Cityscapes: Based on Tar Beach

In first grade one of our art essentials is to be able to distinguish landscapes, cityscapes, seascapes, portraits, and stilllifes. 

I started the lesson off with a short art assessment to see how much they knew about each term. 

This year I plan on really focusing on just these concepts, and for each first grade student to create a work of art of each. I only see my classes four weeks out of the school year, so hopefully we can get through each type of art. 

With this Cityscape lesson I chose the book Tar Beach and actually showed it on my smart board from this link

Bridges were drawn first with metallic markers, then Borders were made next with precut scrap paper squares and glue sticks. I encourage the students to cut the square in half vertically to make two triangles. 

The next day they made buildings out of construction paper and cut small squares for the windows. 

They cut shapes out of extra paper for decorations for the top of their buildings. 

As they worked on this I took their photo flying which was added last. 

State Fair Exhibit 2014

African Art-Second Grade

 In Second grade the classes are learning a little about Africa. The enhancement teachers were asked to do so as well. There are so many wonderful art lessons for Africa, so it was tough to come up with one, so I decided to use their art week learning about the Masai. I incorporated, Slide shares about this group of tribal Africans and books. This has been a great week!
Masai resources for this project:
http://www.slideshare.net/Shilpak2303/masai-people

http://www.slideshare.net/mkwoods77/my-masai-pwp?related=1

Book:

I borrowed this lesson from http://plateauartstudio.blogspot.com/2012/02/african-line-art.html 

This lesson has step by step directions. 

Masai Necklaces using a paper plate. 

Show Case of Stars 2014

Happy Summer! I wanted to post our school's awesome display at Show Case of Stars in March. I chose a few pieces from each grade level to represent our school.  I am so proud of my talented Polenta Students!

Second Grade Dog painting inspired from George Rodrigue's Blue Dog

First Grade: water color giraffe. 

Second Grade: Starry Night in my town

Third: Color Wheel Cow

Fifth Grade: Over and Above

First Grade: Dhurrie Rugs; Paper Weavings

Fourth Grade: Cardinal in Winter

Kindergarten: Pattern Zebra

Third: Gyotaku Fish Print

Fifth: Contour Line Drawing of Shoe

Kindergarten: Self Portriat

Fourth Grade: NC lighthouse Collage

Fifth Grade Zentangle Hand and Kindergarten Zebra

Literacy in Art

Since I have been back I have really been focusing in my younger grades, literacy. Student's love to listen to stories and create a work about it. In the second grade classrooms they have been learning about how to positively effect an environment. Mrs. Rumphis is such a great story to illustrate that. I saw this lesson on again Fine Lines blogspot. You can find her lesson here.

This was a two day lesson for us. here are some of our examples.

Kindergarten: If the Dinosaurs Came Back to my Town

Where I found this idea. http://elementaryartroom.blogspot.com/

First Grade: Arlo Needs Glasses. One day Art Lesson. Found this idea here

This past week several first graders in my class wear glasses, so they thought this lesson was so cool. Just like the story says, Glasses Rock!

This is a lesson I am also doing with Second after Mrs. Rumphis. From the book "The Tree Lady". Their classes are starting a unit with the book next week. I love how it can all connect. 

 and just one example. I will post more later.

I got this idea from here