Bead Work (Crafts)

     The purpose of this project is to introduce pattern, texture, and color to 3rd grade.  Students must use at least 2 types of beads.  They were also supposed to make a pattern using color; my bracelet was purple, text, purple, etc. 

     This is a picture of our completed bulletin to celebrate Mother's Day.  Students were able to make a heart whatever size they wanted.  Then, they wrote the reasons why they love their moms.  We taped their bracelets to their hearts and stapled them to the bulletin board.

Extension Activity:
     A fun extension activity for this project would be to make a necklace and bracelet for their moms.  Once they finished that, they would have the option of making another bracelet for their best friend.  They would talk to their best friend to find out what colors they would like and vise versa for their bracelet.

Clay "Picasso" Faces

     The purpose of this lesson is to introduce the basics of clay, such as the terms scoring and slipping) to 4th graders.  They are growing in critical skills, self-evaluation, as well as evaluation of others.  This age can concentrate for longer periods of time which is critical to this project because it can be very time consuming--students need to be patient when waiting in line, they will need to wait for their clay to dry enough to paint it, and to wait even longer when waiting for it to dry to paint it other colors.

Extension Activity:

     This activity would work well with Social Studies because Picasso was the first to make non-realistic pieces of art.  He used simple and abstract ways of expressing a new perspective.  I would also introduce artists that came before Picasso and show the difference between the artworks.  

Science in Art: Seasons (2D Paper)

    This active learning project is designed to keep the students working and engaged instead of giving a lecture of instructions, then allowing the students to work on their project.  Students in 1st-3rd grade have limited attention spans and can only grasp one thing at a time.  The students will be able to choose between a fall or winter scenery and are able to get creative when adding the background or any other season related objects (snowman, piles of leaves, etc.).

Extension Activity:

     It's already in the title, but I could easily tie this project into Science.  I would discuss the different seasons with my students, making sure they know what the trees look like during each; spring=starting to bloom, summer=green leaves, fall=brown/orange leaves, winter=no leaves.  I would go more in depth with it by talking about how the weather affects the trees and their leaves.

A Box of Crayons

     The purpose of this lesson is to introduce specific elements of design that will be used for their crayon project created for 1st grade.  Students at this age need to be interested in their projects and they also desire the approval of classmates and teachers.  This project will allow them to share what they have made to their classmates.  
     The first example below is how students will draw one part of the body (head, middle/arms, legs/feet), then pass it on and see what your creation turned out to be.  The picture on the right shows how students can be creative with crayons, drawing things about themselves such as music notes, school colors, favorite season, and more. 

 
Extension Activity:
     Again, this project could be used to show diversity.  It will take students a while to realize that no one is the exact same.  The project on the left is a great example because the students weren't able to see the drawer before's work, so it gave the next drawer the chance to be unique.  All of the little "monsters" students create will show that none of the same.  Even though each person drew on 3 different monsters, they were still very distinctively diverse.  The crayon is also a good project to do with younger students because they will make it individualized to match their personality; it's kind of like a mirrored image of themselves.

Scratch Art

     The purpose of this activity is to introduce crayon engraving and scratchboards to 4th graders.  These students select and arrange objects to satisfy their compositional design need, rather than realism.  They will be given the opportunity to select which design they choose to use when creating their Mother's Day project by drawing it.  This will enable the students to create texture in their project though the use of patterns in fine detail.

Extension Activity:
     I would also use this project in Science.  Mother's Day cards always (or at least, usually) have a flower incorporated into it at some point.  4th grade would be a perfect time to talk about the parts of a flower, as well as different types of flowers (most common ones).  Instead of making a card from scratch art, the students can keep the paper flat and draw different types of flowers such as tulips, simple roses, and others.  At the end we would display them with a sheet next to them labeling the parts of the flower.

Multicultural Masks

     The purpose of this lesson is to introduce students to an art activity that is relatively new to them.  Students in 3rd grade are eager and have an interest for trying new things.  They will be able to show uniqueness to their masks by using construction paper, tissue paper, foam, string, glitter, beads, and more--all ways of making multicultural masks because everyone's masks will be different.

Extension Activity:

    Just like the title says, this mask project would be another great way to display and discuss multiculturalism.  I could easily make a unit over this topic and show students different masks of cultures, including Greek culture, African culture, and many more all over the world.  This will show my students how everybody is different and it doesn't matter how you make your mask because it's all about you, not anybody else.

Holiday Printmaking

     The purpose of this lesson is to introduce 2nd grade students to making light and dark value compositions with a variety of shapes, patterns, and details.  This lesson also introduces skills used in printmaking, such as the use of lines and texture, and different colors to enhance the look of the greeting cards.

Extension Activity:

     I would also use this project in Social Studies.  All holidays have a reason why they are considered "holidays".  I would tell my students more in depth history when each holiday was coming up in the school year, such as the 4th of July (Independence Day) was the day our country gained its independence and Columbus Day is when Christopher Columbus founded America.  I would also include religious holidays, making sure I discussed Christmas, Hanukkah, and others. 

Using Your Imagination

     The purpose of this lesson is to introduce 4th graders to using their imagination to create a drawing through random lines.  This allows students to visualize small or big lines as a starting point and continue to draw a picture.  This age will become more aware of the differences in figures and objects.  They will also be able to realize everyone has different imaginations and will create something unique in their own way.

Extension Activity:
     This project would work well with Language Arts because the students could write a story that goes with their drawing. As 4th graders, they would be able to make up some pretty great stories using their imagination.  Once everyone is done with their project and story, students can present them to the class.

Easter Egg Painting

     The purpose of this lesson is to introduce kindergarten to certain elements of design that they will be using for their project.  The students will be able to create their own patterns using colors (warm/cool and light/dark), lines, and shapes to express their own creativity on 3 eggs.

Extension Activity:

     I would like to teach lower elementary and this would be a great project for them to express themselves using pattern.  You can also use this project in science by showing your students that an egg can fit through a pop bottle.  Place the bottle (without the egg on top) in a bowl of hot water for 5 minutes, then place it in a bowl of ice cold water.  Wet the egg and place it on top of the bottle and watch the egg fall because the air in the bottle cools down.  Your students will be absolutely stunned at the fact that the egg fit through the top of the bottle without breaking! 

Hidden Safari

     The purpose of this project is to introduce lower grades to warm and cool colors.  This project also demonstrates how to draw in a different way--upside down.  Drawing upside down will help students with size relationships, as well as details that they would usually omit. This is a great way to introduce new ways of drawing to students because they should be taught many methods.

















Extension Activity:
     This project would work well in a science lesson by going more in depth into different safari animals.  Each student can look up more information about the animal they drew, such as their habitat, their diet, and more.  The students can describe characteristics of their animals and have their class try to guess what animal they had.  All the students can wear their Ruby Red Glasses to view the student's drawing.

Storybook Illustration-- Eric Carle

      This storybook illustration project, similar to the work done by Eric Carle, is a great way for students to use their unique creativity to develop a story of their own.  For this project, students needed to paint large pieces of paper with different designs (swirls, strokes, etc.) and of different colors.  Then they drew a scene with simple characteristics, that would later be cut out of the painted paper.  

Extension Activity:

     I would use this as a Language Arts project as well. Since this storybook illustration is more towards the beginning, middle, or end of a story, I would have my students write the rest of the story.  For example, if their illustration is in the middle, they will need to write the beginning and the end of their story.  Their illustration will help them get a visual of their story, then be able to expand their imagination and finish a whole storybook.  

Implementing Art History

     There are so many ways to implement art history into your classroom.  You can do the Vincent van Gogh "Starry Night" Collage that I posted earlier, but there are many more.  As a 6th grader I remember doing a Michelangelo project where we created our own version of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling. We took time during Social Studies for a couple days drawing on a piece of paper under our desks/chairs while laying on our backs. It was a great experience because we were able to relate to how much time it can take to create something above your head.

"Starry Night" Tissue Paper Collage

    For this project we were to create our own version of Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night" using construction paper, tissue paper, paint brush, gel medium, glue (stick/bottle), and sharpies (regular/metallic).

Extension Activity: 
     I hope to teach K-2nd grade, so this exact project might be to difficult for them.  For their age I would prefer doing a project similar, using finger paints instead of tissue paper/gel medium.  This way they'll be able to use their fingers and not have to worry about their tissue paper moving all over the place when they painting on the gel medium.  When it comes to doing the landscape I would have them draw rectangles/squares for the buildings, keeping it simple enough for them.

Scavenger Hunt

     The purpose of this Scavenger Hunt is to allow your students to use a camera to capture the different Elements of Art and Principles of Design that they see in their everyday life. It's a great way to get them out of the classroom and to begin recognizing the elements/principles.  

This bench in Aberdeen represents one of the Elements of Art, "Value", showing range between light and dark.

These mirrored candles in my basement represent one of the Principles of Design, "Balance", showing symmetry.

This snail in an aquarium represents one of the Principles of Design, "Emphasis", showing the snail in focus while the background is blurry. 

This sunset in Harding County represents one of the Principles of Design, "Contrast", showing the difference in colors (light and dark).

My friends Shelby and Callie ice skating represent one of the Principles of Design, "Rhythm/Movement", showing visual movement of the subject.

Footprint

    This footprint project is a great way for students to use their creativity to show the class about themselves--family, interests, and numerous other things that are important to them by using 3 mediums.

   The footprint I made included an ichthus (Jesus fish), my zodiac sign (Taurus), and a heart/heart beat line/faith design to stand for what I believe in. I drew painted toenails and my favorite sandals because I love summertime; one of the circles of the sandal has a red wagon wheel to stand for one of my favorite songs, "Wagon Wheel" by Old Crow Medicine.  I also included a Piston Cup sticker and the Disney "D", because my favorite Disney movie is "Cars". There is blue tissue paper on my footprint because I live on a ranch, walking distance from the Little Missouri River. Lastly, I have music notes and a picture of Badlands Ministries Bible Camp (BLM), because music is a very large part of my life and I have spent quite a few summers at BLM as a camper/counselor, where I learned how to play guitar.

Extension Activity:
    You can also use this project as a math lesson by taping all your students' footprints on the hallway wall, heel-to-toe, then measuring the length.  Another idea would be laminating all the footprints and using them as their name tags on either their lockers or desks. This way students will be reminded of things about their classmates everyday.