Tinted Color Wheels (5th Grade)

During this project the fifth graders explored the creation and use of color in our everyday lives. They were able to learn about primary, secondary, intermediate, and complementary colors as well as the use of tints, shades, and values in order to create a full color wheel. The students were able to demonstrate all they learned by creating their very own color wheel that displayed each color and the tints and shades of that color. After demonstrating their knowledge of the color wheel, each student selected a repetitive design that complimented their color wheel. They replicated that design in each slice of the color wheel.

     During this lesson the students discovered artists such as Hans Hoffman and Mark Rothko that are famously known for their expressive art that utilizes the elements of color. Through these artists the students discovered how color is used to create contrasting compositions and optical illusions. 

Warm and Cool Landscapes (3rd Grade)

In third grade we started off the year by discussing color and how it is used to depicted different feelings and emotions. We then talked about what made up a landscape painting or piece of art. In order to demonstrate what the students learned, they created their very own ocean landscapes and used warm colors in the sky and cool colors in the sea. They were able to pick their own designs they wanted to add in the ocean.

van Gogh Sunflowers (1st Grade)

Known for his unique painting style and cultural influence, our first graders discovered how to identify Vincent van Gogh’s brush techniques throughout his artist portfolio. We dissected his unique Landscape paintings, portraits, and still life paintings that are now coveted by national museums around the world.

     For this project the first graders created their own vase of sunflowers by incorporating mixed media into their artwork. Mixed media is the use of multiple types of mediums such as paint, paper, and pencil. The students used watercolor paint for their background and table top, construction paper and construction crayons for their vase and decoration aspect of the piece, and then tissue paper for the sunflowers to create a three dimensional aspect to their artwork. Though structured with a common objective in mind, each vase of flowers resulted in the unique characteristics of each student.

Learning Lines (Kindergarten)

For a fun activity with my kindergarten classes as we discuss the different types of lines, I have created a game called musical lines. On the floor I taped different types of lines down with masking tape (zigzag lines, vertical, diagonal, horizontal, and curvy. The students all line up in a single file line and I HIT THE MUSIC! I tend to use salsa music since most people can not help but bust a move when the beat comes on. The students start dancing and they start following the lines all around the room. When the music is turned off they have to freeze. Once they get the hang of the freezing part of the game I incorporate the musical lines part of the game. When the music shuts off I spin an arrow and whatever line the arrow lands on is the line that has to go back to their seats. So if the arrow lands on a zigzag line the students on that line have to return to their seats. The students really love the game and it is a fun way to help them learn the different types of lines.

Artist of the Month

Each month I will choose a student that has demonstrated excellent leadership skills in the classroom as well as artistic skills on their artwork.

This student's name is McLane. He is in 3rd grade and is an excellent student, leader, and artist. He is an excellent helper in the classroom, he shows great leadership in helping others when needed, and has demonstrate advanced artistic skills in his artwork. Congratulations McLane... you're a rock star!

Warm and Cool Post-Assessment

As a fun way to get the students excited about telling others what they have learned in art I have chosen to start recording some students to see if they can recall what they've learned so they can be movie stars. The kids LOVE IT!!!