1st Grade: Aboriginal Snakes and Lizards

In first grade, we discussed Aboriginal art, including where it originates, basic symbols (a person, stream, and spear), how it tells stories, and how Aboriginal art is famous for its use of dots. I gave them the choice of drawing a snake, lizard, or both, with a white oil pastel. They then added interesting shapes inside their snake or lizard, like we discussed in a few Aboriginal art examples, as well as various symbols in the background of their piece.  After painting their animals with blue, orange, green, and brown paint, we added the finishing touch: creating dots with white tempera paint.

1st Grade: Egyptian Mummies

In first grade we discussed who a Pharaoh was (kings in Egypt), what happened after a Pharaoh's death, and what an Egyptian coffin looked like.  We then created our own Egyptian coffin.  We first did a step-by-step drawing of a basic Egyptian coffin.  Then the first graders added in their own shapes, patterns, and other details, and colored it with colorful oil pastels and gold crayons.  After cutting out the Egyptian coffin and gluing it to a black sheet of paper, they created lines and patterns using a gold crayon.

5th Grade: Onomatopoeias

In this lesson we discussed Pop Art and how Roy Lichtenstein was famous for incorporating onomatopoeias in his artwork.  After brainstorming examples of onomatopoeias, the 5th graders glued newspaper onto a sheet of paper, then using either markers, paint, or paper to create their image. I encouraged them to give equal thought to the actual word as well as the background.

5th Grade: Stippled Shoes

 After learning about light source, shadows, and stippling, the 5th graders drew their shoes using black marker.  They then added stippling to suggest shadow and light.  They then cut out their shoes, glued it onto a colored paper, and collaged. 

5th Grade: Primary and Secondary Hands and Feet

After learning about primary and secondary colors, namely how to mix secondary colors only with primary colors, the 5th graders received a black sheet of paper and a pencil.  

I instructed them to use a pencil to trace at least 5 hands or 5 feet or a combination, making sure to overlap each.  Then they designated each hand or foot a primary color.  The non-overlapping areas would remain that original primary color; the overlapping areas would be the resulting secondary color.

They then outlined it all in black and used white oil pastel to create interesting patterns and lines.

5th Grade: Emotion Glue Drawings

 In 5th grade we learned how to create different emotions using lines. After demonstrating how to create a few different lines, each student received a worksheet on which they drew lines that they felt could go alone with different musical numbers I played for the class. 

They then received a black sheet of paper and a bottle of glue. After creating various lines and allowing time to dry, they used chalk pastels to color. The results were amazing!

4th Grade: Felt Pictures

This project was done with the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders in the after-school art program.  I pretty much gave them free reign over a box of scrap felt, scissors, and glue.  These are a few of the results!