Art Room: Children's Book Must Haves

This first book is an absolute must-have.  It is about a blind girl on a journey, who sees the world around her through sounds.  Makes me tear up every time I read it.  Below are a few more that I have in my room at all times.  Some I will read to students as an intro to a lesson, others I keep in a big crate on the floor, so that kids can read them if they finish their project early, or are just having an "i don't feel like creating day" (very very rare in my room) ;).  The last book, Peace Crane I read to the 5th and 6th graders during peace week at our school, and we learn how to make origami peace cranes.

Art Room: Class Entryway

On the first day of art class for each room, we looked at pictures of Japanese cherry blossom trees (sakura).  I had my tree and branches set up outside my classroom door, prior to the first day.  We talked about how this tree will hold a piece of the whole school on its branches and we will grow tremendously throughout the year TOGETHER.  Then I had each student create one blossom (or leaf) with their name on it.  I then let them find their own place on the tree and let them stick it on with sticky tack.  This was such a cool process throughout that first week, since the tree started out bare and became fuller and fuller each day.  The students and classroom teachers LOVED it, and I had the chance to get a little glimpse of each students' drawing/cutting/designing abilities in a simple (every grade level can do it) kind of way.

Art Room: Class Rules

Our school adheres to these three phrases for behavior- be respectful, be responsible, and be safe.  My art class rules stay consistent with the school rules.  I made this poster and have it posted on my front bulletin board right by the door.

Art Room: Display ideas

My school is a dual-language Japanese school, and I try to incorporate Japanese art and culture into my classroom displays.  It might be fun to have several "Art of...." displays with various cultures around the room.  It's a great way to cover up ugly brown cabinets, that's for sure~

2nd Grade: Line Weavings

We started this one by looking at and talking about all different kinds of lines.  Next they create two papers (9x12) with different lines from one side to the other all the way down the paper with construction paper crayons.  One page needs to be done vertically, and one horizontally. Then they painted each line a different color with watercolors.  Once dry, they cut their two papers into strips and learned how to weave them together.

Adaptive Art: Thumbprint Cardinals

For this project I gave the kids a choice of light blue or light gray paper for the background.  First they used big sponge brushes and brown tempera to brush on the tree trunk and branches (most of the this was done hand over hand).  Next they added black lines throughout the tree and a little white on top of the branch.  Thumbs were dipped in red tempera and stamped onto branch.  The bottom of a paintbrush was used to dot eyes and add little feet (I say "upside down v's).  Red feathers are glued down and finally, white tempera is splattered or flung onto the paper for snow.

6th Grade: Identity Collage

After looking at several graphic advertisements and discussing identity and composition, students used magazine images and scratch art paper to create their own identity ad.  For their border they had to write 4 sentences: 1.) I am.... 2.) I love.... 3.) I want to be... 4.) I wish for...

4th Grade: Dragon Prints

Our school mascot is the dragon.  After learning all about the histories of dragons, students designed their own.  Then they carved them into foam plates, cut them out and printed them in black ink.  These templates were then used to make the dragon fans.

5th Grade: Symbols of Peace Prints

We discussed cultural symbols and how they represent ideas that can be communicated visually.  The theme chosen for this project was symbols of peace.  Students carved their symbols into foam plates, and chose two colors of ink to roll onto their plate for printing.

6th Grade: Radial Name Designs

For this project we discussed radial symmetry.  9x9" square paper was used. Students folded their squares across the diagonal and then once more into 1/4.  Then they wrote their names in block or bubble letters, making sure the edge of each letter extended off the page.  After writing their name with ebony pencil (crayon works too) they then folded it against the other side, and rubbed the pencil or crayon into the blank side with the handle of their scissors.  They did this on all sides until complete.  They colored them in with colored pencils.  A variation on this project would be to have them pick any word to use.  Or give them a theme, such as words for Valentine's Day (love, kiss, xoxo), things that remind them of summer or winter, etc...

3rd Grade: Dragon Masks

First, I showed students many images of dragons and dragon masks.  We spent the whole first day painting paper to get all sorts of different colors and textures.  The next day we cut out the face (using a template) and added a 3D box/snout to separate the nose and chin from the face.  (I will try to post pics of the box soon!).  Finally we used cut out shapes to add ears, horns, nostrils, eyebrows, and whiskers.  Students had to use contrasting colors for the added features.

5th Grade: Word Art

After discussing how illustrators often use words in art to communicte an idea (check out doodle4google.com), students chose a word to illustrate- making sure to think about line, color, shape, texture, etc.  We used colored pencils and fine point markers.

1st Grade: Texture Dragons

For this project we used texture plates with oil pastels to do various texture rubbings all over pieces of white paper.  The next class, we cut the paper into shapes (oval, rectangles, squares, and triangles) and collaged them together to make the dragon.  Finally we used oil pastels to add flames and clouds.

Adaptive Art: Space-bots

I had various squares and rectangles of color construction paper left over from other projects, so we used them to make these robots.  Once we glued down the body, head, arms, and legs, students picked out foam shapes to glue on for the face and buttons.  Lastly we added the stars and moon.

Adaptive Art: Puppy Love

For this project, I had all of the hearts pre-cut for the students except for the 2 largest (brown and white).  First, students chose what color background they wanted.  Then they created the brown and white hearts by folding the paper in half, drawing a half heart (hand over hand), and cutting them out.  Once the 2 largest hearts were glued on the background, they began gluing down all of the other hearts.  We used dot markers for the eyes (I gave them several color options), and added freckles with regular markers.  These pups turned out all very different, some skinny, some really wide- it was one cute mixed litter!

Art Room: Mona Lisa Valentine

4th Grade: Dragon Print Fans

Our school mascot is the dragon, so I've been trying to come up with some cool dragon projects.  We first looked at tons of images of dragons from various regions of the world.  Then we learned about the history of the folding fan(sensu in Japanese).  They started off by folding a white 9x12 paper in half and completing a pencil drawing of any type of dragon.  Then they slid a half size styrofoam plate inside their folded paper, and traced over their drawing to carve it into the foam.  They usually have to go over the foam once again with pencil to carve it deeper.  Once they had their carving done, they cut the dragon out of the styrofoam.  Next, we painted a design onto a long sheet of white paper with a light watercolor wash.  Dragons were printed on, and once dry, the fans were folded.  Lastly, we added a yarn tassle.

1st Grade: Jim Dine Hearts

For this project students took a full sheet (9x12) of black construction paper, and went crazy with the chalk pastels, making sure to cover the whole sheet.  I told them we wanted the paper to look messy like Jim Dine's hearts (they LOVED getting messy with the chalk).  Next I showed them how to fold the paper in half (chalk side in) and draw a half heart on the fold.  Then they cut it out to get a full heart.  I pre-cut squares of tissue for the background and whipped up some "glue soup" (glue and water).  They painted the white paper with glue soup first, placed a few squares down and then painted over them with more glue soup. Finally they glued their heart into the middle.  Some students added accordian fold springs behind their heart to make it pop out of the paper.