Painted Candy Corns

This lesson looks simple, but 2nd graders spent a lot of time on the little details! First they used rulers to measure an inch all the way around their paper. Next they created a pattern using two colors in this border. Once that was done, students drew candy corn shapes (triangles) in the empty space. We discussed filling up the space and taking a step back from our work to help us check this out. Next we reviewed color mixing, and how to mix the color orange from two primaries. Students then painted in their candy corns. Lastly they practiced outlining neatly.

"CORN"-dinsky

·       First graders looked at and discussed Wassily Kandinsky’s abstract art. They learned that sometimes artists use only line, shape, and color in artwork.

·       First graders then learned about vertical, horizontal, and diagonal lines.

·       They used these three types of lines to make a corn drawing.

·       Inside the corn the students recreated Kandinsky’s circle painting.

·       First graders also learned how to weave paper using the over and under technique.

Learning Targets for this project were:

I can color neatly.

I can weave using over/under technique.

I can identify a vertical, horizontal, and diagonal line.

**Lesson originally seen on Art With Mr. E. blog**

Art Club Painted Ceiling Tiles

I do an after school art club during the late fall and winter months. The last two years we've been using the club to try and spruce up our school a bit. My first session of kids painted ceiling tiles for our front and main hallways. I let the kids paint whatever they wanted, as long as they did a practice drawing and showed me first. I love seeing what they come up with when they have the freedom to just paint. Love how these turned out!

Tinted Mosaics

5^th graders began their color theory unit learning all about tints. They learned that tints are made by adding color to white. The first step of their project was to make a tinted gradient of one color, starting with white and ending with the regular color. Once dry, students used a ruler and measured one inch strips that were then cut down again into one inch squares.

Next they looked at several examples of mosaic artwork. Mosaic is the art of creating images with small pieces of colored glass, stone or other materials. It is an art form that has been around for more than 4000 years!

Students started their mosaics by gluing a yellow circle down on the background paper. Next they started gluing down their tinted squares in a circle pattern around the yellow circle. They were to start with the lightest color and work their way to the darkest color until their paper was filled. They were to pay close attention to gluing their squares flat to the paper, spacing the squares out evenly, and making sure to keep the circle pattern.

The last step was to draw and then cut out a fall tree and glue it on top of the mosaic.

Learning targets for this project were:

I can paint a tinted gradient.

I can measure an inch with my ruler.

I can make sure all pieces of paper stay glued down.

Painted Cat Collage

Students reviewed geometric and free form shape to paint the body parts of the cat. They also reviewed the secondary colors and how to mix them from the primaries. Students mixed their own secondary color to paint the patterned background. Love how all the cats have their own personalities:)

**original lesson seen on Mary Making Blog**

Paper Sculpture

First graders learned all about line and three dimensional art during this quick and easy project. To help them remember the difference between 2D and 3D art we looked at lots of examples of famous scupltures (ie: Statue of Liberty, Lincoln Memorial, and of course a statue of Mickey Mouse). After every example I'd say: "It's art you can see ALL the way around"! I then showed them how to make all different types of lines with strips of paper, and then showed them how to make shapes by gluing the ends together and pinching the corner.

Warm/ Cool Camouflaged Animals

The 4th grade students reviewed the warm and cool color schemes. They watched a video on animal camouflage, and then we discussed what camouflage is and what it does for animals and people.

Students were able to choose either the warm or cool colors to create a camouflaged background. Then they chose an animal that uses camouflage and used the same color scheme to create a camouflage effect in their artwork. Finally students reviewed what three-dimensional is and made their animal pop out of their work.

**Lesson seen on What's Happening in the Art Room blog- Thanks Leah!**