Mondrian

I just love teaching Mondrian to first graders as one of the first artists they learn about. I try each year to change up the creative process a bit. This year the students did prints with cardboard dipped in paint to create the black lines then they went back the next art class and added color with oil pastel. One of our new curriculum goals is to have students collaborate on a work of art together. This gave me the idea for students to create these Mondrian cubes with their table mates. Plus, a neat way to work with the same subject matter in 2-D and 3-D! Also, check out my new art ed shirt!

Van Gogh Sunflowers

These giant murals were created by first graders! They each painted a sunflower however they liked and then were added into a vase. These looked great in our school staircase this fall!

First Grade Scarecrows!

Clay Texture Charms

I snapped this picture of my first graders holding up their clay necklace charms they just finished in art this week. I love to do this little lesson along with our bigger clay project, (usually a pinch pot). They take a ball of clay and set it on their clay mat on the floor. Next, they step on it-gently! We discuss how the texture from our shoe will print into our clay! They love this! I come around and poke the hole at the top and write their name on the back while they are busy adding texture to their pinch pots. Once fired they used liquid watercolor to paint them, which only added a slight change in color from the terracotta clay, still looked beautiful. They then sponge painted with sax glitter gloss and the last step was to string beads that are symmetrical! Many of them tell me stories about how they gave them to mom or grandma as a gift and that the wear them all the time!

First grade Snowy Self Portraits

Jim Dine Inspired Hearts by first grade!

Mache Snowmen and Penguins

First graders made the snowmen in two art classes, second graders created the penguins in two art classes. LOVE working with papier mache with my students!

Sorting Shapes

First graders have been learning the difference between geometric and free-form shapes. We did a sorting activity before we got out the paint! I love finding different ways to teach a concept!

Shape Alligators

In Art class, first graders have been busy learning about the art element of shape. Students learned there are two different types of shapes we talk about in art; geometric and free-form. Geometric shapes are shapes that have a specific name and are shapes we talk about in math (such as triangle, circle and square). Free-form shapes are shapes from things in nature (such as the shape of a cloud or leaf). First graders drew an alligator step by step using shapes! Students then used a steady hand to outline their drawing with sharpie. Finally, first graders painted their alligator green using yellow and blue liquid watercolors! Fantastic job first graders!

Dot Day!

International Dot Day is staged to encourage people of all ages to harness their creativity. It takes place September 15 each year. The inspiration behind the event is the children’s book The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds. It relates the tale of a teacher who challenges one of his students to take courage in her abilities and from a dot on a page the youngster goes on to make her mark. Real-life teacher Terry Shay brought this book to his class in the late 2000s and it was this that sparked Dot Day to life. It has grown from this one classroom to now be a worldwide celebration each year. Teachers can encourage students to get busy on the day with writing, drawing, painting, or other creative outlets and share this with the Dot Day website to inspire others. It’s not just for students though and anyone can get involved to show their talents! First graders at Keller created their own dot artwork after reading the book The Dot. Students even added their own swirl gold frame around their artwork, just like the artist in the book.

Wayne Thiebaud Cupcakes

These first grade cupcakes were inspired by the American painter Wayne Thiebaud (pronounced TEE-bow). He creates paintings of fun things from everyday life, such as cakes, pies, ice cream, hot dogs and gumball machines. Students learned that his art can be labeled realism because it looks real. After learning about Wayne Thiebaud, students created their own yummy artwork of a cupcake. Students cut, glued, ripped and painted paper while creating these masterpieces! First graders also had to show an understanding what a pattern is while they decorated the bottom of their cupcakes. Way to go young artists! These scrumptious cupcakes are beautifully decorated just as if seen in an upscale bakery shop!

Jim Dine Tinted Hearts

In Art class, first grade students studied the artist Jim Dine. They learned that he is a living artist who was born in Ohio, but now lives in Europe. We talked about symbols and how people all over the world recognize what a heart is. We looked at different examples of Jim Dine’s work with hearts in them and then created these beautiful Jim Dine inspired heart paintings! First graders learned what it means to make a tint while creating these hearts. They also had a lot of fun using a fork to add details!

Sunflower Paintings

For their first painting of the year in Art class, first graders studied sunflowers, plant parts and lines! Can you find the zigzag, curved, dotted and vertical lines in their paintings?

Shape Scarecrows

In Art class, first graders studied shapes and learned the difference between geometric and free-form shapes. Geometric shapes are math shapes, such as circles, triangles, rectangles or squares. Free-form shapes are shapes that are uneven and not regular, like the shape of a leaf or cloud. Students each created a scarecrow using geometric and free-form shapes. This project was also great for first graders to work on their cutting, gluing, and tracing skills! Way to go first grade artists!

Owls

Needed a fun one art class lesson for first grade. An art coworker from a different school gave me this idea. The kids had a blast making them! They are made from a TP tube and sticky tape! Great practice on their cutting skills :)

Clay Charms

First graders made clay pinch pots and then made these clay charms. They stepped on a small ball of clay to create the texture! The kids LOVED doing this! They were done just in time for Mother's Day!

1st grade Peacock Drawings

We used those awesome construction paper crayons and glitter gloss to create these after learning many fun facts about Peacocks. We also continued talking about free-form and geometric shapes!