Shoescapes!

     The "Shoescape" artworks are ones that I always do with fourth grade, and I am continually so very impressed! The creative and wonderful responses the kids have to the challenge of placing their own shoes (drawn as a still life) into a readable and unique environment is such a treat to see.  We use scale in the environments to make the space seem real, even if it is an impossible scenario.  Through the course of this project, we talked a lot about what viewers would understand from their works.  The students wrote a few sentences to go with their artworks to help explain their thoughts.  They worked so hard on these artworks, and I really think their efforts show! 

     We used actual watercolor paper for these paintings and the students enjoyed being "real" watercolor painters.  Each student was challenged to use a watercolor wash, layering, and mixing techniques in their paintings.

Kindergarten "Plein Air" and Ceramic Flowers

     We just finished these wonderful flowers in kindergarten.  We are SO happy to see flowers and enjoy warmer weather here in Northeast Ohio!  To get ready to sculpt these 3-dimensional flowers, each class created some "plein air" (creating artwork outside) tulip drawings in our front yard here at school.

     After drawing outside, we came back in and finished the drawings with watercolors.

                                                                                   

 

   

     For the sculptures, we used small pencils and paper clips as tools.  The students were also able to use alphabet pasta to include their names on their flowers if they wanted.  We painted the flowers with tempera paint after they were bisque fired, and then I gave them a coat each of Mod Podge for some shine!



1st Grade Suns with Personality

     First grade artists enjoyed learning that different cultures sometimes have different kinds of folk tales.  We talked a little bit about fairy tales we know, and then we talked about the Aztec folk tale where there are multiple suns with personalities.  The kids were very excited about this idea and just looooove making suns with faces already!  The artists each created a sun with a face showing some kind of personality.  They mixed warm and cool colored paints in these vibrant artworks and completed them with simple construction paper patterns along the borders.

 



Ceramic Birds

     The 3rd graders just completed these great bird sculptures.  To prepare for them, they practiced by drawing birds from photographs 2-dimensionally.  At our next class, each student got a fist-sized ball of clay and answered the prompt to "sculpt a bird and anything that bird might need".  The students also tried to include the textures of the birds' wings and feathers.  We glazed them after they were bisque-fired in the kiln.

      

5th Grade Graffiti Murals

Save Wild Life; Aaron J., Olivia S., John W., Kailey J.

     Before finishing her time with us, student teacher Miss Marin Ryan had the idea for these artworks that ended up being so successful!  The mural concept also worked well as a way for me to utilize collaborative learning groups (one of Marzano's teaching strategies that we've been encouraged to use this year) in my classroom.  I have never had students create artworks in groups before, but would do it again because it was such an exciting experience and the kids made such cool work.

     To start, we looked at lots of graffiti by Banksy, and also looked at lots of photos of graffiti around the Akron area.  The students really seemed to enjoy discussing whether or not the graffiti could be considered art and whether the people who create graffiti are artists or not.  I then assigned students to groups of 3 or 4 and assigned them specific jobs within their groups.  The jobs were: Note Keeper, Supplies Manager, Reporter, and Encourager.

Once settled into their groups and roles, each group came up with an agreed upon topic or issue to work with.  Then they designed and created at least two stencils to use on their murals (4'6" x 2'6" kraft paper).  After all the planning was complete, groups used watered down tempera paint in spray bottles, regular tempera, sponges, brushes, and Slick Stix to share their messages.

Peace; Brendan R., Kate S., Laura H., Brooke B.

Love, Peace, Smiles; Alyssa A., Burliee F., Mackenzi

Heal the World; Gabby L., Matt S., Brenna M.

World Peace; Emily P., Dante H., Kayla M., David S.

Stop Animal Cruelty; Catherine G., Cheyenne B., Nadeen M.

Peace; Anthony R., Sylvester S., Alex R.

Bullying; Blake F., Skylar M., Timmy P.