2nd Grade: Paul Klee's "Cat and Bird"

I decided to start the year off with a bunch of my grades doing lessons I have previously taught. I haven't had much time to really plan because I got a new art room this year. Most of my time these past couple of weeks has been organizing all of my art supplies and setting up the room. Anyways, one of my favorite lessons for 2nd grade is this one.

Materials
Oil Pastels
Cat and Bird Book by Geraldine Elschner
12 x18" Butcher Paper


Day 1#- I start off by reading the book "Cat and Bird" which is inspired by Paul Klee's actual "Cat and Bird" painting. After reading the book we review the basic shapes in art. I show the kids the painting and together we identify what shapes we see in the face.

Day 1#I . then give my students a 12 x18" piece of butch paper. I start by having my kids use an orange oil pastel to draw a huge "U" shape for the face. We then connect the "U" shape by drawing two slanted lines for the ears. In the center I have them draw a big triangle for the nose. A diamond on either side for the eyes and a circle for the pupils. Below the triangle, I have my kids use a red oil pastel to draw a heart and two small lines for mouth. I then have my student's go back with a white oil pastel to color around the eyes, and they can color in the pupils any color they want. Many of them want to add the whiskers, but I tell them they need to color in the face with a yellow oil pastel. After that I tell my kids to use a yellow orange oil pastel so they can learn how to blend to oil pastels.

Day 2#

 We review the different shapes in Art, and then I talk to them about creating pattern with shape as a background for their cats. I encourage them to color with oil pastels that will help the cat's face stand out.

Welcome To The 2018 School Year

It's been a crazy start to the beginning of the school year for me. I got a new art room, but moving everything was quite tedious. Luckily my Mom (who just retired from teaching for almost 30 years) as been helping me settle in. I am still in the process of organizing all of my materials since I have so much storage space! I got new stools, art tables, and technology. I'm really excited to learn how to use the wireless microphone I was provided with as well. In August I read an article about how over-decorated classrooms can be bad for students since it can be overstimulating. I am trying to not put so many posters up to see if helps at with student learning. (Learning self-control, haha) I also have a kiln, I am still waiting on for the person to come and install it. I can't wait to try it out and use "real clay" with my students. It certainly will be an experience since I have never used one before, but I know I can do it. It wasn't until today that I really felt comfortable and remembered how much I love working with the kids. (2nd week of school). I will update more on my lessons next week. I can't wait to share with everyone.

3rd Grade Koinobori Fish

It is the middle of May, and I was trying to find something to do with my third graders. I read somewhere about how Children's day in Japan was soon approaching. These Koinobori", carp windsocks, carp streamers or carp banners, decorate the landscape of Japan from April through early May, in honor of Children's Day (originally Boys' festival) on May 5. In Japanese culture, the carp symbolizes courage and strength because of its ability to swim up a waterfall. The Boys' Festival was an event, expressing hope that each boy in the family will grow up healthy and strong like wild carps.

Materials Needed

Liquid Watercolors (assorted)
Oil Pastels
12x 18" paper
Tissue Paper strips
Paint Brushes
Tag Board Strips ( about 1 inch wide)
Staples
Yarn
Wooden Dowels



Day 1# I gave my students some background information on Koinobori, and had them trace the koi fish templates I made. I first gave them a piece of 12x18" watercolor paper which was folded in half. I reminded students to trace their fish against the fold line, so it would create two koi fish. (symmetry). I created handouts for my students to help them know what koi fish look like. Once students cut out their two koi fish, they laid it out and started to add the eyes, scales, and other features using oil pastels. I reminded students that they need to be symmetrical (same on both sides). When students were done I had them use liquid watercolors to add even more color to their koi fish

Day #2-  When my students came to class the next time, I had them glue a tag board strip across the two mouth of their fish. They turned over their fish and added some more decorations to their fish using tissue paper, metallic paper, and metallic markers. When finished they came up to me and I stapled the two sides together (at the mouth and fins). I then  out a piece of yarn (about a foot) through the two holes and tied the yarn onto the dowel rod. 

Classroom Bulletin Boards

Here is my current "theme" this year for my Elements and Principles of Art Word Wall. I updated it to the Lego Movie characters. The kids love it!

4th Grade Dream Catchers

Here is a lesson that I have done several years in a row and it has always been successful. When I came to my school 4 years ago, there was lots of yarn and CD's left by the previous art teacher. I had done it with sixth graders, and decided to try with fourth graders. The prep for the lesson does take some time though.

Materials Needed
-Multiple colors of yarn
-Plastic Needles
-Scissors
-Beads (if you want)
-hot glue gun
-feathers

History of Dream Catchers
 I talk about the significance of Dream Catchers within the Native American Culture. I talk about how they are  traditionally they are often hung over cradles as protection.^[2] It originates in Ojibwe culture as the "spider web". Native Americans believe that the night air is filled with dreams, both good and bad. I also talk about Radial Balance, and how students are creating radial balance because they start weaving from the center on out. I also go over the process in which weaving is done. The CD serves as the "loom" for our dream catcher. 

In order to start this lesson, I prep the CD's looms for students. I take a big ball of yarn (any color) and weave around the loom 13 times. It needs to be uneven for the weaving process to work.

When starting to weave, I tell students to cut a piece of yarn, at about an arm's length. I call them up by table and then they choose the color they want. Some years already pre-cut the yarn for students so they can just begin immediately (It depends on what works best for you). They must tie the end of the piece of yarn to the actual loom in order for it to stay on. Then, they thread the needle. They put the yarn through the eye of the needle, and tie a knot.

The next step is start weaving around the CD. Students are weave over and under each "spoke" of the loom. I tell students to keep going around until they run out of yarn. Then they do the same process again. Students who catch on quickly can put beads on their looms. They take 1 bead at a time, and put it through the needle and continue to weave. I tell students to put beads on every other "spoke" so their weavings don't become " bead city. This process takes about 2 class periods to complete (60 mins).

Attaching the feathers
  At the end of this process, I let the students add feathers onto their dreamcatchers. I tell them they can use 6-8. They place the feathers under the yarn (edges of the CD) and then come to me so I can hot glue their feathers on.

3rd Grade Symmetrical Bug Prints

One of my favorite mediums in art is printmaking. I loved my printmaking professor at Towson University during my undergraduate work. This unit incorporates math, and science.

Materials Needed
Tempera Paint
Foam Dabbers
Dull Colored Pencils
Foam ( 6x9")
pre-printed 12x18" construction paper
12 x18" construction paper
Glue
Scissors
Oil Pastels

I start this project by having my third graders look at the bodies of insects. We talk about symmetry, and how if we were to fold their bodies in half, they would be the same on both sides. We talk about the characteristics of bugs (wings, body, legs, and antennas). I give my students a sheet of bugs (ex, below)

This shows students half of the beetle's body. I give students a sheet of paper and have them fold it in half. I tell them to draw half of the bug's body on along the folded sheet of paper. When they are done drawing half of the body on the right side of the paper, and then fold over and shade on top of it. When they open their back up, the other side of their bug should appear. The next step is to have students tape their bug drawing onto a piece of foam. Using a dull colored pencils, they are to trace their drawing onto the piece of foam. I tell students to trace their drawings two times. When done, they give me their work so I can out the shape of their bug.

The next step is apply ink (paint) to the foam. I have my students use tempera paint and foam dabbers.  They like how they have to "daub" it. I tell them to dip their "dabber" into the paint once and apply the paint all over. I talk about color as well because they are printing on colored paper. I give them various 12 x18' paper to choose from. This gives the chance to print their stamp at least 4-5 times.

The final step is the next lesson, where I have students look over their printed stamps from the previous week. I encourage them to pick their best "two to three" prints for their final piece. They cut them out using scissors, and then choose from pre-printed 12x 18" bright colored paper. Once again I talk about color choice with the students. Before students glue on their insects into the background paper, using oil pastels they are to draw an environment for their chosen insect. 

Potential Art Lesson Idea

Last year at the National Museum of Women in the Arts, I was inspired by this artist Sonia Gomes. She does these fabric sculptures. I thought that my kids could do something like this. Perhaps use pipe cleaners and wrap them in different types of yarn? Could I have them use straws and then tape, paper mache, and add fabric? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated. 

4th Grade Pop Art Onomatopoeias

 just finished this unit with my 4th graders, where we learned about Pop Art and the purpose of Onomatopoeias. I showed them the work of Roy Litchenstein, and discussed how He was one of the most prominent artists of that time. I also talked about the purpose of comics during that time. Students had to choose an onomatopoeia and enlarge it into a 12x18” piece of paper. I encouraged them to surround their word with word bubbles and think about using “bright” and “bold” colors when painting. They used tempera paint, and sharpies for this