1st Grade Geometric Robots

The second project of the year for 1st grade focused on geometric shapes.  Students learned that a geometric shape is often made from straight lines and these shapes usually have names such as triangle, square, or hexagon.  Students used geometric shapes to create all kinds of super cool robots.  These turned out really well.

1st Grade Caterpillars

Having new first grade students is always exciting.  They always look forward to coming to art and learning so much!  While their first questions is always, "When are we going to paint?", I always start out with something a little less demanding for their first project.  For this lesson, students learned that textures are something that you can feel with your hands.  1st graders used texture plates in order to create individual segments for a collaborative caterpillar project.  When all of the pieces were finished, they were hung in the commons to look like huge, colorful caterpillars.  This project got us off to a great start to the year.

Bottle Cap Mural by 4th Grade

The bottle cap mural is finally up! The fourth grade students started this 16' x 4' mural well before the end of the school year. For this project, we really focused on using recycled materials that would otherwise be thrown away and take up space in a landfill. The idea of using bottle caps comes from a local artist named Michelle Stitzlein who came in to talk to the 4th graders about using recycled materials in art. The mural was a great success and I'm excited for everyone to see it put together. Notice how big the mural is compared to me!

5th Grade Claymation

Earlier in the year, I posted images of the sets designed by 5th grade students for the claymation project. I have finally gotten around to posting the video online to view. The claymation was a huge success and the students really enjoyed making it. Writing, character design, set design, storyboards, and filming were all done by this year's 5th grade class. Enjoy the film!

4th Grade Tessellations

4th grade has been studying tessellations recently. A tessellation is a pattern that fits together perfectly and could go on indefinitely. The artist M.C. Escher is famous for his tessellations and his impossible drawings. Students each created their own tessellations based on Escher's work. Each student came up with an image of a gargoyle to go inside their tessellation pattern. The final tessellation is made of construction paper.

3rd Grade Visual Jazz

The collage work of artist Romare Bearden was recently the inspiration for a 3rd grade project. Romare Bearden is famous for his love of jazz music. After learning about jazz instruments, each student created a collage depicting a person playing the instrument of their choice. The musicians are made of collaged magazine images and the backgrounds are collaged from recycled newspaper and construction paper.

2nd Grade Matisse Goldfish

2nd grade has spent several weeks learning about the artwork of Henri Matisse. In particular, we took time to look at a painting entitled "Goldfish." Each student made his or her own version of the painting. The project combined painting, drawing, and collage in the final product.

1st Grade Pinch Pot Turtles

1st grade students recently finished their first clay project. It was an exciting time for everyone involved because EVERYONE loves clay. Students began by learning about the qualities of clay as well as learning that clay essentially comes from the earth. They then made small pinch pots, a simple ceramic form. Next, feet, a head, and sometimes even a tail were added to created a turtle. Finally, after the clay was fired in the kiln, the turtles were finished with a touch of watercolor paint. This project was a lot of fun!

Picturing Poetry - Collins

4th grade students recently learned the art of Japanese ink painting called sumi-e. Each student created a landscape painting in art class and also wrote a haiku poem in the library. Mrs. Patterson then worked very hard to create a voice thread online in which each student is able to talk about his or her artwork and poetry.

Picturing Poetry - Howard

4th grade students recently learned the art of Japanese ink painting called sumi-e. Each student created a landscape painting in art class and also wrote a haiku poem in the library. Mrs. Patterson then worked very hard to create a voice thread online in which each student is able to talk about his or her artwork and poetry.