2nd Grade- Low Relief Sculptures

This was a 2 day project

Day 1-

We talked about low relief sculptures. I taught the students a rhym to help them remember what relief means. "2-D is flat, 3-D is fat, relief is in the middle because it sticks out a little." We then started making our project. We glued a 9 x 12" black paper to cardboard for added support. We then drew a large pumpkin in the middle of the paper using a pencil. After the pumpkin was drawn, students traced over the pumpkin with glue and glued down thick yarn on top. I taught the students how to measure and cut. After the yarn was glued, students went back with glue and added lines and different designs to sections of the pumpkin. I also told them they could add a background and they needed to include a horizon line. Here is how the project looked after day 1. 

Day 2-

We looked at artwork by Romero Britto and discussed how his artwork is abstract because he changes different patterns and colors of the object. Students then colored their pumpkins and backgrounds using chalk pastel. The glue repels the chalk allowing viewers to see the designs that were made with the glue. 

1st Grade Bats

To begin this lesson, we read Bat Jamboree. This book was pretty cute.
Next, each student received a 9 x 12" piece of brown paper to draw their bat. I told the students to draw their bat the size of the paper so it would be easy to cut out. We drew the bat right-side up; I felt like it was easier than upside-down. We stated with the head, the ears, the neck, and then the body. For the body, I told students to draw a heart with a flat bottom and then a diagonal line through it. Lastly, we drew the face and feet. Students drew the body with pencil first, and then traced over all their lines with Sharpie.
We then cut out the bat and glued it to a 9 x 12" black paper. Students then used construction paper crayons to decorate the background.

Adaptive Art- Rocket Ships

To start this lesson, we read the book Moon Dogs. I then asked the students what the character in the book used to get to space and they all replied a rocket ship.
I already had squares and triangles pre-cut. I had the students get one square for every letter of their name and glue them on their paper going up and down. They then wrote their name on the squares. Next, we glued a triangle at the top and little strips of paper coming out the bottom. Lastly, we used a q-tip dipped in gold paint to make the stars.

Adaptive Art-Coffee Filter Worlds

For this project, I wanted to do a basic mono print with my students. To start, we read the book titled, In My World. After reading the book, each student received a coffee filter and blue and green markers. Any shades of blue and green will work as long as the markers are washable. Students hen scribbled on the coffee filter using the markers. I wanted them to color as much of the coffee filter as they could. After they finished coloring, we placed the coffee filter on a 18 x 12" paper and squirted it with water. The ink from the marker will begin to soak through the coffee filter and make a print on the paper. To speed up the process, we placed a 9 x 12" paper on top of the coffee filter and rubbed. Here is the finished product.

5th Grade- Perspective Cityscapes

This was a long lesson, but the students were very successful at creating a 3-D cityscape.
Day 1-
To begin, we started by discussing perspective, vanishing point, one-point perspective, and converging lines. I gave students a handout to practice on first. The students added details to the handout as well.

Day 2 and 3-
We started on our 12 x 18" paper. I had students draw a horizon line, a road that connected to the vanishing point, and 4-5 rectangles or squares on their paper. (it is easiest if the rectangles and squares pass through the horizon line). Students then made their buildings 3-D and added details to their picture including a background

Day 4-
Students traced over pencil lines with skinny Sharpie and colored in buildings and small details with crayon, colored pencils, or marker.

Day 5-
Students water colored the grass, sky, and road.

1st Grade- Sky Tree

We begin this lesson by reading the book Sky Tree. After reading the book we talk about landscapes and our project will be a landscape because it is a picture of outside.
All students then recieve a 18 x 12" piece of white paper and we draw a horizon line on it a little below the halfway point. We then start drawing the tree. I tell students that "trees are made up of Y's and V's" so we draw a big letter Y above the horizon line. We then add little Y's for the branches and V's at the tips for smaller branches. As of this point, our tree is a stick tree, but then we fatten it up with a brown crayon.
Next, we take natural leaves, place them under our paper, and rub the leaf to create a leaf texture rubbing. We do this in the branches and on the grass. Lastly, students paint the sky and grass using tempera cakes.

4th Grade- 3-D Houses

To begin this lesson we talked about relief sculptures since this project is a relief sculpture because the back is flat. We then too a 9 x 12" white paper and began the process for folding the house. I found a great tutorial for this on http://elementaryartfun.blogspot.com/2009/11/spooky-houses.html

After we are finished cutting and folding, students decorate their houses using crayons and markers. This allows the houses to fold up easily for easy storage.

On day 2 we whipped  out the construction paper. We first add a piece of paper to the back for support, this is also the color inside of the houses. Then We add details such as fences, roofs, etc. with construction paper. I talk about adding tabs to make the construction paper stand up.