1st grade artists
Color Mixing Bugs. Write up to follow!
Pinch pot clay turtles were the excitement of 1st grade. For a lot of kids it was their first time working with clay and they LOVED it! It was a one day project so we had to work fast, but they had no problem accomplishing their goal! They started out with a ball of clay and tore half of it off and set it aside for later. I asked them if they had brought their muscles to class for tearing off the clay so I got a giggle when they all showed me their big, little 1st grade muscles :) They started by making their clay into a ball, sticking their thumbs in the middle and pinching with their other fingers along the sides to make the pinch pot. This takes some practice and they did an excellent job on forming these pinch pots. We talked about how you have to be gentle with the clay and can't squeeze too fast or hard and make sure that your thumbs don't go through the bottom of the pot. Also, not making the sides too thick because thick clay blows up in the kiln. We didn't have any problem with this as all turtles were unharmed in the firing process! Next was rolling their legs and head. They rolled them into a cylinder shape then pinched one end. This end would be slip and scored onto the shell on the bottom. We talked about making the marks with our needle tool (scoring), adding a little water (slipping) to connect pieces. We describe slip and score as being like velcro and we velcro our pieces together and if we don't, they might fall off. They could make their eyes by drawing them on or adding more circles, along with adding a tail and drawing on the shell with their needle tool. Their name and code was put on the bottom and they turtles were off to the clay room to dry for a week and be fired. When they got them back they were even more excited! Next was painting. These turtles didn't have to be the traditional green, they could be any color or pattern they wanted! We talked about using the tip of our brush to get in small places or in that bumpy clay. They turned out so colorful and fun! I had very proud 1st graders especially when they walked past them displayed in the display cases. Fun first time clay!
Piet Mondrian Hearts. 1st grade welcomed Valentines day in the art room along with Piet Mondrian. Students got to review their primary colors and were intrigued that Mondrian only used primary colors and black along with horizontal and vertical lines in his artwork. We also had some practice on how to use a ruler. Students started out with a 9x12" piece of white paper. First they drew a big heart on their paper. Next they had to draw at least 5 horizontal lines and at least 5 vertical lines using a ruler. We talked about lining the end of the ruler up with the end of the paper to get straight lines and holding onto the ruler nice and tight so it didn't wiggle and we'd get wiggly lines. The students did a great job of using this learning tool. Then it was color time. They were only using the primary colors and used marker. We always talk about taking the time to stay in the lines, not scribbling, and no white spots. They had to color in at least 3 of each color. Once they were done coloring they had strips of 1/2" black paper to glue over the vertical and horizontal lines. The last step was to cut out the heart, glue it onto a big black piece of paper, and cut a boarder around the heart. This was a simple project that the kiddos really enjoyed and they loved seeing their work in the library and decorating for Valentine's Day.
Aerial Perspective Snowmen. This project was perfect for the time of year when the artists were also outside making snowmen. We read "Snowmen at Night" to get into the fun snowman mood. We talked about what perspective is and how we see things differently depending on how we are looking at something. We talked about being a bird looking down on something from the air. The snowmen started out as a 12x18" white piece a paper. The artists used white crayons to draw snowflakes followed by painting over them with a watered down blue tempera paint. Next was tracing the 3 circles and cutting them out. Once they were cut out they used oil pastel to make blue edges to separate the circles from one another. They could add a face, buttons, scarf, nose, arms, and any other creative details they wanted. Some snowmen even had clothes or a pickle nose. Once all of the pieces were ready, they had to be put together in the right order. These snowmen were a smiley addition in our hallways in the middle of the long Wisconsin's winter months :)
Snoozing 1st Graders. This was a great project combining 2 big concepts; self-portraits and weaving. We started with the self-portraits. We took a day to draw together talking about where are the facial features on our head, and the true shapes of the facial features. No more u smiles, circle eyes, or sponge bob noses. They're facial drawings improved so much! The next day they get to star their own self-portraits using a mirror. They have a 12x18" piece of paper and only draw on the top half of it. They draw themselves in pajamas, and a pillow. Next is to trace over in sharpie, erase any missed pencil lines, and color in crayon. Some of the details that they put on their pajamas or sheets are fantastic. Some kids even put their stuffed animals in with them. After the portraits were done we set those aside and started our weaving. We do this step-by-step together. We fold a 12x18" piece of paper in half the hamburger bun way. We use our 4 fingers to measure down from the top, draw a line, and write stop on it. On the fold we measure 6 dashes across. Next we cut vertically from those dashes on the fold to the stop line. This has created the loom. Next we take 2" strips of paper and weave them into the loom. Using the pattern under, over, under, over. When they are done weaving, tape is put on the back to keep the strips of paper in place. It's now time to put the 2 pieces together! They put glue on the blank half of their self-portrait and stick their weaved blanket to it. Now they're covered up with their weaved blankets in bed. These turned out so great and so cute!
Pattern Blankets are keeping the theme of Native American culture. We talk about using the geometric shapes we've gone over and putting them into patterns. Patterns are discussed and we do some practice making our own patterns and completing patterns. We're ready to start by taking 2 strips of paper and making fringe. Kids love to make fringe and say the word! They put the two pieces of paper together and make little cuts in the strips of paper and then glue the fringe to the top and bottom of a large 12x18" paper. Color choices are up to them. Then using oil pastel they draw at least 5 horizontal lines. Still using oil pastel they use their zig zag lines to make a pattern. Zig zag line skip a line. Our saying is zig zag, skip, zig zag, skip. Once they've gone all the way down their paper they can star to create their pattern. I encourage them to keep their oil pastels because they will be using them throughout their pieces to create their patterns. It's fun to see what kind of patterns they come up with and some kids even wish they could use them as a real blanket.
Kachina Dolls are used in the Native American culture. We discuss the cultures and their uses and we talk about drawing from observation or seeing. This is an activity that allows me to see where their observation, detail, and drawing skills are at. They always impress me on how well these turn out! They have to complete one but a lot of students end up completing about 3 because they love to draw them! We talk about finding simple shapes to draw, finding details, what is light or dark, and trying to draw to draw to size. I see so many drawing talents come out on this project!
Kandinsky Color Cirlces
Wassily Kandinsky is the buzz in 1st grade next. We continue working with color by using watercolor and painting a background in rainbow order. That take almost an entire class as we go through the proper way to use brushes and watercolors. Along with cleaning and taking care of the supplies. The next week we start making our circles. Before we talk about geometric shapes. The simple shapes with names and they may use in math. Then we focus on circles; drawing them and cutting them. We're really focusing on cutting skills her making sure to be turning the paper as they're squeezing the scissors. They can use any colors they would like on their circles but they need to fit inside one another and stack. We talk about what if a circle doesn't fit in another one, how could we problem solve? Could you cut more off? Could you make another set of circles? Once they have their sets of circles they glue them together and onto their background and practice their gluing skills controlling the amount they are using. These are a colorful addition to our hallways right away in the school year.
Wassily Kandinsky is the buzz in 1st grade next. We continue working with color by using watercolor and painting a background in rainbow order. That take almost an entire class as we go through the proper way to use brushes and watercolors. Along with cleaning and taking care of the supplies. The next week we start making our circles. Before we talk about geometric shapes. The simple shapes with names and they may use in math. Then we focus on circles; drawing them and cutting them. We're really focusing on cutting skills her making sure to be turning the paper as they're squeezing the scissors. They can use any colors they would like on their circles but they need to fit inside one another and stack. We talk about what if a circle doesn't fit in another one, how could we problem solve? Could you cut more off? Could you make another set of circles? Once they have their sets of circles they glue them together and onto their background and practice their gluing skills controlling the amount they are using. These are a colorful addition to our hallways right away in the school year.
Crazy Hair is my favorite project to star the year off! Students get to explore line and color. We start about my discussing all different kinds of line. Zig zag, horizontal, vertical, diagonal, loopy, curvy, wavy, soooo many! Then onto the color of the rainbow, ROYGBV. Once we've explored all of those things we star to create. They start with a simple U shape for the head. We make and neck and shoulders and discuss and look around at how our shoulders are wider than our heads. Add simple facial features and then onto the fun part. CRAZY HAIR! They need to choose at least 5 different lines to make the hair. Once they've drawn in pencil, they trace with sharpie, erase any missed pencil lines, and start to color. They color their skin tone first, facial features, clothes, then the rainbow hair. They need to color their lines in rainbow order. Once they were done they took an assessment on line and color and did a great job!