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.

Summer/Father's Day Shirts

I did this lesson last year. I of course can not take the credit. I'm sure I borrowed it from someone. This is a great one day project for the end of year or for father's day.

Each student needs:
12x18 and 9x12 white paper (for big shirts) I'm sure you can use something smaller
Marker, crayons
buttons

First they folded their large paper in half long ways, then a slit at top and fold back to create a collar. For the smaller paper fold in half and cut to make sleeves.
My directions were they had to create three different shapes. One large shape, one medium and one small. These were to repeated and colored in on large and small paper. They were to also draw a line on fold down middle of shirt and glue a few buttons on. Sleeves were glued last.

These photos were from last year. I hope to redo this lesson again with second grade, however 3-5 could do this as well. Younger students I would precut the pieces and let the student's decorate.

"Art Rocks" Guitars

 This lesson I borrowed from Smart Class blog, http://elementaryartfun.blogspot.com/2009/11/art-rocks-guitars.html. Gotta love other blogs for awesome ideas!!

However students chose warm or cool colors for their color. This lesson was use for fifth grades art by me lesson. They looked really great on their magnets, and various other things that were ordered.

In music each 5th grade class does a unit on the acoustic guitar. I thought this tied in nicely with that. They were able to chose either an electric guitar or acoustic. I had examples of both, as well as a power point lesson on guitars. 

I think next year I will chose another art by me lesson and do these bigger!! 

North Carolina Lighthouses

I love this collage project. I have done it for the past two years for 4th grades Art by Me lesson. They look great on their magnets and the things the families order.

Three day lesson.

First Grade Cities

After returning from a trip to NYC in January I did this project with my first graders. The straight lines for the buildings were printed with cards and black tempra. The following art time lines were drawn with oil pastel and then a water color wash. This project really lasted three 40 minute classes.

Clay Creations this week

Second Grade's Empty Bowl Project. Stamped pinch pots with coil added for a foot. Next week students and staff are welcome to purchase home made pottery with can foods. All food donations will be given to local food bank. Each student made two small pots.

First Grade Jim Dine Hearts. February lesson

I drew a heart on a sheets of card stock, copied on copier for a class set, and elaminated them. Students rolled long coil and layed it down on heart outline. Then they rolled balls of clay and put them inside of heart. After it was all full they smoothed the heart together, balls and coil. Then they wrote their name on this side,and poked a hole through top with a needle tool. Because the sheet is plastic it will hopfully peel off clay heart. Then to daa the front of the heart is shown. This texture is great. Do not let the student smooth that together. Some will try. I added raffia through hole for a nice touch.

Third Grade clay animal bowls. Students made a pinch pot and scored and slipped animal parts on.

Fifth Grade Goblets. Students made a pinch pots. Then created a coil foot, with coil embellishments on top. Full lesson: https://store.schoolspecialty.com/OA_HTML/xxssi_ibcGetImage.jsp?name=Sax-LP_Majolica-Goblets

These are some embellisments that I made for the top and sides of globet, for examples.

Polenta Staff Monuments

This lesson I borrowed from http://elementaryartfun.blogspot.com/search/label/Monuments, but I tweaked it a tad to fit my art supplies.

We began the lesson talking about monuments. What they are and some examples around the world. Then we focused on monuments of people, and what kind of characteristics a person would have to have to be inspiring. We brainstormed these on the board.

We discussed how all of these characteristics really show in our teachers/staff at Polenta.

Each student was to pick one staff member at school and to create a three dimensional monument of them. In each class no more that two students doing the same person.

The above site really has a great overview of this lesson. However I used wheat paste instead of glue. We did use toilet paper (thanks to our custodians hooking us up). paper towels too hard to shape and mold. Instead of poster board..I had already ordered these from school specialty

Roylco Stand-Up Self Portrait Art Project Kit - 6 1/4 x 9 inch - Pack of 40 I did however rip the backs off and create my own with tag board and hot glue.

Students painted over their paper mache (i did however prime them with gesso myself first) and they added yarn for the hair and other embellishments for fun. They put a clear sealer/varnish on top of the paint too. The very last day they added a name plate and wrote why their staff member is inspiring. Several are focused in the display case outside of my room (see pics).

I plan on having a monument exhibit the week after next in the media center to display all of them. Staff is getting a hoot out at them and think they are great.
I think it makes the staff members feel special to be thought of.

Next nine weeks when I do it all again, maybe I won't do the paper mache?

Why. time. It took two class periods just for that. Several for the rest. A long project. But fun.
I think however the mache that was on the best parts of the projects for the students.

Great pic of what I added on the backs of all

Mr. P, movement teacher with his whistle!

What this student wrote about their second grade teacher was adorable.

Our custodian, Mr. James. Several were done of him.