1st Grade and Kindergarten
May and April 2016
Kindergarteners have been doing a lot more work with shapes. We are practicing tracing shapes, drawing shapes, and recognizing shapes. We are also learning how to use shapes to make other things. For example, if I wanted to draw a butterfly, what shapes could I use to do that? Alternatively, if I had a circle and triangle, how could I combine these shapes to make something else, like maybe an ice cream cone? 1st graders, meanwhile, have been discussing 2D vs 3D art. We did a few things with aluminum foil, including a mini-sculpture project. Students practiced scrunching, twisting, and attaching the aluminum foil through simply experimenting with the material. Most recently we began touching on how sometime artists make work that is 2D but use little tricks to make it look 3D. |
March 2016
After dabbling with paint during our printmaking project, students were curious to learn about color mixing. We had a day of investigation as students were supplied with the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) and asked to see what new colors they could make. In doing so, students discovered how to make the secondary colors (orange, green, and purple).
After dabbling with paint during our printmaking project, students were curious to learn about color mixing. We had a day of investigation as students were supplied with the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) and asked to see what new colors they could make. In doing so, students discovered how to make the secondary colors (orange, green, and purple).
February 2016
Students learned basic printmaking by pressing designs into squares of styrofoam. They then covered the styrofoam with thin layers of paint, which they then printed onto colored paper to make some beautiful designs! The next class, we transitioned into mask making. We began by breaking into pairs, and using simple shapes to convey different facial expressions. How does the facial expression change if we use rectangles for the eyes, instead of circles?
Finally, students made their own masks. They were able to choose the facial expression or kind of mask that they wanted to make. They were also able to choose the shapes that were most appropriate. We cut these shapes out from the pretty paper, and glued them onto our masks.
Finally, students made their own masks. They were able to choose the facial expression or kind of mask that they wanted to make. They were also able to choose the shapes that were most appropriate. We cut these shapes out from the pretty paper, and glued them onto our masks.
January, 2016
To complete our animal habitat unit, we now needed to make our animals! We looked at examples of real world animals, and the adaptations that they need to survive in their habitat. We then crafted our own animals out of mixed materials, thinking about the adaptations that they would need to survive in the habitats that we created before the break. |
December, 2015
Students began the month by learning more about watercolor. The students created paintings of birch trees by ripping and sticking down strips of painter's tape onto their paper. They covered their piece with paint, even sprinkling on some salt to see how it interacted with the water to create a snowy effect. We then peeled off the tape to reveal the perfect birch trees underneath!
During the second half of the month, we switched over to a new 3D unit about animals and their habitats. We began thinking about real life habitats, and then used many kinds of materials to create our own imaginary ones.
Students began the month by learning more about watercolor. The students created paintings of birch trees by ripping and sticking down strips of painter's tape onto their paper. They covered their piece with paint, even sprinkling on some salt to see how it interacted with the water to create a snowy effect. We then peeled off the tape to reveal the perfect birch trees underneath!
During the second half of the month, we switched over to a new 3D unit about animals and their habitats. We began thinking about real life habitats, and then used many kinds of materials to create our own imaginary ones.
November 2015
Sudents began learning about the artist Henri Matisse. We began by talking about his many still life paintings of flower vases. For two classes, we practiced drawing and painting our own flowers from life, working on our observation skills. We also talked about breaking the complicated flowers down into simple dots and lines.
Sudents began learning about the artist Henri Matisse. We began by talking about his many still life paintings of flower vases. For two classes, we practiced drawing and painting our own flowers from life, working on our observation skills. We also talked about breaking the complicated flowers down into simple dots and lines.
We moved on to look at Matisse's collage cut-outs. We practiced tracing and cutting out our own hands, as well as other fun shapes to create our own collages. We finished off our pieces by adding a flower drawing, as well as some other things that we like.
October, 2015
This month, students began thinking about shapes, and how we can arrange shapes in different ways to create more complicated drawings. One of our first challenges was drawing ourselves! We thought about what shapes we could use to draw our head, our bodies, our arms, and our legs. For the background, we then talked about our favorite colors, and how they reveal a little about who we are as individuals. Students used these colors to decorate their backgrounds.
This month, students began thinking about shapes, and how we can arrange shapes in different ways to create more complicated drawings. One of our first challenges was drawing ourselves! We thought about what shapes we could use to draw our head, our bodies, our arms, and our legs. For the background, we then talked about our favorite colors, and how they reveal a little about who we are as individuals. Students used these colors to decorate their backgrounds.
September 2015
Kindergarten and 1st grade started the year off by talking a lot about dots. The first day of school we read the book, The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds. We then thought about how a dot can be so much more than a dot, and that there are actually many different kinds of dots! We then used our many, many dots to decorate our art folders.
Kindergarten and 1st grade started the year off by talking a lot about dots. The first day of school we read the book, The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds. We then thought about how a dot can be so much more than a dot, and that there are actually many different kinds of dots! We then used our many, many dots to decorate our art folders.
Over the next few weeks, students began thinking about lines and color. We began by looking at work by Kandinsky--an abstract artist who painted along to music. We then watched a short animation of "Flight of the Bumblebee," noticing how the music was represented by lines and colors. We thought about how our very own bumblebees might fly along to the music. We then visually showed how our bees would fly using crayons and markers.