Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Totem Poles by 4th Grade

This is a project that I just can't quit. I've been doing it for several years now and the work just keeps getting better every year. Sometimes I wonder if readers get bored with seeing some of the same projects each year. Looking at these totems, who could get bored? 
One of the things I like best about this lesson is that it's hard. It's really hard for some kids. Good. The most difficult aspect of the lesson is drawing an animal in such a way that it looks like it has been carved into a totem pole. Negative space is essentially nonexistent. I tell my students that they need to use about 98% of their paper. It really forces students to entirely re-think the way they have drawn animals for their entire lives. It makes them learn!

I've been dealing with combined classes with 4th grade this year and I was initially concerned that it would negatively impact the quality of student work. For this project, it absolutely didn't. Students have produced more high level work this year than any previous year. The stress of teaching 34 kids at once has apparently paid off. Enjoy the work! 



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9 comments:

  1. Hagar SadanOctober 29, 2015 at 6:03 AM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Mrs. NguyenOctober 29, 2015 at 11:27 AM

    I love this lesson so much! Your students did a wonderful job! :)

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  3. Zach StollerOctober 29, 2015 at 12:12 PM

    Hagar,
    Thanks! I'm happy to answer some questions for you. Email me at stoller_zach at dublinschools.net. (Use the regular @ sign in the email address. Sometimes leaving email addresses in blogger comments can get some spam going.)

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  4. Mrs Art Teacher LadyOctober 29, 2015 at 2:07 PM

    Those are awesome! I love the walrus its incredible.

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  5. RamonaOctober 29, 2015 at 4:21 PM

    Never seen this lesson done before - so please don't stop I think it is fabulous!

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  6. Aunt CarolynNovember 3, 2015 at 12:25 AM

    Thanks for sharing your details of this lesson. I love how they turned out. I can't believe all the details you got out of your students. Amazing work!

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  7. JanisNovember 11, 2015 at 7:54 AM

    I like how you tell the children that negative space is essentially non existent. That's a great point to make with the kids. Thank you. Nice work.

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  8. Sarah LeRoseJanuary 22, 2018 at 11:23 PM

    I absolutely love this! I am a second year elementary teacher and have such a passion for art projects and this one linking perfecting with socials content is amazing. Would you be willing to share your slides and other resources that you have that are digital?

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  9. EricaFebruary 11, 2018 at 11:27 PM

    Hi Zach! I loved these as I was able to admire them in person. The kids did a great job cutting out interesting shapes and were so very successful in seeing the animals in a stylized way. (I'm also an art teacher and currently have a business in town called Art with Erica.) I also like the stained glass project. Keep up the great work!

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