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. 

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

Tint and Shade with a Cherry on Top!

This is my second year doing this lesson. It is so great for teaching tint and shade, which I do in First Grade. It was tough to do in two class times. So maybe three, and add a little Wayne Thiebaud? First day students mixed their values. Two tints and two shades, and also the original color. The next week we did a review, and introduction to a value scale on smart board. They cut and glued their scoops on top of a cone to create a value scale. Last were the toppings. Sprinkles, whipped cream, chocolate sauce, and fruit on top!

I did this lesson last year too! Better bulletin board then :)

What's been going on the art room in February!

I take tons of photos on my phone during class! However getting them to my blog is another story. Here are some  super fun things some grade levels have been working on the past couple of weeks.

Fourth Grade: Circke Weaving on coat hanger. A NEW WEAVING PROJECT FOR ME! Great idea from Mrs. Picasso's Art Room. Her blog has a great directions on how to make the loom and get started. 

Don't let the pink shirt fool you. This is boy! He and few more fourth grade boys have  proven to be my best and fastest weavers!

Two classes hung on wall waiting.....to be worked on. Not done yet. Great way  to store  in between class times. Kids just pick them up as they walk into room. 

First Grade student working on Clay heart. This lesson was on Jim Dine. These are done actually. Ill post finished pics later. 

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Third Grade Gyotaku lesson. Student's inking and rubbing their fish. These are done too. More pics to come soon. 

Second Grade Japanese Bridges. These student's are dabbing away with quick  prints to capture Monet's brush style. One more day to wrap these up! Ill post more finished pics later. 

Framed Self Portraits

 This lesson was inspired from one of my favorite blogs, Panther's Palette. Here is the link to this lesson on that site. http://pantherspalette.blogspot.com/2012/04/1st-grade-self-portraits.html

We discussed self portraits, and that we were going to learn how to create a realistic self portrait of ourselves. I used my document camera and we did this lesson together. I showed them all my "tricks" on how to draw facial features, and how make the portraits proportional. I think they turned out great.

Super cute story. At the end of one class's drawing lesson, a little boy raised his hand and said "Mrs. Murphy it looks (and pointed to his art work) like a real boy!" He got it!! This just made my entire year and made me smile so much my face hurt. Needless to say I have included that story in every portrait lesson I've taught since, and will probably always will.

 I put these up on on a small bulletin board outside my art room. Simple but says it all. Be yourself. An original is always worth more than a copy.

 These paper frames were precut by me, and student's used silver paint to add swirlys and wavys (lines) to embellish it.

Lady Bug Collage

 This lesson was first grade's Art by Me lesson. The magents turned out great. The brighter ones the better. So encourage your student's to use lots of paint.

I showed the book "The Grouchy Lady bug" , actually on u Tube. It saved me having the read it like 8 times, and there is a cute song in it. See below. These were mostly all successful. I did this lesson for shape and an review how to cut multiple shapes out. This was a great fundraiser lesson.