Rhythmic Rings

Recycled art by the third graders! We rolled, and rolled..and rolled paper and created a collaborative recycled paper installation outside the art room. Each student created their own panel to contribute to the installation. Beyond the use of paper, we used tons and tons of recycled caps from old markers, glue sticks and recycled items from the lunch room. Nice junk sculpture 3rd Grade!

t.p TUBE art

I pre-chopped TONS of recycled t.p. tubes (thanks to all of the devoted recyclers in our community!) for this project during recycled art month in the art room. Then, the second graders arranged and rearranged the tube pieces into arrangements on mat boards. The second graders dipped one side of the ring into art paste and then attached it to the board. Next class period, they painted. Easy-peasy lemon squeezy.

Creole Cottages

Popsicle sticks, toothpicks, cardboard, pom poms, pipe cleaners, tag board templates (to create 4 walls) scrap tag board to create architectural design elements & yard elements. We looked closely at New Orleans creole cottages for inspiration. My students really enjoyed this project--we set up a series of these homes for Family Arts Night in rows similar to the streets of the French Quarter!

Hearts

Cork polka dot painted butcher paper hearts, stuffed and coated in other "lovely" things. A little love from the kindergartners!

Koi Fish Kites

Inspired by our theme this month "Art from Around the World," the Kindergartners created Koi Fish Kites. This was a 2-3 day lesson for most of my students.

Day 1- Looked and talked about Koi fish- basics: Their appearance (color, shape, body size), their environment, the meaning of "koi" and where we might have seen Koi fish before. Then, I did a demonstration of creating scales of the Koi fish with oil pastel, followed by watercolor.
** I stapled the flat sheets into tubes shapes between day one and day two.**
Day 2- I set up stations for the Kindergartners to move around the room and add tails (tissue paper, colored wax paper), GLITTER, scales/textures, and strings to their kites. I really enjoy witnessing  "Aha" moments when they are moving around the room, making decisions, collaborating and communicating with their peers.

I displayed the kites from the ceiling in my room...The older grades were quite impressed by the young artists' work.

Birch BaRk BasKets

Inspired by the Ojibwa, the fourth graders created their own "birch bark" basket. First step is to develop paper with a similar texture to birch bark through the use of chalk and tempera paint on tag board. Next, practice measuring and cutting a basket shape (I had many examples- which some students used to create their template, but others came up with their own basket shape.) Practicing with a separate piece of paper helped my students work out the kinks in their designs before they started cutting and gluing their final piece of birch bark. The last step of the basket is to add decorative elements such as stitching, feathers, fabric cut designs, beads and painted symbols.

Plump Pumpkins...Plumpkins!

Yesterday Swallow Elementary turned into a day of  "Halloween Celebration." wow-za, glad I survived my first Halloween in an elementary school, through the sugar highs and lows. The costumes were great, and I was lucky to have two of my three sections of First grade throughout the day to wrap up their Plump Pumpkin Sculptures. We talked about facial expressions and emotions and they added "expressions" to their plumpkin friends.  By request of more pipe cleaner color choices, they also added hair-do's, arms, legs, and even hoop earrings-very creative. I love the moments when they envision more, and have great outcomes. My room looked like a pumpkin patch over the past week or so...happy seasons, folks.

Paper Sculpture

In-progress paper sculptures

Display near the art room/second grade hallway...

I really enjoy how far the sculptures pop off the wall, however I thought this might encourage students passing in the hallway to "interact" with the sculptures. So far, it hasn't been an issue, yay!

The Second Grade students created sculptures inspired by sculptures unique to the Midwest, taking a closer look at the "The Calling" located downtown Milwaukee near the MAM. We have been working on lines, elements/principles of design, as well as developing a better understanding of 2D and 3D works of art. I was impressed and inspired by some of the creations in the classroom. My favorite was the hidden letters in their sculptures as well as loops inside of loops, on top loops, underneath loops... and loops on loops.