1st Grade Treehouses

We did this fabulous project before Christmas but I have been slacking...so here the pics are! I loooooved this project. It was really fun and turned out beautifully. I got the idea from pinterest/artsonia. I wish i knew who to give credit to!

Great for landscape, mixed media, collage....architecture...seasons...

This project took three 1 hour class periods.
Day One: Paint background.
Day Two: Build tree/leaves.
Day Three: Treehouse and ladder.

 

 Here's the finished product:

 

 

Day One: Talk about Landscapes and paint background.

 

 

 

---- White 9"x18" paper, tempera paint, oil pastels, water cups and variety of sizes brushes----

 

Draw horizon line first with oil pastel, build mountains or hills on that line. Then start painting grass...then sky.

 

I gave out a tray of blue, green, yellow, white and purple tempera paint in little cups.

 

Day Two: Building the tree.

 

We did some tree sketches in our idea books first and looked at some images of trees to inpsire us.

 

I cut a 9x12" paper in half lengthwise and gave this to each kid.

 

First we drew a curved line from the top of one corner down to the bottom on each side.

Cut along the line and save all scraps for branches!

 

These are upside down...but you get the idea.... 

 

Draw a "V" at the top of the tree....

Cut it out.

Cut up scraps to make branches.

 

Collage together! (Right side up of course...)

 

 

 Day 3: Treehouse and ladder.

 

I handed out a small rectangle of white paper for the treehouse. We reviewed architecture and I handed out my architectural detail papers to give them ideas for windows, doors, building materials etc.

 

We drew 2 house ideas, one on the front and the back and they chose their favorite one. Then they outlined with a black marker and colored with crayons. This could have been done with watercolors also, but I was worried about time!

 

Next, we cut those out and glued them into our tree branches.

 

Lastly, we built the ladder which might be my favorite part! I cut a bunch of strings and gave each student 2. The best way we found to glue the strings was to "draw with glue" two long lines coming down from the treehouse going all the way to the bottom of the tree. Then just lay the string in the glue. The key is not to touch it too much or it will stick to your fingers and mess up. I helped a lot with this step.

 

For the ladder steps, I dropped a pile of toothpicks and wooden coffee stirrer sticks in the middle of their tables and they could use one or both for steps. We snapped the coffee stirrers in half but the toothpicks were just the right size.

 

They also drew lines of glue across the tree and just layed the sticks in the glue. For the most part, they stayed in place. Tacky glue might be better or Elmer's Glue All would probably do the job.

 



 

 

 

How to Grow a Mandala Video

Line Slideshow Link...

Here is a link to a drawing activity....a dot that goes for a walk on your paper.
Could be helpful with abstract art or kindergarten early days in art...


http://www.slideshare.net/PHrbacek/a-line-is-a-dot-that-went-for-a-walk

Printmaking Videos: Collographs!

Intro to Collograph Video:
My First Blog Video...wow...wish I could have been doing this a loooong time ago.

How to Make a Collograph!

 

 

This video is by an Australian guy with an awesome beard.....amazing collagraph print!

 

 

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Below are some images of fish for my 3rd grader's project....I do not own the rights to these photos! I feel like I am supposed to say that?

 

 

 

outlines of fish

 

Diagrams of Fish Parts

 

BRAYER

 

 

 

 

Art Teacher Day! Watkins Workshop

Always the highlight of my week....getting to go to art teacher workshops! This one was at Watkins College of Art and Design and it was so great. Such a fun day...filled with great ideas that I can't wait to use in the art room.

The first session was about journaling...and we created our own 'journal/sketchbook' from an encyclopedia. This is more of an upper level project, however, I can down size this and simplify it for my kiddos and I think we can definitely make some books this year.

Here's the beginning of the journal making project...deconstructing the encyclopedia

 

Creating a new sewing signature along the spine....

And for the second half of the day, we did a session on Site Specific Installation. We split into groups and created either an installation dealing with the formal elements and principles of design or we could fill a void.....
Our group chose rhythm and movement...repetition...we had a limited amount of time and would have loved to go all the way to the center with this....but we were super happy with our collaboration!

 

And this has inspired a definite future obsession with post its for art projects!

Celebrating our joyous piece....

Matisse Rooms with Fishbowls - Kindergarten

I love this project and forgot to do it last year! We started this when we got back from xmas break and it's a 3 day project that is really fun!

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Day One: Drawing a Room

 Discuss interior vs. exterior spaces. Talk about artist Henri Matisse. What is a room? I teach them how to draw a simple room with "lines". The wooden floor is optional (that's my art challenge step) and this year I added texture rubbings for a little extra detail in the wallpaper and floor.

 

We also painted over our pencil lines with black paint on day one. We also learn how to say hello and goodbye in French....in honor of Matisse.

 

 

Day Two: Creating the fishbowl.

 

I realize that Matisse's fishbowl was cylindrical, but this fishbowl is fun and easy for Kinders and also gets them a "large" fishbowl.

 

We trace a butter lid on an 8"x8" square of white paper...then we outline in black sharpie (draw seaweed) and then paint with cool color watercolors.

 

 

I also read the story "Gilbert Goldfish Wants a Pet"...which was really cute!

 

 

 

Day Three: Assembling the Room (making goldfish)

First, I handed back their rooms so they could finish coloring with crayons...didn't get the texture rubbings out this day....

Then, we gathered at the demo table and I showed them how to cut out their fishbowl, build a table and make fish. (I split these steps up throughout the class though...didn't try to do it all at once.)

 

 

I just love the "BOLDNESS" of these paintings! (thanks Matisse)

 

I also like the wallpaper that got painted solid black...I may have to use that idea for next year. :)

 

 

 

Navajo Rug Collage (2nd Grade)

 

I searched far and wide for a lesson plan online of a Navajo inspired collage....couldn't find anything. I didn't want to close out the weavings without really discussing where weaving essentially comes from. So I showed several images of Navajo weavings and we talked about symmetry, geometric shapes, patterns and contrast.

I love what the kids came up with for their "symmetrically balanced Navajo rug collages".