Hey there, friends! I recently had to take some time off from school putting me out of my classroom for three weeks. I'm fine, everything's fine (and no, I didn't have covid) but coming back...that didn't feel fine. Projects that we'd left hanging for the last three weeks didn't seem the best place to pick up where we left off. So I decided to give my youngest artists and myself a break from those projects and start something new. These little cats and dogs inspired by artist, author and illustrator Angie Rozelaar seemed like the perfect thing. Above is what my first graders created in 30 minutes. I got a lot of questions on this over on my IG so I decided to create a video. Here you go:
Feel free to use in your teaching world! All I ask is that credit be given when asked. I always share lessons and resources FOR FREE...my only "payment" required is that my lessons not be sold on TPT (it happens ALL THE TIME) and that credit be given. Please and thank you!
Just for a little variety, I decided to have my second graders draw pups instead of kittens. This tutorial can also be found in the video. Have fun, y'all! And here's to making it through this last week and a half before break!
It's December 1st! Which means it's time to embark on all sorts of fun, colorful and winter-y art projects around here! Today I'm sharing with you some winter-y greatest hits lessons that I've done over the years. Be sure and click on the link to each as many of these lessons have instructional videos...all free, of course!
Let's kick things off with these black glue outlined stained-glass inspired trees my fourth graders created a couple years ago. If you need a review on line and color with an introduction into the world of stained glass, than this lesson is for you and your kiddos!
Nothing says cozy like a delicious cup of hot cocoa! My second graders created these collage paintings inspired by the artist Heather Galler. This is a lesson I did last year with my kindergarten and they used Model Magic to create marshmallows! You can find this lesson right here.
One thing I've really missed this year is having my students work closely together on projects like murals. We have been making it work tho! We recently created a massive school mural (oh, y'all, I cannot wait to share here!) and with some outside-the-box thinking and spreading WAY out, we have made it work. You can check out details on creating a winter mural here.
You guys. It's the week of Halloween. I think there's gonna be a full moon. And it's 2020. The year that literally everything, including MURDER HORNETS (did we give up on those already?) descended upon us. For that reason, I'm treading REAL lightly this week...and I thought you might be too. For that reason, I created this lesson. To save us all.
Need a handout to give your students some ideas while drawing? I created one but only have a rachet looking version for y'all as I didn't have time to do it justice. I'm blaming 2020. Anywho, here you go and may the force be with all y'all!
We kicked off the school year with my mask project and my emotions lesson and we've now started working on a school wide collaborative piece. This is something we've done most school years...and it seems to be really fitting now that we are all back together. Time to celebrate!
When we do our big collaboratives, my students each make small parts (I share in the video below) that are attached to a large mural. To create the large mural backdrop, my students create these massive painted papers that I collage together. It all makes a whole lot more sense when I share it here...at least I hope it does!
Storing these papers is a bit of a beast, especially when they aren't quite dry. We had them draped EVERYWHERE today! However, now that we have so many painted, I can start to create the background for their completed works of art.
Until those are ready to share, I think if you visit this blog post, you'll get a better picture of what it is we're going for.
My first graders will be doing a mural similar to this one with the flowers they created. In the video, I mentioned that our mural will be based on the Louis Armstrong song What a Wonderful World. Each portion of the song will have it's own mural piece with artwork created attached.
Here's another one we did a couple of years ago.
I'm seriously so tired, I hope I'm making some sort of sense! I will say that my students have loved working on this mural, especially creating these large pattern papers!
Anyone else out there feeling like a first year teacher every single art teacherin' day? ME TOO! Isn't it great?!
(insert yeah-that's-sarcasm face here)
Finally, after nearly two months of the new school year, and my endless changes to how I run my newly formated art room, I feel like I just might have it figured out...knock on wood. Like, all of it.
Today I thought I'd take you on a little room tour and share some of my fave new hacks for the new school year.
Now, I know we all have different teaching environments right now...so you'll have to take all of what I share with a salt lick. Some might work for you, some might not. Hopefully I have something that might help you and your students.
I think now, more than ever, a positive mindset is what our students need and what's going to make these new changes bearable.
Now, let's take a little tour!
And now for a little bit of a closer look:
My mask on a lanyard makes it so I never misplace it again!
This is my art room at the start of the year with my students at their desks. I HATED it. I felt like a Charlie Brown teacher. I desperately needed them to meet me back on the floor for instruction as we've always done. After chatting with my admin, they agreed that I have the space to make it work. Here's a look at my new set up:
Check out the video to see how all tables, chairs, line up spots and floor spots are numbered to coordinate with the order the classroom teachers have established.
After the first day of teaching, I was online shopping for a mic. This one has saved my sanity and my voice.
All my stuff manages to grow legs and walk away because I'm miserable about setting something down and forgetting where I put it. Having a drop spot for all of my stuff has really helped.
