I found this idea on Tunstall's Teaching Tidbits, and thought it would make a fun fall drawing lesson for my 1st graders. I was surprised by how challenging the web design was for many of them! They drew the straight lines with no problem at all, but the curvy lines were a different story! This was challenging but still age-appropriate.... and once … [Read more...]
Shadow Tracing
Shadow tracing is a great way to get outside on a bright sunny day, explore positive and negative space, and have some fun with color at the same time. Shadow tracing is low stress for students (2nd grade and up) and has minimal prep for teachers. Students can usually finish one of these paintings in a single class period, or you may want to let them do a few tracings the … [Read more...]
Popcorn Drawing – Observation & Imagination
Have you ever looked at a cloud and seen an animal or some other random image? Most everyone has used their imagination to "find" things in clouds, and popcorn offers this same creative experience! This is a great lesson for 5th grade and up. Make sure you create a sample to illustrate the steps... a picture is worth a thousand words here! After doing this lesson, your … [Read more...]
Patriotic Flag Designs
Here's a great lesson for Memorial Day.... I do this with my 1st graders, but any age could have fun with it. Easy to prep, no clean-up, everyone's successful, and the kids LOVE it.... you can't beat that! Materials: 9x12 white paper Black "F" Sharpie Red and blue markers Directions:1. Discuss the American flag and what it symbolizes. (This is a great opportunity to … [Read more...]
African Masks with Scratch Art Paper
Scratch Art paper is available with either a white, colored, or foil background, which is revealed when the black top coating is scratched away with a wooden stick. While this technique is simple enough for Kinders to do, the most striking results are achieved by upper grade students who have the patience to make more detailed drawings and patterns. (The younger kids often … [Read more...]
Self-Portraits Inspired by Grant Wood
Grant Wood (1891-1942) was an American artist best known for his paintings of rural American life. My students were fascinated by the story of how his father died when Grant was only ten years old, and his mother had to move her family from their home on the farm to the big city. This was a hard move for Grant, who missed his farm animals and his life in the country. … [Read more...]
Make a Value Scale
Understanding value, or the use of light and dark, is an important factor in creating successful drawings and paintings. Creating a "value scale" of their own was a great way for my middle school students to get the feel for including the full range of values before starting a major drawing project. I created my sample as a fold-out in my sketchbook (above), but I had my … [Read more...]
Thumbprint Self-Portrait
Here's a great idea I spotted on Pinterest.... I tried this lesson with my middle school students and they had so much fun with it! I originally used a copy machine to enlarge students' fingerprints. It was cumbersome and time-consuming. But then I figured out a faster, easier, and better way! For detailed instructions with photos, tips, writing prompts, a student gallery, and … [Read more...]
Christmas Cards for Veterans
4th grade "JOY" by JacobFor our school-wide Thanksgiving project, we decided to show our thanks to some very special people... My K through 7th grade students have been busy making Christmas cards for Veterans, to spread some Christmas cheer and let these men and women know they are loved and appreciated! The hundreds of cards we made will first be displayed at our church, … [Read more...]
Designs Inspired by Romero Britto
Student work inspired by Romero BrittoI first discovered the colorful art of artist Romero Britto at a San Francisco airport gift shop/gallery. Britto is a young (well, he seems young to me anyway!) self-taught artist from Brazil who has been fortunate to enjoy great success in his lifetime. I knew my students would be as inspired by his art as I was, so I created a fun … [Read more...]
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