Yesterday (March 2nd) we celebrated a very special birthday in our Kindergarten classes.... that of beloved children's author/illustrator, Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka "Dr. Seuss". In his lifetime, Dr. Seuss published over 40 children's books which have inspired both reading and imagination for generations of children. His birthday has fittingly been adopted as the date for the … [Read more...]
Compass Mandalas
The word "mandala" comes from the Sanskrit word meaning "circle" and has it's roots in Hindu and Buddhist traditions. We know mandalas as circular designs with radial symmetry and repeating patterns. Mandalas can be found today in a variety of cultures as well as in nature. (Ask students where they have seen circles, or patterns with circles, in nature or in man-made … [Read more...]
Designs with Number Patterns
This lesson is adapted from a math activity my own kids did in middle school, where they used colored string to "stitch" their patterns on card stock. I simplified this lesson for my students (4th grade and up), replacing the needle and thread with markers and a ruler.... Have you ever marveled at the fascinating patterns found in nature?? I like to … [Read more...]
Computer Art ala Picasso!
There are so many ways to be creative with a computer! Here's a site where you can click and drag to create your very own Picasso-like portrait. This would be a fun activity for students after learning about the real Picasso! Be sure to check out this site's "gallery" to see the fun others have had at PicassoHead.com!1. Go to http://www.picassohead.com/create.html 2. … [Read more...]
Visual Texture
This activity is great practice for learning to see values (lights and darks) and duplicate them in your drawings. Younger students may only have the patience to do two or three of these, while older students may want to do several more. Make sure you use the same pencil and the same paper for both the rubbings and the copies, or you'll have trouble duplicating the lightest … [Read more...]
Grade 3 Portfolios – The Shapes and Colors of Joy
"Matthew's Dream", by Leo Lionni, is my inspiration for our third grade portfolio project. In this charming fable, a boy named Matthew visits the museum with his classmates and is entranced by the paintings he sees there. That night Matthew has a magical dream which helps him to see the world around him in a whole new way. He becomes a painter and creates beautiful … [Read more...]
Grade 1 Portfolios – Design a Dot!
Every year, I start each of my Art classes by going over my "Art Rules".While this is review for most of my students, it never hurts to hear it again! And reading this book provides a great on-ramp to having this discussion! The Dot, by Peter Reynolds, has to be one of my favorite children's books of all time. If you only read one art-themed book to your students this year, … [Read more...]
Name Tangles
"Name Tangles" are a fun way to create a cool design using your name or another word of your choice. Try adapting this idea for a unique greeting card design!Materials:9x12 white construction paperPencil and eraserBlack markers, fine and broad pointDirections:1. Use large stick letters to write your name, beginning with the first letter touching both the bottom and left side of … [Read more...]
Cursive Cut-outs
I posted this lesson awhile back as "Name Aliens", but I've since figured out a better way to teach this, so I improved the directions. As soon as kids can write their names in cursive, they're ready to create these whimsical creatures! To make "bugs", just add six legs instead of two! (Adapted from the book, "Paper Designs" by Jerome C. Brown)Can you guess what name this … [Read more...]
Stained Glass Name Designs
This is a simple project, and a great introduction to the concept of positive and negative space for younger kids. Any project using their names is typically a guaranteed hit!!Materials:White paper, any sizePencil and eraserBlack chisel tip markersWater-based markers in a variety of colorsVocabulary:Positive Space - the object or objects you are drawing (in this case, the … [Read more...]
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