 The 4th graders have started to make their names look 3-Dimensional by using 1-Point Perspective. I start by having the students draw their name in BOX letters, outlining it with black sharpie markers and then coloring it in too. Then they draw a vanishing point. This point is where all of the lines will disappear to. All corners, unless they run into their letter right away, are connected. If the eventually run into a letter, they stop. They first draw in pencil and the outline the lines with sharpie pen. They complete this lesson by using colored pencil and showing VALUE. Value is the light and dark of a color. | 
Box Letter Handout
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 This art lesson was created in our PLC and is being taught in each building, but is altered to fit the grade level. As an art department, we discussed what needed to be improved or what was lacking and we decided that the principle of design, Rhythm, was an area that we all struggle for the students to understand. The lesson is about creating rhythm by having the students create a similar shape and have the shape show a "visual path" or "movement" across the paper. They will use tissue paper for the background and black paper for the rhythm shapes. They will create their own black shapes that repeat but they do not have to be the exact same, just look similar, and create move  I have been a little apprehensive about doing "seasonal" art lessons but I have started to find really wonderful lessons (thanks to Pinterest) and have finally caved. The 4th graders will be taking a break from making their color wheels and starting to get in the wintery spirit. This lesson came at the perfect time as we were just hit with about a foot of snow! Our art vocabulary words are Value and Form • Value refers to the dark and light in an artwork • Form is 3-Dimensional and takes up space or creates the illusion of space We will start out by using white chalk pastel on dark paper. (black, blue or purple) to draw 3 circles. We will also talk about having a light source and shadows. After that, they will select a dark colored chalk pastel (black, purple, blue) and color the opposite side and then gradually blend the dark color and the white together. They will then add all the fun details to make their snowmen different.  4th graders are starting to make color wheel posters. We will actually start out by painting and mixing the colors on separate paper and then cutting out shapes and arranging on another paper. This way everything can be arranged and done neatly. We have 4 vocabulary words for this art lesson 1. Primary Colors - Blue, Red & Yellow - These colors make the rest of the colors 2. Secondary Colors - Orange, Purple & Green -These colors are created when you mix 2 Primary Colors together 3. Intermediate Colors - These colors are in between a Primary & Secondary color - like yellow-green or red-orange 4. Complimentary Colors - These are colors opposite on the color wheel - like Red & Green, Blue & Orange and Yellow & Purple Below is a delightful video about the primary colors performed by a band called OK GO.  4th graders have started creating Russian Architecture - called Onion Domes. Onion Domes are well known in Russia especially Saint Basil's Cathedral. The fourth graders start by drawing in pencil their onion dome towers, making sure they have at least 3 towers and they show them overlapping each other. Inside their towers their should be pattern. Once drawn in pencil, they will outline first the pattern using a sharpie pen. After that, students will outline the onion dome shapes with black glue. *The glue is white with black paint added to it. When glue is dry, they will paint with tempera paint cakes.
 Last week, Becker was very lucky to have the artist, Judy Sell, come create a mosaic installation for the High School Commons. 20 students from the intermediate school helped create the mandala-like mosaics. Each school building will get the chance to participate in creating these mosaics and at the end of October the mosaics will be hung up on the High School commons columns. To the left is a photo of Judy Sell teaching the students about mosaics. 
 The 4th grade is starting one of my favorite art lessons, ANIMAL MOSAICS! For this lesson we talk about mosaics and the artist, Winold Reiss. We discuss the principle of art - Emphasis - the main part, the focal point of a piece of art and the element of art - Texture - how the surface looks or feels. Students first draw out their animal of choice with pencil on black construction paper. After drawing it out, students cut out small pieces of magazine paper and overlap the paper to create the mosaic. To the right is a student's example from last year.  I found this idea while on Pinterest (my new obsession) and followed the picture to the blog, Teach Kids Art. Each student would start with their name, writting each letter in pencil. The first letter is drawn touching the bottom and left side. The next letter is drawn touching the first letter and the top of the paper. And then you alternate each letter, one is drawn touching the top and the next is touching the bottom. Each letter is touching the letters next to them. Students will then use a black sharpie marker to make the letters thicker and then will add patterns in between each letters. | Gail DahlgrenI'm in my 3rd year teaching art in Becker, MN trying to survive and thrive. ArchivesMay 2013 CategoriesAll |
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