week so as soon as those start coming out of the kiln I will be posting pictures.

I wanted to highlight a kindergarten project this week. The students are learning about pattern. I've found that anytime I can give them non-traditional objects to help illustrate the new concept, they really experience success. So we talked about pattern and some students caught on right away and gave examples from their imagination, the room, their clothes etc...


Then we busted out marshmallows and tooth picks! The children were told to work together at their tables and come up with several different patterns. Of course they were instructed not to eat the marshmallows because so many little hands were touching them! Germs!
 Let me tell you, this kept them entertained for a good long while. Longer than I was expecting. I hope the chance to construct and manipulate the patterns they were creating will help cement their learning for the projects that we will be doing in the next couple of weeks involving patterns.

Writing computer code in the art room?

Last week, I had two of my first grade classes participate in The Hour Of Code (http://csedweek.org/). I have to admit I only did it because they were offering free storage space on Drop Box which can totally come in handy.
But as the kids were working, I saw some other benefits. They were really problem solving. The conversations were great. I had them partner up and work at laptops and those kids were discussing different ways they could program the bird to get the pig. they were really great thinking conversations.

 

Art is all about thinking and solving problems and so I thought, what a great connection! So after they were done, we had a little conversation about how being an artist doesn't mean you have to paint or draw. Being an artist means being creative. We talked about how they were creative when they were trying to come up with unique ways to solve their programming problems.
We came to the conclusion in the end that no matter what you end up doing when you grow up, if you are thinking creatively then you are using your artistic skills.

So even though I did Hour of Code for selfish reasons, it ended up being a great lesson for my kids!

Clay!

I missed a week of posting! Last week was crazy! I was out for a couple of days because I am participating in a professional learning cohort on 21st Century Learners and Education. Hopefully as that research develops I will be posting more about it. But for now, suffice it to say that it kept me busy last week and I wasn't able to post.

Maybe it's insane of me but the 4th grade classes are doing pinch pot bowls and spoons out of clay before Christmas break! We are attempting to have them all done by then so that they can dry out and I can fire them before the students get back in January. Then students can take their time glazing their pieces. I wanted to do these classes early to also have time to do clay with other grades depending on the supplies we have left.

 

So last week we had a day where we talked about the basic terms involved in making things with clay. Firing, Leather Hard, Bone Dry, Coil, Pinch, Slab etc... click here for an awesome worksheet to hand out to students. We learned about the tools of a ceramicist: loop tool, clay knife, wire tool, rib etc... and also we looked at some non-traditional tools that could be used such as a comb or a fork or material. We also took a mini tour of the kiln so that everyone knew what it looks like and what it does. Then students spent the second half of class simply experiencing the medium. The excitement in the room was inspiring! I don't have to work very hard to get everyone pumped up about making things out of clay.

This week students are going to be making the spoons. And then next week they will make bowls. Their only guidelines are it has to be in a pinch pot style and they must use texture of some kind and the bowl and the spoon have to obviously belong together. They can make that connection however they want; similar style, texture or coloring.

On a side note, I was asked to hang some of our fabulous student artwork up in the administration building. It looks great! Here some of the photos: