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