3rd Grade Beautiful Oops!

This project has been a favorite for the last few years, but each year we expand on the thinking we use as part of the process.  In addition to reading the always inspiring Beautiful Oops, and engaging in a Beautiful Oops inspired creativity challenge (Read more about this in last year's post), students thought about failure in a new way with an improv exercise.

Check out the video we watched in class!  I encourage you to ask your students about this exercise.

After watching the video, students thought of their own failures and presented them to the class.  Of course when they finished, we gave a round of applause.  Failures help our brains grow and we want to celebrate whenever we move on from or learn from a failure!

For the next phase of this unit, we looked at and discussed work by Columbus Artist, Levent Isik.  We are lucky enough to own two original works by this artist, given to our school at about the time I was in 3rd grade!  Students were really inspired by his use of multiple materials, bright colors, and patterns.

We also used mixed media in our art but started with just one scrap of cardboard.  

What can you turn a scrap of cardboard into?

Students hard at work, thinking of ideas form their lives, mixing paint, and combining many materials.

Check out some finished paintings!

Students completed this project by reflecting on their work and giving compliments to their classmates.

Cardboard Beautiful Oops

Third graders began the year with Barney Saltzberg's wonderful and inspiring book, Beautiful Oops!  Students always love this book and are constantly awwing at how the author turns rips, spills, and tears into new creations!   Before reading the book, each student was prompted to make a "mistake" on their paper.  After reading and discussing the book, students were given someone else's "oops" and had the challenge to turn it into something new!



This challenge was a great springboard for our longer project, in which students created a painting inspired by a scrap of cardboard.  Each student began with a scrap of cardboard, brainstormed ideas, and used tempera paint to complete their ideas.  Students experimented with color mixing and using various brushes.   We also looked at work by local artist, Levent Isik for inspiration.   We are lucky to have two of his paintings hanging in the art room!   Students were inspired by his narrative works, the borders he created, and the unconventional materials he utilized.

Check out some completed works and reflections below!