4th Grade Masks

I  have truly love the masks my 4th graders have created.  From the think sheets to their final creation...it has been wonderful to watch the students develop & implement their own unique ideas.  They have been excited each time they've come to art to get started since I introduced the lesson. 
THAT!  That is a sign of a successful project!

Paper Mache Made Easy(ish)

I decided to skip my "Ugly Doll" lesson with my 4th graders this year for multiple reasons, but wanted to have something fun, exciting, affordable, and where they would find a great deal of success no matter the ability level.  I decided to do paper mache masks!  I've not done this project in a number of years, but am excited to see it progress.  This week is just the 1st stage.  We start the lesson with a Power Point on masks from around the world We looked at & discussed functional, decorative, ceremonial, and party masks.  After that intro we jumped into creating the base of the mask.  My plan is next week that we'd start the class with a "think sheet" so they could come up with their idea for their mask & plan it out before going any farther with the base.

I scored  roll of paper towels to use for the paper mache.  I know I could have used news paper, but the softness of the paper towel allows for a much smoother surface.  

I'm using foam faces I acquired from a district art camp I did many many years ago.  I cover them with aluminum foil for a few reasons.  It protects the Styrofoam. It makes clean up easier.  It adds support and you pull the masks off the face forms.  Because I need to create with a new class each day...I have to pull the paper mache faces off before they are 100% dry.  The aluminum gives it a bit more support. 

I use liquid starch for the adhesive.  It is affordable, easy to clean up, and works well!!

This is what the back looks like once I pull it off the form.

Here is a front view of the paper mache.

I have students paper mache their name on at the very end so we can keep track of who's is who's. 

Thinking about brushing on a coat of Mod Podge Matte finish to make sure everything stays in place.  

Paper Mache Masks: 2nd Grade

I discussed themes & inspirations with the students before they began painting their paper mache masks(students created the paper mache the previous week).  I allowed them to select 4 colors (and told them they could create colors from the 4 the selected if they wanted to).  There is something fun/whimsical about the masks. I'm looking forward to the rest of the week's work.  

Dino Babies Have Hatched At Tulip Grove: 4th Grade

Dinosaurs Are Not Extinct at Tulip Grove

 

So a few weeks ago Dr. Rushlow (prof at MTSU & former NAEA pres.) e-mailed me and asked if I would be interested in a 9 ft long dinosaur. Ummmm....how does one respond to that?  It isn't like you're asked that everyday?!?!  She & her husband "rescued" it from Craigslist.  A teacher had made it for something at her school and decided she wanted to get rid of it.  It has wood & chicken wire armature, but was in need of a total body lift!  The little boy in me said....YES!!!!!!!! DINOSAUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!  But once I got it...the OCD in me goes...OH MY GOSH...DINOSAUR?!?!?!  I repapered the entire thing with magazines & liquid starch.  I then painted it using acrylic paint, and finsihed by giving it a clear polymer coat. I really wish I had a before picture so you could see just how much of a "lift" I gave my Artosaurus!!!  So this is my big and beautiful 9ft dino.....NOW WHAT?!?!?!   

I decided that Artosaurus needed babies! Kind of like how my big mamma alien last year!  ha ha  They are using TP rolls for the trunk of the dino, magazines, tape, and glue.  They are turning out ok...but taking longer than I hoped!  The mayor is coming to our school on the 29th of this month to kick off ARTOBER for all of Nashville(not just a school thing...the whole city is involved!).  I'm going to be pushin' it to get these sweet little dinos ready!! Cross your fingers & wish me luck! :)  ha ha

Beauty & The Beast Camp

I recently finished with a two week Theater/Music/Art Camp. The musical they were doing this summer is Beauty & the Beast. This was my first summer working with this camp, and it was a real challenge. I taught two 45 min. sessions a day, each session having 30 students ages 6 to 13 yrs old! I was asked to create lessons based on the movie/musical. I had no desire to copy ideas from the movie, but instead pulled elements out of the movie that I thought would make fun projects(and that could be done by such a wide age range!!!).

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This first project is based off of the stain glass windows in the movie that explain the back story of the Beast. It is watercolor and Sharpie. I had the student use salt in some of the areas to create a textured effect.

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BE OUR GUEST!

I had the campers create paper mache bowls from construction paper and liquid starch! They turned out great, but unforunately did not do a song and dance number.