Using Line and Shape, K-5

There are so many photo editing options available on my iPad that I am making myself a little cuckoo trying to pick the best one for blogging. Too many choices! Here is a sampling of line studies using a variety of photo tools. May look a little messy, but I have to try them out to see what I like, and what you like!



A compostion from FrameMagic



Paint/pastel combo from 3rd grade using Instagram



A FrameMagic/Instagram combo




Adding text with Phonto, 1st grade collage

 

Haring figures in fourth (2012)

Observational drawing is always in the unit 1 curriculum for 4th graders, and we begin with a series of 30 second gesture drawings. The kids love striking action poses and drawing each other. Next, we look at the symbolic figural works of Keith Haring, the first in a unit full of American Pop artists. We add contour lines around these gesture figures and paint them with tints and shades of a single hue. Action lines can suggest sound, energy, or movement. Students finished up by titling their scenes with a description of the setting and characters, tying in to the ELA curriculum. Love this lesson every year.

Using a timeline

My students have enjoyed looking at the art history timeline I posted outside my room this year. I really enjoy looking at timelines - being a visual person, it really helps me place historical events in my head.

I have purchased and inherited several timelines from various catalogs and classrooms - every one of them has been so incredibly LONG that is was nearly impossible to use or display it. So I made my own, with each time period on its own sheet so that I can effectively scale down to a particular era (it's not often you need to look at Paleolithic fossils and Pop art at the same time, although it sounds like a fun challenge). So, for example, when we begin an Impressionism lesson, we can look at what came before and what came after in the art world.  I really like seeing how art changed after the invention of the modern camera!

I also like including important tidbits that are happening in other parts of the world. Before it comes down from the hall, I am hoping that students might select their favorite time in art history and we will graph the responses.

 

"Just make a mark...

...and see where it takes you."
This quote by Vashti's art teacher in the iconic art class book The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds, has become our motto in 3rd grade over the last two weeks. We have a great start on our dot inspired works and hope to participate in the International Dot Day celebration on September 15. More to come!

Our beginning of the year motto, which I made into a class poster

Students chose which media they preferred

Using dots and marks to get our compositions started

Watching the animated version of the book on our projector

Ishful thinking

Ish, a book about loosening up the creative spirit by Peter H. Reynolds, has been a real treat for my second graders this week. This is the second year I have introduced the book during the first days of school, and I can really see it working with my students as they laugh with each other while they pull Popsicle sticks from a cup with drawing instructions like "truck-ish" or "fish-ish" or even "your wish-ish." We happened to see a baby bunny outside the art room window during our story time and most of the students included -ish bunnies on our sketch pages as well.
The story inspires stress-free drawing and a fresh outlook toward the rest of our year of creativity. Although it is a simple pencil drawing that will remain in our portfolios, it represents much bigger things to come!
On another note, this is my 200th blog post and the beginning of my 20th year as an art teacher, hard to believe how time flies!

Ready for day one...