6th Grade - Plaster Masks

The 6th grade mask-making lesson is probably the most anticipated project of the school year!  As you can see, the students get to lay on the tables as their group members apply the plaster gauze strips to their face.  To protect their faces, we simply begin by placing a damp paper towel on them, of course with a hole torn out for their nose.  Group members work quickly to apply about 3 layers of plaster gauze to their face.  Once everyone has their masks made we discuss the history of masks, uses of masks and  various options for them to use when creating their mask design.   A sketch is completed and painting begins.  Some students create other pieces out of paper, cotton, fabric, etc.. to apply to their mask as well.  Results get better every year and there's always such a wide range of masks made.

 

4th Grade - Animal Pots

4th graders had 3 requirements for their animal pot; it had to be a pot/container, have a lid that fits, and had to somehow be transformed into an animal.  They did a sketch before beginning.  The pots all started as a pinch pot, and animal parts were added on by slipping and scoring.  Lids were made from either slabs or pinch pots.  Fired pieces were painted and clear glazed.  They were all so fantastic I couldn't just choose a few pictures!

5th Grade - Tessellations

Students learned about MC Escher while creating these tessellations.  They made their own tessellation shape, traced it on the larger paper, and had to transform that shape into an image. 

 

6th Grade - Positive and Negative Space Squares

Students learned about positive and negative space in this lesson.  They used one small square paper, a larger square paper plus scissors and glue to create these collages.

3rd Grade - Stuffed Paper Masks

Students made a large scale, symmetrical paper masks.  They began by drawing the "mask" on one piece of butcher paper, adding eyes, noses, mouths, and designs that were symmetrical.  They cut out the front and back side of their mask simultaneously.  Before moving any further, they glued the two pieces together around the edge, making sure to leave an unglued gap, about the size of their hand, so they could open it up to stuff it later.  Next, they collaged and painted the front side of their mask.  After stuffing with newspaper, they stapled the gap shut.

1st Grade - Clay Fish Sculptures

These colorful clay fish were created by first graders.  (They took them out of the room so fast this is the only picture I got!)  They practiced wedging their clay, flattening into a slab, drawing the fish with the needle tool, cutting it out and adding details.  They also added a fish texture by pressing seashells into the clay.  Once fired, they painted with watercolors and finished them off with a layer of acrylic glaze.

2nd Grade - James Rizzi Cityscapes

2nd graders loved learning about James Rizzi's colorful and cartoon-like drawing style.  After looking at several of Rizzi's artwork, they were anxious to get to their own cityscape drawings.  They began with buildings in the background, then sidewalk/street/cars in the middle ground, and people in the foreground.  All drawing was done in pencil first, outlined, and colored in with markers.

4th Grade - Van Gogh Silhouette Landscapes

Students studied Van Gogh's "Starry Night" before creating these landscapes.  Their first step was to use watercolor pencils for their skies and apply the impressionism technique.  Next, they created objects in the forground of their landscape with black paper.  Some students also chose to add a little color on those pieces with construction paper crayons.

1st Grade - Fall Leaf Prints

First graders enjoyed using the leaves they collected from outside the art room and painting them with warm colors (plus white) to print them.  They used gold to paint the veins of the leaves.  Their backgrounds were completed by dabbing on cool colors with a cotton swab.

2nd Grade - Complementary Portraits

There was a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, with this lesson.  First, students drew a portrait.  It could be realistic or more abstract - their choice.  Next, they chose just one color (of oil pastel) to color it in.  They got to also use white and black oil pastels to create different values of that one color.  Lastly, backgrounds were painted with it's complementary color.

Kindergarten - Secondary Color Paintings

Students had a fun time mixing secondary colors after reading the book, "Mouse Paint."  They explored with the colors and painted a masterpiece of their choice!

 

1st Grade - Impressionist Landscapes

Students learned about landscapes and the use of a horizon line in this lesson.  They brainstormed as a class a list of things that could go in a landscape before drawing theirs on a piece of black paper.  Next, they traced over all their pencil lines with just the right amount of white glue.  Once dry, we discussed impressionism while looking at several paintings.  They applied the impressionist technique with chalk pastels to finish off their landscapes.