First grade self portraits

First grade artists looked at quite a variety of portraits and noticed the differences between portraits and self-portraits. We compared and contrasted the creative differences between them. We practiced drawing portraits from the back (on the backs of our papers) and chose many models in our classroom to pose for us! We used M.C. Escher and Norman Rockwell's artworks for inspiration and looked into our own photo reflections for our self-portraits. 

Learning Goals:

* I can describe the difference between a portrait and a self-portrait

* I can draw myself from a different angle - the back!
* I can talk about why artists choose to create self portraits in different styles

* I can use pattern in my mirror

Second grade Henry Rousseau jungle animals

2nd grade artists have been learning about the life and work of the artist Henri Matisse. He loved the jungle, even though he was never able to visit one in his lifetime, and drew many jungle animals. We drew animals like giraffes, lions, tigers, birds etc. and used blending in our painting techniques, showed we understood the art element of space by overlapping our leaves and animals, and also chose different values of leaves to create variety in our artworks. 

Learning Goals: 

*I can talk about the life and art of Henri Rousseau

* I can use overlapping in my leaves to show space

* I can use blending techniques to create color and value on my animal

Kindergarten Shape Monsters

Kindergarteners thought about the art element of shape and we used shapes to create some fun and silly monsters! We watched this "Monster Boogie" video, and sang and danced the song together:

Click HERE for the Monster Boogie Video

We used Primary Colors to create the big three shapes of the monsters! We watched this Sesame Street youtube video to see how primary colors mix to create Secondary Colors.

Click HERE to see the Primary Colors video that we enjoyed!

On Day 2 of the project, we sang and danced the Monster Boogie again, and read this book about Textured Monsters to get some ideas about what details we could add to our own Shape Monsters.

Learning Goals: 
I can draw and cut a variety of shapes.
I can name basic shapes.
I can make my monsters have different expressions.
I can list the primary colors.
I know the difference between primary and secondary colors. 

First grade Picasso portraits

First Grade artists are studying the life and work of Pablo Picasso. 

1st grade artists learned about the art of Pablo Picasso. We read a book about him saw how his art changed from realistic to abstract. When he was a child, we was incredibly talented and painted very realistically. His life took many turns and he went through a Rose Period in his art, a Blue Period, and a Cubistic Period. Ask you students what his work looked like in these periods and why he developed each one! :) 

One day one, we used shapes to draw some side view facial features, and some front view features just like Picasso did. Then we reviewed warm and cool colors by painting one half warm and the other cool. 

On day 2, we learned a song called the "Picasso Polka" from the CD "Songs in the Key of Art." We had a lot of fun singing it while we worked as well!

On day three, we used a Venn Diagram to review the warm and cool colors and had students come up and place miniature artworks in the diagram depending on their color schemes.

For the backs of our artworks, we wrote out our learning goals on a sheet that had some Picasso art. Kids could even decorate the art if they wanted to:

On the final day, after singing the Picasso Polka, we used Mr. Potato Heads to create collaborative "Mr Picasso Heads!" They are heads with the parts all mixed up in a way that Picasso might have created them. Students had to work as a table group (of about 4-5 kids) to create their head as well as give him/her a silly name!

Learning Goals:
I can talk about the life and art of Pablo Picasso.
I can recognize his Blue Period, Rose Period and Cubist Periods.
I can distinguish between a side view portrait and a front view portrait.
I can use warm and cool colors.
I can create texture with a texture plate.

Second grade Henri Matisse fishbowls

2nd grade artists are learning about the life and art of Henri Matisse.  We read the book "The Colorful Dreamer: The Story of Henri Matisse" as well as the book, "Henri's Scissors."After admiring many of Matisse's colorful works of art, we were inspired by his "Goldfish" art. We created our own collages and used some of Matisse's signature shapes. 

Learning Goals:

I can discuss the life and art of Henri Matisse.

I can create a cut paper collage.

I can create some Matisse-like shapes.

Third Grade Mini Mona Lisas

Third grade artists are studying the life and art of Leonardo Da Vinci. They are learning about one of the most famous and widely recognized portraits in the whole world... the MONA LISA! We even learned that she was so popular that she was even stolen at one point! We read the book, "Who Stole the Mona Lisa?" and learned a bit more about her history. 

After reading, we practiced drawing her portrait (and landscape background) for ourselves! We practiced various coloring techniques with colored pencils such as: blending, layering and mixing. We practiced some calligraphy when writing her name for our projects. After assembling our mini-Monas in old silver Premier jewelry boxes, early finishers were able to do an Art Challenge: We challenged them to complete a portrait on a photocopy that included only Mona's face and hands. They used their imaginations to think up a setting, fashion, and theme for their version of the Mona. 

Learning Goals: 
I can talk about and write down 6 facts about the life and art of Leonardo Da Vinci.
I can draw a portrait like Mona Lisa.
I can draw a landscapes that shows space (things get smaller as they are further away).
I can use various coloring techniques in my art.
I can do some calligraphy with Mona Lisa's name

Fifth Grade Chihuly Collaborative Sculpture

5th grade artists are working on a collaborative project like Dale Chihuly!  We learned about his life, his installations and some of the work that he has displayed at our local Frederick Meijer Gardens! We watched a slide show about him and then began coloring water bottles with permanent markers in either warm or cold colors. 

Click Here for our Chihuly PowerPoint

On Day 2 of this project, we did a partner read out of the Scholastic Art Magazine about Dale Chihuly and chose our 2 favorite new facts to write down on a slip of paper for a prize drawing.

Learning Goals:
I can work collaboratively.
I can retell facts about Dale Chihuly's life and art.
I can explain the difference between form and shape.
I can distinguish between warm and cool colors.