Bead Work

For this fun project we created a mothers day card using construction paper, and a bracelet using string, magazine strips, glue, and a wooden dowel. With the card we used red construction paper and made a heart. With the bracelet we spun the magazine strips around a wooden dole creating beads; we used the glue to hold the beads together. Using our beads we created a pattern of colors, the challenge was finding magazine strips that shared like colors.

Extension Activity
For an extension activity you could look at bead work from other cultures. Here in South Dakota you could talk about Native American bead work for example.

Picasso Faces (Modern Art)

For our project we explored what modern art was when Picasso was an artist. We also looked into cubism, the first form of modern art.

We created a Picasso face using cubism as an abstract guide for the faces. The first step involved rolling out a slab of clay, and then cutting out a unique shape for the face. We then divided this face into four sections and created a different pattern/texture in each area of the face using a variety of different tools. Using the excess clay we then created eyes, nose, and mouth and using scoring and slipping added them to the face. Next we added a hole at the top of the face (Note that for display purposes it's best for the hole to be somewhat large) and smoothed out the rough edges of the face. Finally the face is painted with black tempera paint and left to dry for a few days. When face is revisited a different color is added to each section of the face, and the eyes, nose, and mouth are painted different colors as well.

With this project we explored scoring, slipping, line, shape, texture, modern art, and cubism.

These are pictures of our finished display...

Extension Activity
Students could define what modern means in today's world. Each student could find something new/radical that could be defined as modern. Students could then write a paragraph on how they see what they found as being modern.

Season Pictures

For this lesson we created a tree using our hand/wrist to create the trunk and branches on a brown piece of colored construction paper. After tracing our hand/wrist we cut out our tree and placed it on our choice of colored construction paper. We then got to choose if we were going to make a fall tree using warm colors, or a winter tree. Crinkling tissue paper and adding cotton balls and glitter we decorated our trees to match our selected season. My tree was a winter tree so I used cotton balls for clouds and white tissue paper for my tree leaves. The tree in our project was meant to represent emphasis as well as it was the main area of focus.

Extension Activity
As an extension to this activity you could talk about animals that migrate, hibernate, or stay put during the winter.

A box of Crayons

This project began with an activity called switching places. Students would switch with one another when they had something in common. This activity was meant to portray how unique we all are while at the same time demonstrating that we have allot in common.

Following this activity we colored a giant crayon, we then drew something that resembled who we were at the very center of the crayon. The focus of this project is to help students value who they are inside and outside the classroom. Together we are all part of a box of crayons!

Extension Activity
Have students write about a hobby or something they like to do in their spare time.

Sctratch Art (Mother's Day Cards)

For this project we used crayons to coat a piece of card stock, front and back, but not the middle. With the crayon facing up we taped the card down on another piece of paper and painted a mixture of black tempera paint and detergent over the top of the crayon. We then traced over pictures that we had originally drawn onto the card revealing the crayon coating underneath. We created a mother's day card using this fun technique placing a message on the inside of the card.

Extension Activity
Students could draw their favorite animal on the scratch pad and then write a story about their animal.

Multicultural Masks

This lesson was very historical/enlightening as we explored how masks were used in post and modern day situations. Using several different mediums we constructed a mask that was representational to ourselves. These masks represent our uniqueness and cultural diversity as well. Masks were made out of paper plate and we used scissors to cut out eye holes. We then painted the plate one solid color and proceeded to decorate it. Several unique designs were used to create the nose, and paint was used to added other characteristics to the masks as well.

Extension Activity
This would be great to tie into a history lesson! Students could explore there culture, and then compare their cultures with other cultures around the world. This would be a great way in continuing to explore diversity.

Holiday Printmaking

This project looks at incorporating the elements such as line, shape, and color into the process of printmaking. Carving into a flat Styrofoam slate we carved out a series of shapes for our first print, and for our second print we created a picture related to a holiday of our choice. We then painted over the print and pressed it down onto a piece of construction paper. This is really a creative fun way to have children experience printmaking. I highly recommend trying this in your classroom!

Extension Activity
Students could explore holidays in more details, or even the seasons for that matter after doing a project such as this one. It might be a good idea to look at holidays from the perspectives of other cultures as well so as to look into everyone's beliefs.

Using your imagination

This fun lesson involved creating something with only a line to start with. It was then up to you and your imagination to create a picture building off of that single line. With this project we used three different mediums, and with the help of a line created a masterpiece.

Extension Activity 

Have students do a writing activity were one students writes something and the other has to finish what they were writing. Use scaffolding in the area of literature instead of art.

Easter Egg Painting

This project involved painting Easter eggs that we had cut out of construction paper. The focus during this lesson was primarily on pattern, color, line, and shape, but we also integrated fading, along with tint and shading. This is a fun creative lesson; one that children will be familiar with, as almost every child has experienced painting Easter eggs.

Extension Activity
You could go into a science lesson regarding mammals, since they lay eggs, discussing the biology of those animals and how they go through the process of laying and protecting eggs.

Jungle Safari

This project utilizes warm and cool colors. The cool color is used to draw a zoo animal onto a piece of paper, the warm colors create a pattern that is drawn over the zoo animal. This magic eye safari comes to life when a pair of red cellophane glasses built on the side are worn. We spent time practicing our drawing skills before starting this project, drawing zoo animals backwards. These zoo animal pictures provided a reference that we could use when drawing. We finished the project by creating a border out of construction paper.

Extension Activity
This would be a good extension for a science/biology unit, looking into color/ how we see color. This

Eric Carle Tissue Paper Art

Eric Carle is famous for his masterful collages, loved by children! His story, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" is an example of his work. This project explored Eric Carle's strategy in creating collages. We began by painting two pieces of construction paper with unique blends of colors creating many different colors and textures to choose from. When the paper was dried we cut shapes out of the construction paper to assemble our own collages. Students would share what they hadn't used providing a wide variety of colors/textures to choose from. The idea of this collage was to create a page out of a story, we were required to write something adding dialogue to our picture when we were finished.

Extension Activities
Tying art into writing activities gives students a chance to be expressive with their art, and their writing. Students could write a short story about, or tied to their collage, or students could create an entire book throughout the year. This type of activity would be incredibly beneficial to students especially in 1st or 2nd grade.

Van Gough Tissue Paper Collage

This simple yet innovative project inspired by Van Gough's "Starry Night" will surely draw the creativity out of your students. Laying tissue paper over construction paper students create a sky filled with motion and expression. Rather than gluing the tissue paper on to the construction paper, students paint a gel medium over the top of the project making it shiny. Markers can then be used to add more flare to the piece, along with other mediums of choice such as pastels. The final step of the project involves adding a sky line to the piece using construction paper. In all areas of this project line and shape are emphasized. Filling your skyline and your sky with an assortment of shapes and lines will bring this piece to life!

Extension Activity
Students could explore other artwork and other art techniques from other famous artists. Students could write a paper about the original "Starry Night" piece giving their perspective on the famous work of art. Students could also explore the history of Van Gough, individually or within a group setting.

Elements and Principles of Art (Photo Scavenger Hunt)

For this exciting project students choose four elements/principals of art and then search for them on a photo scavenger hunt. The scope of this activity is limitless as students can search the whole wide world looking for examples of the elements/principals. For simplicity sake I would suggest however limiting the search to their home town, unless they have previous photos from vacations that they feel are great examples. I for example used several photos from hiking excursions to bring clarity to the elements/principles. Students should explain how each photo matches an element or principle by writing a short paragraph.



Movement  
•Movement guides the eye of the viewer through the work of art. The art piece should present a sense of flow.
Movement can be seen when looking at the clouds in this sunrise.  

  “Outlaw Mountain” near Custer SD
  Black Hills















Rhythm

•Rhythm draws the eyes from one object to the next as a result of a repeated pattern, colors and lines remain consistent.

Looking at these clouds we can clearly see rhythm as they create repetition/pattern in the below picture.  

             “Atlantic Mountain Ranch” (Lutheran Outdoors camp)

                Black Hills 

 

 











Unity

Unity is the result of many elements of art coming together to create a unified sense of balance in the art work.

In the below picture several of the elements are blending together, there is a sense of movement, balance, contrast, and even emphasis when looking at the tree in the for ground. This creates an overall sense of unity as the piece comes together as a whole.

 

             “Canyon lands national park” Utah

Contrast

•Contrast is the jump between light and dark colors, it is the result of using elements that conflict with each other. Complimentary colors can also create a sense of contrast.

The lightning in this photo gives the viewer a sense of contrast along with the brighter colors from the sunrise below the dark clouds.   

             “Little Devils Tower” Custer State Park

Extension Activity 

This would be a great activity to introduce at the elementary level. Students could analyze a single principle of art and then explore which elements are involved in each principle. The project could take place in the surrounding school area itself, or you could even take students on a field trip. This project could also be done in groups with each member of the group looking into a different principle. As a group students could then collaborate sharing their results on the different principles.

 

 Footprint Activity

I have discovered a fun art project that is sure to get children excited. This assignment incorporates using three art based tools to create a story of ones life, on an outline of their footprint. I used acrylics, colored pencils, and oil pastels, but children are free to use whatever is available.

Have the student think about things they want to share with the class that define who they are, these ideas can then be turned into smaller image ideas that can be pieced together on the footprint. My footprint listed below for example uses lots of imagery to guide you through my life story. The cross at the bottom of my foot represents my faith, the musical notes and drum represent my love for music. Moving into the middle of my foot the Chicago skyline represents the many mission trips that have changed my life and have helped me to grow spiritually. The campfire at the top of my foot along with the mountains and scenic landscape represents camp and my love for nature. This is one example of approaching this fun activity!

This footprint activity could be integrated to include a narrower focus, such as illustrating the things you love the most in life, or strictly limiting the activity to hobbies. The activity could also be change to include the outline of a hand instead of a foot. The possibilities are endless!