Fourth Grade Reduction Prints

Fourth grade has just recently finished up a very involved printmaking project. Students looked at traditional Japanese woodblock printing and made guesses on how the artists were able to print in so many colors.

Students were shown that the artist printed each color in a separate layer, so to create a four colored print the image had to be inked and stamped four times. To simulate the look of a Japanese woodblock print without the woodblock students used styrofoam plates and a reduction printmaking technique. 

Here are some finished reduction prints.

Canopic Jars

So these beauties were started wayyyyyy back in December before holiday break, they were finished up upon our return in January and I'm finally getting around to posting them. So this was quiet the project.

This project went along with our Ancient Egyptian unit. The fourth graders looked at canopic jars and discussed the uses and the reason behind the animal heads on each jar. Then students brainstormed ideas for their very own canpoic jar. The next several classes were spent building up the form around a yogurt cup with newspaper, masking tape and paper mache paste. This part really stretches some students thinking, having to transfer a 2D drawing to a 3D sculpture.

After weeks of building their creations it was finally time to paint. My students simply used tempera paint which they then covered with a paint on clear acrylic sealer to prevent the paint from chipping off.

 Since wrapping up Ancient Egypt we have zoomed forward thousands of years to look at astronauts and outer space with our next art with science unit.

Elementary Egypt

Greetings everyone.






So for the past several weeks my students have been learning all about Ancient Egypt. I find everything from this time period so fascinating and it would seem my students do as well. They are full of insightful questions and numerous students have brought in Egyptian books, statues etc from home to share with me!

Anyways at the start of this unit I decided I wanted to dress up the front of the room to fit the theme. I looked at my twelve windows that connect with the hall and was struck with the idea to put a mural in those windows. I mean how long could it possibly take? Two weeks later I finally got around to finishing the mural and hanging it the windows, plus sprucing up Rib's tank and table area with Egyptian items. Overall I was pretty pleased and the kids really dig the                                                                                             area.



Now for a glimpse at one of the many cool Egyptian projects done by my students. The fourth graders were introduced to the drawing style of the Ancient Egyptians. We learned that the Egyptian artists followed certain rules when drawing the human figure. They were taught to draw using a grid system that led to the figures always having what Egyptians deemed the right proportions. They also chose to draw different parts of the body from different angels. Students then used grid paper to draw the way Ancient Egyptians did  including animal heads. Once students completed their drawings we transferred the images to Styrofoam plates for printmaking.

The following class was spent reviewing printmaking. We talked about the tools used and the procedures we needed to follow in order to make the printing go smoothly. . . as smoothly as it can with 25 fourth graders.  Students then got to work making two practice prints. On this first day of printing I only let the students use black ink.

The last two classes were spent making colored prints. Some using only one color and then eventually using two colors on one print. The students really enjoyed getting to choose what two colors they wanted to use together. Once all the printing was finished I had students choose his/her two best prints and mat them. They all came out super awesome.

Name Design Skeletons

Fourth grade recently finished up a project where they used his/her name in a clever way. First we learned about symmetry and then students wrote out his/her name on a long piece of white paper folded in half. It was important that they were sure to keep all the letters of his/her name connected. This way when students cut out his/her name all the letters remained connected. It was also important that one point of every letter was touching the folded edge of the paper, so when students unfolded the design they ended up two copies of his/her name connected. This creates a mirror image of their names, a symmetrical design.

This design coincidentally looks a lot like skeleton bodies. So in theme with all things creepy and October that exactly what we turned them into. Students glued the name design onto black paper then added limbs and a head. Viola! Tons of skeletons each with their own personality.

  

Wire Animals

Fourth grade recently finished up our first project! Yay! Students learned about American artist Alexander Calder and how he used the element of line in his artwork. After talking about Calder's sculptures we became familiar with the concept of continuous contour line drawings, which means once you start drawing you can not lift up your pencil until the picture is complete. This idea is really fun for the kids once they get the hang of it.

Once everyone had their ideas drawn out on paper we began to recreate those drawings using wire, just like Alexander Calder. This part really forced the students to problem solve and think in a different way, which is why I like this project so much. Plus at the end we are left with dozens of really unique looking animals!

End of the Week Sneak Peak!

The second week of art is in the books and while no grade is one hundred percent finished with their projects I'm too excited to wait to show you what they are working on! To start off the year every grade is using the Element of Art - LINE in their projects. For some younger grades it is simply learning about the different types of lines and for others it is using line to make a more complex work of art.

 In Kindergarten first we learned the proper steps when painting, we don't want flat hair do's on our brushes! Then we talked about different lines and painted each one across our paper.

The next class we reviewed all the lines we had learned and then talked about the difference between 2-D and 3-D. After we made 3-D line sculptures. They were quite colorful!



First graders reviewed what they learned about line from Kindergarten and made a line sculpture out of pipe cleaners. The following class we started our Line and Pattern Project. Students divided his/her paper using different lines and then filled in each section using a pattern.We'll be going over these with watercolor next week.

Second grade is using line to make a cityscape. Students looked at the use of line in architecture and we discussed the idea of geometric lines vs. organic lines. Students used markers to fill in his/her buildings with black geometric lines and we have now begun filling in the backgrounds iwth colorful organic lines.

 Third graders are also learning about geometric and organic (lines and shapes). We used what we learned to create Aztec Suns. When coloring students colored half the sun with hot colors and half with cool colors. Then we used the opposite for the background. Students are doing and excellent job blending with the oil pastels.

 

Fourth Grade is learning all about American artist Alexander Clader. He's the artist who invented the mobile, but he is also responsible for some wonderful sculptures that use contour line. Students practiced using continuous contour line to draw (which means we never pick up our pencil while drawing). Once we had our animals drawn we started to make the drawing using thin wire just like Clader!

Fifth grade has been busy creating an Optical Illusion Design using line. This is a really great project as it emphasizes good craftsmanship. By the end of this project students are masters of shading with color pencil.

   Lastly my group of ASD students have been hard at work practicing their cutting and gluing skills while learning about all the colors of the rainbow at the same time! ROYGBIV everyone! 

A Look Around the Room

We are now into our second week of school and are starting up some really great projects I'm excited to share with you! First though I thought I'd give you an official look around my new art room!

 Here is a nice view of the room as you enter the class. My tables are arranged so there is a straight shot to the seating area in the back.

This is the area where students sit while when I discuss new projects, read books or look at images from the computer with them. I'm really diggin' on this rug I picked up on sale at Target.
I have a small book shelf to the right.  I have a lot wonderful art themed books for curriculum, plus tons of fun books for students who finish early to read.
I also have our classroom rules and Wildcat ROARS on the wall. Plus our favorite role model Mona Lisa.

Here is a view of the front of the class where i have hung our classroom art jobs and class ART letters to keep noise volume down and students on task. Those paying close attention will also see that Ribs the Art frog has his new home on the table at the front of the class!!

Lastly I'd thought I'd share with everyone what our Wildcats created during their first week in art.

Every student created a mini self-portrait using a monochromatic color scheme. That means they could only use one color to create his/her portrait. For some it was a challenge (especially those that had yellow) but everyone did a great job using different shades of the same color and different materials to create stunning works of art.

After every student completed a portrait I got to work taping and gluing and gluing and gluing . . . sorry needless to say it was a lot of gluing and assembling our finished work in the hallway! 

So when everyone walked into school this morning they were greeted by all the students smiling faces in a Giant Rainbow Wall!!