Sneak Preview: Self Portraits (4th/5th)

A sneak preview of my 4th and 5th grader's self portraits. I'm so proud of them.

Critiquing in the Elementary School Art Classroom

Too often students are not taught how to look at art, know its purpose, see the elements and principles, and how to talk about art.  Getting the students especially in the elementary school classroom to do this is like pulling teeth. But why not make it fun? My students are learning how to do these things through an art critique.  Yes, I know they are only in elementary school, but it is never too early to understand why something looks nice.

Each student is given 3 critique cards. These are used like casting votes for pieces.
       - Frame: The piece they would put in a museum.
       - House: The piece they would put in their house.
       - Money:  The piece they would sell.

To see slideshow and full details go to : Critique slideshow.

Once votes have been cast, a class discussion is started.  The kids have so much fun with this.  It is different from the normal art class they are used to.  Check out my lesson (**link to come) and slideshow for full details.  I modified this idea from something a professor in college taught me.  Honestly, at the time I thought it was a dumb idea, but after talking with the kids and spending more time with them, I am realizing how genius it really is.

Tell me what you think!  Would you change anything?

Will The Real Picasso Please Stand Up!

     I started "Picasso Portraits" with my Kindergarten and 1st grade classes this week!  I had a blast.  To create the profile part we traced their faces against the table attempting not to giggle, with little success in that department.  The children really enjoyed not worrying about things being "perfect," and letting their imaginations run free.  But I have to say, my favorite part was playing the game "Will The Real Picasso Please Stand Up!"  Each child claimed they were the real Picasso.   

Lesson: HERE

Slideshow I used with this lesson: HERE

Video for the lesson (I altered the lesson) : HERE

Butterfly or Penis?

The best part of being an art teacher are some of the hilarious things that are drawn by children.  I asked the students to make something out of 2 triangles.  Below is a drawing of a "butterfly" by a kindergarten boy.

The joys of being an art teacher.

Doesn't help that it is brown.

I also have a 2nd from the same class. Penis' for all.

Some students drew trees, buildings, cats, rabbits, dogs or other non phallic things.

"I'll never paint again!"

This past week I painted with my Kindergarten and 1st grade students. I was terrified.  Before we began I gave the students a talk "If I see any paint on my floor, on yourself, on your friends... we will never paint again."  If it was an accident however I wouldn't be upset.  It went well, the student tried their hardest to stay clean and held their painting "like big cakes."  They lined up one by one as I placed the painting in the drying rack.  Right as this one Kindergartener got up to me she tripped, face planting into her painting!  SPLAT! Coming back up we pealed the painting off of her face. Surprisingly nothing smudged!  There was a perfect image of her flowers on her face.  She looked at me with a dismay in her eyes "I'll never paint again!" I couldn't help it, I rolled with laughter.  Once I recovered I told her not to worry, it was an accident and proceeded to clean her face with a sponge.

This is why I teach art.

Image from funart4kids

Jellyfish: Special Education

Student Example

Coming up with art lessons geared for the EC or Special Education children has turned out to be harder than I first thought.  I want to keep the children engaged in the material, while still learning and having fun.  Coloring pages get boring.

In this project the kids were to make their own jellyfish. The kids had a blast! The ribbons gave their jellyfish motion as they played with their art.

I first showed the students a small video on jellyfish (here).  While the children worked I left images of jellyfish up on the ActivBoard (here).



Materials
Thin paper plates (1/2 per child)
Crayons
Glue
Thin paper strips
Ribbon
Scissors


I would have liked to only use ribbon, and avoided the paper strips but available materials didn't provide for that.

Check out my Pintrest board for EC children here.

Roll A Face Game

Sometimes in the art classroom certain classes get ahead, while others seem to always be behind.  I came up with this filler to help even out the classes. The kids had a blast!  They roll dice to create a face. Children take turns rolling the dice, first one to a complete face wins!  I gave examples at the front of the room of different kinds of noses, mouths, eyes, and hair.  This encouraged them to do something other than an "L" nose.  Trying it with K/1 was a bit difficult, but it would work wonderfully with the older kids!

Materials needed:
2 dice per team
head template

You can download the directions and template: HERE