Projects This Rotation: K-4

In some previous posts I titled it Projects This Week/Lessons This Week, but that wasn't exactly right.  Our special area schedule is on a 4 day rotation. There are only 4 related arts teachers utilized in our schedule (library & guidance is not in our rotation). So 4 of our 5 grade levels are split 1 1/4 classes.  So every 4 days I have to have new lessons.  Anyways...if anyone is a regular reader, I didn't want you to be confused by my posts. 

Working on "I CAN USE SHAPES TO MAKE ALL KINDS OF THINGS"!!  We read another Pout Pout fish book to get us started (the kids love them!!), and then I showed them how to draw a variety of sea creatures using basic shapes. They are allowed to create their underwater world however they want.  After giving them drawing time...I showed them proper marker use!  

Last rotation we went over LANDSCAPES, and talked about foreground, middle ground, and background.  This rotation we're looking at cityscapes, and creating some colorful pictures using marker.  They could make a futuristic city, old crumbling city, or however they wanted as long as they had a foreground, middle ground, and background. I reviewed proper marker use with this group as well.  

We are continuing on with our collage landscapes.  Last rotation we focused on full covered of the sky & ground.  This week we are adding in our details. They could add animals, make it a farm scene, add a cabin, have people camping....however they wanted.  We also talked about how size & overlapping help show depth in a landscape.  

Last rotation we worked on basic watercolor techniques & vocabulary.  This week we looked at variety of fish, watched a video of fish swimming (I wanted them to know how a fish works, because though you might think you know...it never hurts to see them doing their thing, & students created our own (or imaginary fish if they wanted to go in a unique direction.  The students worked on layering color, wet on wet, and wet on dry.  We are going to spend another class time on them to finish them up!  

This Week In Art K-4

I love doing a fish unit with Kindergarten!!  It is a great way to review shapes and explore all the different media (crayons, markers, paint..etc).  I always read The Pout Pout Fish Books!! 

Landscapes with 1st!  Upping the expectation that students have a Foreground/Middle Ground/Background in the work.  In Kindergarten it was enough for their to be a Foreground/Background.  I use 3 lines to start the drawing & then let them build on it from there. 

Landscapes for 2nd Grade, but they did theirs in collage.  If you do attempt this...don't be surprised if it is a bit of a struggle.  I try to get my students to lay down the base (sky, hills, middle ground, foreground) before they add the details into their landscape.  With all the virtual and such that happened over the past 2 yrs....we will revisit this lesson later on to give them another chance at success!

3rd & 4th get some practice with watercolor.  A majority of my students did not have watercolor at home.  We are really starting a square one, and that is totally fine!!  I want to build my students up so they can have success in their future paintings.  They really did enjoy getting to paint...even if it was just an exercise! 

Lessons K-4 This Past Week

 I'm going to try to post my teacher examples for lessons I'm doing in my class with a quick discription...in case you need some inspiration!  I hope that is helpful.  Please feel free to message me with questions, but do not ask for the lesson plan.  We all do them differently, have different state standards, and focus on different aspects. 

Draw Your Fav. Animal

Using markers to color, but review the proper way to use markers at the same time!! 

(A lot of my students only had crayons virtually, so this is a great review/get back in the swing of things lesson!!!)

Animal Me!

If you were an animal, what animal would you be?  Give the animal human characteristics that will make it more like you (hair, bow, glasses, fav. sport, fav. place to be..etc)

I, Robot.

If you could have a robot do a job for you, what would it be?  Would you have it do the things you don't enjoy doing? (dishes, make your bed..etc)  Would you have it do things you like to do so you could do them together? Make sure the environment matches the activity!

Symbol Self Portrait

Pick a shape you like to make.  Now make it 10 times in a variety of sizes, and have them overlapping in places (a great review for composition and principles of design).  Inside each of the shapes you will make a symbol that represents something about you.  It could be a talent, something you like, or something that is important to you.  Group like things in one shape (if you like sweets...don't make 8 of the 10 something to do with sweet stuff?!?!).  Use markers to color! 

Exploring Mini Masterpieces by Laura Lohmann

I finally took Mini Masterpieces for a test drive today!! The YouTube Video at the bottom of this post has me showing you the book...and doing one of the lessons!  I've included the Amazon link so you can order your book today!!! 

HERE IS THE AMAZON LINK FOR THE BOOK!

https://www.amazon.com/Mini-Masterpieces-Exploring-History-Hands-Projects/dp/1943147833

Art With Mr.E: Starting a Circle Weaving Part 1

Come weave with me! Here is the being steps for how to do a circle weaving. The video will take you through the process, but I will also have written directions and pictures to help you out as much as possible. Once you get it...you won’t want to stop! Please feel free to comment or contact me if you have any questions.

SUPPLIES:  paper plate or cardboard cut in a circle, 

pencil, scissors, yarn, and tape

VOCABULARY: loom- the structure you weave on (the plate/cardboard in this case),  warp- the string you weave through, weft- the string you weave with

On the back of your circle, make 11 marks evenly spaced around the rim, and label them 1-11. Try your best to have them an equal distance apart. 

Next you will “warp” your “loom”. You will want to have just a small tail of yarn hanging on the back at the 1 spot.  The majority of your yarn for the warp will be on the front of the circle. Follow the formula below to finish warping your loom. 

Here is the "formula" for warping your loom!

1 to 6 (across the loom)

6 to 7(hello neighbor)

7 to 2(across the loom)

2 to 3(hello neighbor)

3 to 8(across the loom)

8 to 9(hello neighbor)

9 to 4(across the loom)

4 to 5(hello neighbor)

5 to 10(across the loom)

10 to 11(hello neighbor)

11 to 5

(the number 5 will have to strings sharing the space) 

After you have warped your loom, tape down the ends on the back so they do not come out of their spots.

Feed your “weft“ string underneath the warp strings from the 3ish to the 9ish place. You want to capture all the warp strings in the middle with the smallest knot possible. Cut off the small “extra” piece of string from your knot....but be careful to not cut the knot or any warp strings. 

NOW TO START THE ACTUAL WEAVING

Begin by going around the circle (I go counter clock wise..not sure why?).  OVER UNDER OVER UNDER. I will go over/under about half of the stings and then pull my yarn all the way through.  If you do not do this...it can get tangled up, and cause some problems for you.

At the end of each string tie the new one to the old one. You can trim the "bunny ears" off at the end.   Tying knots & double(triple..or more) jumping is the biggest problem young artists have once they get started.  They just have to make sure to go over or under each of the warp strings...they can not go over over..or under under.  

To finish the weavings, artists can create a pattern in pencil on the rest of the plate(the background...not the back) & then use the same color of markers (as their yarn) to color their pattern.  

I WILL MAKE A PART 2 TO CIRCLE WEAVING TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ALL ARE "GETTING IT"! 

The finished product can look something like this! 

Art With Mr.E: Tissue Paper Color Transfer

OH MY GOODNESS?!?! My video quality is getting worse instead of better?!?!  I've tried some different things the past two videos....and they obviously are not good things! ha ha WHAT IS THAT THING IN THE BOTTOM LEFT CORNER?!?! I didn't know it was obstructing the view till after I did the whole video and went to play it back.  It is what it is friends...hopefully you can still get something from it even though that thing is in the way! ha ha  

This is a tissue paper color transfer.  You will need paper, pencil, sharpie, bleeding tissue paper , brush, and water(a spray bottle works GREAT!). Later you will need crayons, markers, or colored pencils. 

If you don't have bleeding tissue paper....you will need to use a watered down glue, mod podge, or liquid starch to attach the regular tissue paper down(as flat & smooth as possible).  

Art With Mr.E: Water Color Techniques for Painted Paper Collages

Here are some fun techniques to add texture to your painted paper! 

Art With Mr.E: Make a Collagraph With Me

This project will give you a couple cool works of art! Have fun creating a collagraph with me! 

You will need.... cardboard(like cereal box), scissors, glue, crayons, 

acrylic paint, brush, water, and paper. 

Do a Wax Resist With Me

For this lesson you will need pencil, paper, crayons, watercolor, water, and a brush! 

Come on and create with me!! 

Draw A Fish With Me

DRAW WITH ME!! If you are at home and needing some lessons for the kids(or you)...stay tuned for more videos!! This one goes along with the books I've been reading. Hope you enjoy. 

Warhol's Cats: Kindergarten

I started my kindergarten class...as I always do...in the reading area.  We read Uncle Andy's Cats by James Warhola (Andy's Nephew).  We then looked at CATS CATS CATS by Andy Warhol.  My kiddos LOVED both books!  

I had my students watch me do a couple different demonstrations before I let them start drawing.  Most of them did not want to try to make the cat laying down!! ha ha I was ok with that.  They then traced their drawings with Sharpie marker.  Last they painted the cats & cat toys in with watercolor.  I asked them to not use brown or black to keep the colors bright!  I love the personalities of the cats shining through!!  I always try to teach/encourage/challenge my students to be individual and not create like me or their neighbors.  I don't want a factory of churned out cats(I know that irony of that when discussing Warhol!)

CREATIVITY FOR KIDS ....just add imagination!

I'm always looking for products, websites, activities to recommend to parents & students. I came across this site, and thought I'd pass it along. Now, it is kind of art in a box/canned art....HOWEVER....this might take the fear out of some parents having a craft time with their children!!! Some of the products look like a lot of fun too!!!

http://www.creativityforkids.com/products/catalog.aspx?q=topsellers

The parent company I've heard of..and have used some of their products.

CHECK THEM OUT!

http://www.fabercastell.com/14801/Products/Playing-and-Learning/index_ebene2.aspx