Styrofoam Prints

Animal Portraits

Printmaking

5^th Grade

For this project, 5^th graders began by personifying animals, or drawing animals with personality.  They then created a final drawing of their chosen animal.

Students transferred their designs to styrofoam printing plates and created prints comprising of two or more layers of ink.  Can you look at a print and tell which color was used first?  Students finished their work by creating a frame or display.

What part is the "art?"  Process shot Roman wanted to capture.

Any Guardians of the Galaxy fans?

Students wrapped up this unit by giving positive feedback on one another's artwork.

Thank you to http://thomaselementaryart.blogspot.com/ and http://dolvinartknight.blogspot.com/ for printmaking inspiration.

Mixed-Up Animals

Mixed-Up Animals

1st Grade

The inspiration for this unit is Eric Carle's silly and imaginative book, The Mixed-Up Chameleon.  After reading this book, students played a drawing game to make their own mixed-up creatures.  Each student began by drawing one animal body part, until they heard "switch!" which was the cue to swap with a friend and add on.   After playing the game, students sketched out their own mixed-up animal.

After the animals were all planned out, we returned to Eric Carle's book to look closer at his illustrations.  We remembered from kindergarten that Eric Carle makes his pictures using painted paper collage and adding lots of textures!  Below you see students prepping their own painted paper to use in their animal collage.   This day included a lot of experimentation with color mixing and using found objects as painting tools. 

An old doll hairbrush makes a great texture tool!

Translating drawings into collages!

When the painted paper had dried, it was time to collage the animals.   Students were challenged to create the details through cutting and layering the paper.  They shared their scraps with others to complete the animals.


Students completed their imaginative creations with yarn, buttons, beads and other embellishments!  See some photos of them on display below!

Kindergarten World Airlines

Around the World 

Each year, the kindergarten students spend time in their classroom traveling around the world, learning about mapping, the seven continents, and focusing on a country within each.  We have been connecting with this world study in art class, making art in Brazil, Ghana, Japan and Antarctica.

Brazil

Collages inspired by the rainforest and the art of Beatriz Milhazes.

Ghana

Bead making 

In Ghana, there is a rich tradition of bead making.  Historically, beads were used as currency in Ghana as part of the slave trade.  Today, they have a much brighter role in daily life, celebrations, and economics.   Kindergartners discussed the patterns, colors, and shapes they saw in beads and thought about why people might wear them and pass them on.  Students learned that the beads are made from breaking down and re-melting discarded glass bottles.  They even were able to touch real beads from Ghana, thanks to Ms. Gallo!

Students made their own shoe charms and beads from clay.  The shoe charms were made by stepping on the clay to make texture!  After the clay pieces were fired in the kiln, students painted them and assembled them into necklaces along with other beads.  

Japan 

Koinobori (Carp Streamers)

In Japan, children and families make Koinobori kites as part of the celebration for Children's Day.  Children's Day is celebrated on May 5th, and is a day to celebrate children's strength, happiness, and personalities.  

Antarctica

Clay Penguins

After learning about Emperor penguins, kindergarteners sculpted their own penguins out of clay.   Glass beads were melted in their pinch pots during the bisque firing to create icy habitats!

Thanks to cassiestephens.blogspot.com, and thomaselementaryart.blogspot.com for lesson inspirations.