Northern lights in the Art room!

Hello there!
This mini lesson was a GREAT way to end 2017! Usually, the art class before a vacation is a free choice class for all grades, but once I showed my artists this lesson, everyone chose to make at least one! There are so many references on Pinterest, Instagram, etc. of this technique. I did this with K-4, and the kids loved it! I think it was a combination of loving the process, messiness, and the result!

We talked about the Northern Lights (I even have a students named Aurora Borealis, she LOVED this!), and watched a very relaxing video of the them with the lights off while we made our artworks.
I also threw in a pic of my new rug I received the day before break - once students were done, they played artist memory on it! Christmas in the art room!😊

Happy New Year!! Come back again soon! 😊

Bad Case of the Stripes Selfies

Hello there!

This lesson features second grade artists drawing extra (extra!) large, proportional self-portraits, and giving themselves a bad case of the stripes! We are inspired by "A Bad Case of the Stripes" by David Shannon. This book has a fantastic message, and on top of that, it allows us to discuss self-portraits, expressions, and proportion in a fun way! I am trying to give students a lot more choice this year, and left the material choice and background up to them - it's a great way to have them take ownership of their artwork! Check out their work below!

These expressions! <3!

Check out that background! Those brushstrokes! <3!

Thanks for stopping by! 

Jasper Johns with Kinders!

Hello there! The holidays caught up with me, but I'm here and so are you, so we are doing well! Happy New Year to you all! I am going to post a few lessons I've been documenting from October to December. I have a lot of fun stuff planned for 2018 (at least one mural coming your way!), so thank you for sticking with me! 

The lesson on this post is all about Jasper Johns, and the primary colors! Kindergarten alway rocks this lesson, it's one that I've repeated for a few years now, especially when we start our primary colors. We talk about one digit and two digit numbers, primary colors, making our numbers into full shapes that we can color in (this is tough for them at first) - it may seem simple but we cover so much!  Then we try to camouflage our primary color numbers like Jasper Johns! Its fun listening to the little ones asking their peers "Can you still see my number?" :)

It is also a great lesson in rinsing brushes before they switch colors - they learn very quickly what happens if they don't wash that brush! All in all,  I really enjoy this lesson, and I think they do too!

Thank you for stopping by!

Dia de los Muertos

Hello there!

This is the first time I have tried this lesson, inspired by a few *wonderful* art educators on Instagram! Fourth grade artists are studying Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead!

After having a conversation about the celebration, we began painting the skull, and creating a ton of painted, textured paper to use! 

The second class (that was today!) we began by looking at examples of the incredible parades and figures that make Dia de los Muertos so beautiful, and made a list of details to add to our skulls from what we observed. I even had a kind student bring in one of his favorite graphic novels - Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier - which features the celebration! We used the painted paper we created the previous week, and began our details! We haven't even begun to add the smaller details yet, but I am too excited about this lesson to not post a progress entry! Once they are complete, I'll post finished images :)

Here are some progress pics:

This artist brought in a rock she painted with a Calavera!

Look how organized they left the scraps! Warms my Art teacher heart!

Thanks for stopping by-  come back soon to see the finished products! :) 

Hello Artists!
It has been almost two full years since I've been on this little blog! Holy smokes! It's crazy how time gets away from you - it feels like I posted those Lichtenstein-inspired works a week ago! Well, in the words of Eve 6, "Don't look back, the past is just that." 

Presently, it is my SIXTH year teaching Art! I am at two elementary schools, and a lot has changed! I have been at one school since I began teaching, but my second school is a bit new to me - this is my second year there. I have officially taught at every elementary school in the district! 

School began just a couple weeks ago, and now that we're settling in, I thought it would be the perfect time to bring back the blog. Below you'll see a few of my favorite parts from both of my rooms. I have gotten so many ideas from so many fantastic Art educators! (I will do my research and credit everyone asap!) Thank you Cassie Stephens for the new Art room rules! :) I'm excited to continue this journey with you, and thank you for stopping by!

 Here is room #2! A bit smaller, but it has so much charm! :)