K-8 Art Projects

 Description: For this project we analyzed different art pieces from Bridget Riley OP Art and Zentagle art to express the different patterns that the artists used in their work. We asked students what different elements and principles of design they noticed in the art work that Bridget Riley and Zentagle created. We then asked students to brainstorm two patterns that remind them of night and two patterns that remind them of day. We then walked the students through the process of creating the art piece. We walked the students through splitting the page and drawing the sun and the moon. We then had students use cold colors on the night time side and warm colors on the day time side.  Extension Activity: Another activity that could go with this project would be a read aloud of the book "Goodnight Moon." This book uses a lot of rhyming words that could be integrated into a lesson about night and day. After creating the art, the students could come up with a rhyme to go with their...

 Description: For this project, students picked yarn of their choice. I chose the color blue to represent my favorite color, and the color lime green to represent my past favorite color. I ended up getting six arms lengths of each color to ensure that I would have enough to cover the whole cup. Students then cut along the dotted lines on the cup to create different sections. Once the sections were created the students tied a knot and started using an over/under technique to weave through each section of the cup. Students then tied the second color to the first color when they wanted the color change to occur. Once the yarn made it to the top of the cup the students created another not to secure the yarn to the cup.  Extension Activity: Another activity that could go along with this project would be talking about the different cultures around the world that do a lot of basket weaving. We can talk about the art of basket weaving and the cultures that they belong to before teachi...

 Description: For this activity, we started by talking about the four seasons. The students were then asked to pick a season and sketch a scene on a piece of paper. After the scene was sketched, we taped the paper to a piece of foam and traced over our sketch to leave an indent in the foam. I chose to do a summer theme with a sunshine, an ice cream truck, and a swimming pool. After the sketch was traced, we then traced it again to leave a larger indent on the piece of foam. After the foam was fully indented with our sketched image we brought the foam over to a different table where we rolled black ink over the image. We then chose a piece of construction paper of our choice. We then flipped the foam so the side with ink was pressed against the construction paper. We then took a clean roller and rolled it over the back of the foam to create a print of our sketch. We then repeated this process again to get a second print.  Extension Activity: Another activity that could go along...

 Description: For this project, students were asked to choose a biome and look up some facts about it. I chose to to the polar region. When looking up the polar region, I saw that it was very cold. I also looked at some different types of wildlife that live in that region. Students then cut out a square of construction paper for the background of their polaroid image. The next step was cutting construction paper for the landscape. I chose a blue background and for the landscape I used white and created an igloo to make it look snowy. I then added some black constriction paper to make a door for the igloo. I also used black construction paper, orange construction paper and white construction paper to create a penguin. Extention Activity: One activity that could be added to this project would be a creative writing activity that involves students writing about what they learned about the biome they chose. Students could write a story based on the prompt "My trip to the..." This ...

 Description: For this project, the teachers started by reading a story to the class about how music can influence art and emotions. We then practiced some different techniques for painting with watercolors. The techniques include the following: - Gradient Wash - Flat Wash - Crayon Resist - Blotting - Sgraffito -Wet on wet After practicing those watercolor techniques, the instructors challenged the students to use those techniques while painting how you feel when certain songs were played. The first song that was played was a quick classical piece while the second song was a more upbeat rock song. The next few songs consisted of pop music. The first pop song was a bit slower and the second one was faster.  Extension Activity: Another activity that could go along with this lesson would be to play a few more song clips and challenge students to focus on one of the water color techniques for each song. This would help students practice all techniques and learn about how some tech...

 Description: For this activity we started by talking about safari animals. Next we used construction paper and red film to create a pair of "3D glasses." We then talked about upside down drawing for scale. We did some practice drawing upside down. Next, we grabbed a reference picture that we would draw upside down with a blue pencil for our project. The picture that I chose to draw was a monkey. Once I started drawing the monkey, made sure to flip the reference photo upside down. I drew the monkey with a blue pencil. Once I was done drawing the monkey, we used warm colors that would contrast with the blue bencil to cover it with various patterns of red, orange, and yellow. After fully covering the page, I put red backing paper on the project and wrote down the following facts about monkeys: - Monkeys are very smart. - A group of Monkies is called a Troop. - All monkeys have tails but some tails are smaller than others. Extension Activity: One activity that could go along wit...

 Description: During class, the students learned about the famous artist Vincent Van Gough. After learning about the artist, the students looked into the art styles that were used in his piece Starry Night . After looking at Starry Night,  the students used tissue paper to create a background on a piece of construction paper. For my background I used shades of blue, violet, green, and brown to creat an ocean scene. After the tissue paper was dried onto the background, we then cut out a landscape. My landscape represents the ocea floor. I also created some sea creature silhouette's to add to the image. I then used oil pastels to creat swirls to show bubbles and movement of the water. I also used oil pastels to create some emphasis on the sea creatures.  Extension Activity: This activity could be integrated into a science class by having students research different biomes. After learning about Vincent Van Gough, students could research biomes to get ideas for a background a...

 Description: On international Dot day our class watched a read aloud of the book The Dot by Peter Reynolds. After reading the story, all students revieved a coffee filter that they could use to create their art on. Once everyone recieved a coffee filter, they were able to use materials such as the following to create our art: - sharpies - oil pastels -crayons (crayola and water based) -watercolors -washable markers For my Dot I started by drawing some designs with crayon and oil pastels. I then used washable markers and watercolor paint mixed with water to create the coloring of the filter.  Extension Activity: Another activity that can be done with this would be to have students write a short story to go along with their dot. Considering the original activity went along with a read aloud, students could use the art that they created to make a story based on their design. They could also come up with a story about the process of creating their dot; this could include the emot...

Description: For this activity, the students were asked to take pictures for each of th elements and principles of design. A presentation was made using all the pictures that the students have taken in order to allow them to describe what each image was representing related to the elements and principles of design. The first picture of the ring lights was used to represent shape in the presentation. The tile image represents texture. The picture of the football field was used to represent space. The picture of the makeup pallete represented unity and variety. The final picture of the Nike shoe was used to represent a pattern.  Extension Activity: While looking at the images that I took, I notice that many of them could be representative of multiple elements or principles of design. Another activity that can be done with this would be to have students take pictures and then write about all of the elements and principles of design they can use to describe the image that they took. Th...