4th grade winter cardinal paintings

This project was a new project for me this year. I found the idea from Pinterest (my new favorite obsession!) that originated from a website called deepspacesparkle.com This art teacher's blog is full of great projects that inspired me to try a bunch of new things this year.
We started out by looking at photographs of cardinals and then we used those pictures, along with a step-by-step drawing paper to help us draw a cardinal. The cardinal was drawn as the main focus of the work and then the branches were added later. I explained this as though you are looking through a camera at a cardinal sitting in a tree and you pushed the zoom button - this is what you would see. The student used tempera paint to paint the bird first. We talked about using a small brush and black paint to create the separation between the wing and the body. We focused a lot on technique and how to hold a paint brush and use a paint brush correctly. Back and forth - not scrubbing! Finally the students used white to show snow on the branches. I am so amazed with how these came out - one of our best projects!!!

1st grade Henri Matisse still life paintings

The first graders learned about the artist Henri Matisse. Matisse loved to paint still life paintings and most of his work included bright colors and bold patterns. After looking at several reproductions of his work, we got to work creating our still life Matisse pictures. The students worked step by step with me as I drew on the board. We used water color paper and pencil to start. We discussed overlapping and the use of pattern. The first graders outlined their drawing with a black Sharpie and then used watercolors to carefully paint their work. We learned that a small amount of water and paint will successfully fill a small part of our picture. If we wanted to fill a larger part, more water would make the paint spread more.
These paintings were outstanding, but were a challenge for some as controlling the amount of water/or paint can be tricky. I was really pleased with all of them and I love how these turn out.

The third graders made these beautiful tree reflection pictures. They folded water color paper in half and painted the bottom half to look like water. We used a water color technique called "wet-on-wet." This is where you get the paints wet and the paper wet, then touch the paint on to the paper. It creates a kind of "fireworks" effect and the paints spread out quickly. On the top half the students drew two trees, painted them brown and as they painted they periodically folded the paper in half to create a "reflection" or a print on the bottom half of the paper. We used small sponges and red, orange, yellow and green paint to blot the leaves on the trees. The paper was then folded in half again to create the reflection of the leaves.
The students did a writing assignment to re-tell what they did in this project step by step. This writing was used as an assessment for the over all project.

The fourth graders continued their study of Pablo Picasso by looking at portraits by this famous Spanish artists. We talked about how we see a face when we look at it from the side and how we see a face when we look at it from the front. We noticed that Picasso often combined both front and side view to create one face. This made for a really abstract piece of art.
The fourth grade made portraits like Picasso's by drawing a front view of a face and a side view of a face and then combining them to create one face. They colored them with marker using solid colors and then decorated the background with various patterns. These are always a lot of fun and they turned out great!

2nd grade wild things!

The second graders and I read the book "Where the Wild Things Are." We looked closely at the wild, made up creatures we saw in the book. We noticed how they looked like a combination of several animals put together. After reading the book and discussing the creatures, each student listed three animals. They then drew the head of their first animal with the body of the second animal and the feet of the third animal. They did several of these until they had a favorite new creature.
We then drew our new creature into a piece of flat styrofoam. We used a brayer and rolled ink over the styrofoam. By pressing the styrofoam on to the paper we were able to get a print of our creature that we drew. These came out awesome! We did three different colors, cut them out and glued them to black paper. We finished these by writing "Wild Thing" across the bottom.
The students learned the concept of basic printmaking techniques as well as balance and design when gluing and writing on the black paper.

1st grade robots

The first graders learned the difference between geometric shapes and free form shapes. We talked about how geometric shapes are shapes with names, like circle, square, oval, rectangle etc..A free form shape is a shape without a name - or a made up shape.
To help reinforce geometric shapes, I had the kids use different colored construction paper to cut out geometric shapes to make a robot. Their robot could only be constructed using geometric shapes. They had a blast putting together their robot as well as thinking about what kind of robot to make. They made buttons that said things like: make my room or clean my room. Ahhh, if we only had a robot to do all things WE do around the house....what would your robot do?

5th grade Statue of Liberty

I couldn't be more pleased with how this project turned out. This was the first time I ever tried this lesson. I found it on a website called www.deepspacesparkle.com This art teacher featured this project and I knew my 5th graders could do it. It was perfect this year marks Lady Liberty's 125th anniversary!
We started out by learning facts about the Statue of Liberty. We discussed the relationship between The United States and France and how France gave the statue to the U.S. as a gift. As the statue was being built in France, the base was being built here in America. Did you know that the Statue of Liberty is 305 feet tall? Also did you know that each one of the rays represents each of the 7 continents? Well....now you do! :)
We then began a step by step drawing process of the Statue of Liberty. I drew on the board and the kids drew along with me. This step by step process broke the drawing down into manageable steps. We learned about 3 dimensional shapes and perspective when drawing the pedestal. We added a horizon line and buildings to represent the city. All was outlined in Sharpie marker and then the statue and water were painted with watercolor. The background was marker/crayon.
Pretty great, huh?!

First grade painted pumpkins

The first graders learned about warm colors by painting a piece of white paper using only red, orange and yellow paint. While the paper was wet, we ran a popsicle stick through it creating lines. This taught us about visual texture.When the paper dried, we drew and cut out two large pumpkins. We glued the pumpkins to black paper and used brown paper/or green paper to cut out stems. Some students added some vines and leaves with green paper to create that "just picked off the vine" pumpkin. We finished them off with cutting out leaves using our scraps from the painted paper.
This project reinforced cutting skills as well as color mixing and texture. They turned out great - perfect for fall.

4th grade fall pumpkins

Just for fun we decided to take a break for our current project (a Picasso portrait) to make a fun, fall pumpkin. We started with 5 strips of orange paper stacked on top of each other and folded in half. We cut on the fold and added a fastener in the middle. We spread the strips out in a star pattern in front of us and poked a hole at the end of each strip with another fastener. We made a stem and leaf, put that on our fastener and then gathered each orange strip going around the star in order. When the fastener was closed we puffed out the strips to distribute the weight better and voila! I give you a festive, fall centerpiece!!

4th grade - Picasso's 3 musicians

In 3rd grade the students begin learning about Pablo Picasso and cubism. In 4th grade we take that knowledge and expand on it by learning about Picasso's painting, "The Three Musicians." (last picture posted here) We looked at this painting and then the students re-created in collage style. The painting itself is often mistaken for a collage because of the geometric shapes. The students had a few criteria to consider:
1st - it must have 3 people in it wearing masks like the painting
2nd - there must be at least 2 instruments in the picture
3rd- they must include a dog - there is a dog in the painting and it is hidden
4th - they must include elements found in the painting

I was so impressed with the attention to detail and the creativity these students put forth. They really turned out great!

Look for a grade to come home soon - we will keep these projects for consideration for the art show.

Grades, grades and more grades!

It is that time of year when some art projects will magically start to appear at home. Can you believe that most classes have only had art 14-15 times this year - yet we have really done a lot! Make sure you unroll those treasures brought home carefully and then marvel at their wonderfull-ness! Also, please check the back of the project for a rubric - this will show you what the child was graded on and how they performed on each criteria for that project. It will also state what standard that project falls under.

You will see a point total along with a number in parentheses at the bottom. This number would be a 1, 2 or 3 for first and second grade. For third, fourth and fifth grade you would see either a 1, 2, 3, or 4. This number equates to what you will eventually see on your child's report card for art. A 1 equates to a lack of understanding on many areas of the project, a 2 is progressing to an understanding, 3 is meeting expectations and a 4 is above and beyond.

Please understand that not all projects are graded - with well over 500 students, not all work can be assessed. Also, some grades that come home may be in the form of a quiz or worksheet which usually falls under the vocabulary standard.

Now go check your child's backpack to see if something was brought home today from art class!!

Thanks, Mrs. Johnson

What's Halloween without candy corn?

The 3rd graders made these awesome candy corn bowls out of clay! First they rolled the clay out, then using a template of a candy corn, they cut out the candy corn shape. We lined styrofoam bowls with a damp paper towel and then gently put our clay candy corn in the bowl. We let the clay dry in the bowl. Doing this gave our candy corn bowls a bit of a bowl like shape. They were fired in the kiln then the kids used yellow, orange and white glaze to paint them. Clear glaze was added to give it that shiny, glossy look and then they were fired again. Voila! Ceramic candy corns!
What fun would it be if we didn't eat actual candy corn out of it? So we did! These are sure to be a favorite each and every Halloween!!

3rd grade Picasso

The kids love Picasso! Why? Because his work is silly and unexpected and the kids enjoy seeing art in that way. The third graders studied the life and work of Picasso touching upon his blue period, rose period and then cubism.
The students learned how to draw a portrait the correct way using guidelines. We learned that Picasso was an amazing artist at a young age, drawing everything realistically. After we drew our portrait, we outlined it in Sharpie and drew 5 lines through it. Those 5 lines created sections that were colored using crazy colors and patterns. Then, the whole face was cut out and then cut into 8 pieces. When put back together, the pieces needed to line up but not touch. This gives the look of cubism!

5th grade sketchbooks

In 5th grade we make sketchbooks. The purpose of these sketchbooks is to focus on drawing and observation skills. All drawings in the sketchbooks will be done in pencil only so we can work on value and shading in our drawings.
The first drawing was based off a black and white photo of 2 gourds and a pumpkin. Each student received a copy of the picture and we worked on the basics step by step - getting the 3 shapes right, then noticing details such as the number of stripes on the gourd and how they curved around the circle or the shape of the bumps on the small gourd. We worked on proportion and how the size of one thing relates to another. This was a real test in looking at a picture and drawing what you see...not what you think you see.
Students will be graded based on accuracy, value and effort.

1st grade snails

For this project, the first graders reviewed the various lines we had previously talked about: vertical, horizontal, diagonal and spiral lines. We then focused on the spiral line alone and drew a large snail. The trick was to make the shell large enough to draw different patterns inside. This was a great review on pattern with not only shapes and lines, but with colors too. The entire snail was outlined in Sharpie, colored in using patterns and then the background had lots of spirals colored in. We used one color watercolor to paint over the entire paper.

5th grade square 1

The 5th graders started the school year with their Square 1 self portraits. Not only will parents be able to purchase items with their child's self portrait, but the self portraits will also be put on ceramic tiles that will be hung as a class mural.

We reviewed how to draw a face using guidelines to help us place the eyes, nose, mouth, ears and hair in the correct place. They filled the background in with either a pattern or with pictures of things that represent them. They turned out awesome!

2nd grade magazine cut outs

The 2nd graders looked through magazines and chose one image to cut and glue to a white piece of paper. They then had to draw the background around their cut out. Their background had to fit what ever it is they cut out! We talked about proportion and how the size of their cut out relates to those other objects around it. We also talked about horizon lines and coloring in the entire picture.

What creativity! These really turned out great and it was a great way to get the creativity flowing this school year!

4th grade Rock Art

4th grade just completed a project based on petroglyphs and pictographs. We talked about how the first form of "art" was found on the walls of caves millions of years ago. Petroglyphs were carved into rock where as the pictographs were drawn or painted on to rock.

We drew an animal, cut it out and then taped it on brown paper (to look like a cave wall.) We then used black ink and a brayer to roll the ink over the animal like a stencil. When we peeled the animal off we were left with an outline of our animal...this was our petroglyph. Our pictographs were symbols used by Native Americans on the walls of caves. These were done in oil pastels.

The results were fabulous! Students took a quiz over their knowledge of Rock Art!

follow along!

Calling all Alcott Parents! If you are already "following" Alcott's blog - thank you! Please tell your friends about our blog and have them "follow" too. I would love to have the majority of our parents following along by the end of the school year! I promise to keep things exciting on here!

Thanks and please don't hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments you may have!

3rd and 4th grade Square 1 projects

Both 3rd and 4th grade made similar projects for Square 1. We focused on visual texture and layers of color. First we used rubbing plates with various textures to color over, to create a colorful textured paper. We then painted over those crayon textures with different colored watercolors. The result? Awesome colorful textured paper! Then....

3rd grade drew an animal on their cool paper, cut it out and glued it down on their final copy paper.

4th grade drew fish on their cool paper, cut them out and glued it down on their final copy paper.

Both projects turned out amazing. Picture these on your coffee cup......perfect!!

2nd grade square 1 project

The second graders reviewed line and pattern as they drew very colorful fish for their Square 1 project! First they drew a large fish, then they drew 5 lines going through it. Then, each section was filled in with different patterns. Every line was outlined in a black Sharpie marker and then crayons and markers were used to color in creating additional patterns. These fish will look perfect on a coffee mug, or tote bag, or necklace or......

1st grade line project

We have already completed our first art project in first grade! The students neatly drew with different colored crayons different kinds of lines: zig zag, loopy, straight, dotted and spiral. We learned that lines can go diagonal, vertical and horizontal in direction. We then used watercolor paint and painted over all of our crayon lines. We discovered that when you paint over white crayon, it magically appears. Cool!

Square 1 art time!!

This year 1st through 5th grade will once again be participating in the sqaure 1 art fundraiser. Square 1 is a company that takes your child's artwork and puts it on items to purchase like coffee mugs, t-shirts, tote bags, notebooks, key chains, magnets and much more. The artwork for the fundraiser is produced in class and is sent to square 1. In a few months you will receive an order form where you can preview your child's work and order the products that you desire. These items make wonderful Christmas gifts and are special since they showcase your child's fabulous artwork.
As always, 5th grade will be creating self portraits. Each year the 5th graders create their portraits and square 1 puts them on ceramic tiles. Our gracious PTA funds this project each year. These tiles are then made into class murals. We have had some trouble finding the best place to hang these class murals, but stay tuned... more info to come as to where previous class murals and this year's mural will hang!!
The money made from the square 1 orders, goes to help purchase much needed supplies and materials in the art room. In the past we have gotten new drying racks as well as everyday materials used by your children in the art room.
- Mrs. Johnson

Welcome to a new school year in the Alcott Elementary art room!

Hello and welcome! Please join me in following our wonderful adventures through art this school year. This is my first attempt at doing a blog for school so bear with me as I learn as I go! I'm hoping that Alcott parents will visit the blog often to see first hand what is happening in our art room. I will post pictures and descriptions of what we are learning at each grade level. I hope you will check back often for updates and exciting posts on our creativity here at Alcott!

-Mrs. Johnson