1 Point Perspective

 I have seriously avoided teaching 1 point perspective for years!!!!! Never having a high rate of success with this particular lesson I decided my elementary students just weren't ready for it.

Then I saw the new curriculum guide from my district during planning week and was NOT amused. Because that's when I realized I would be stuck doing this lesson with my 4th AND 5th graders. And since we NOW have the dreaded End of Course Exams I had to do this......

I do, on occasion, have students working with rulers in my art room. Not my fault they never seem to remember this when sitting in the Middle School art room. I even have a sign in my room demonstrating how to hold a ruler.  Anyway........ It occurred to me, perhaps, if I scaffold this lesson maybe, just maybe it would be successful. 

   

The first day of this two day lesson (roughly 50 minute classes) we practiced using a ruler.  The sheet on the left with the dots in a cross formation was what my students practiced with. When I subbed a very long time ago I found a copy of that sheet as part of a set of parabolic lines. While it is cool to see straight lines create the illusion of curved lines, I thought it more important to use this sheet to build muscle memory for drawing straight lines.  The above photo on the right was what the students did in their sketchbook to learn what 1 point perspective was all about. I found the worksheet they used here.

 

 

The rest of the class time was spent walking around the room helping students understand how to hold and use the ruler to make straight lines. And helping them with the back lines on the houses they drew in their sketchbooks.

The following week for the actual lesson I wanted my students to do a bird's eye view of a city. I did give them small square and rectangle tracers to use for the tops of the buildings. I modeled for them on my Elmo (a brand of document camera that projects what I'm doing onto the white board). And I'm here to tell you that the scaffolding WORKED!!! I did need to REMIND students to make the dot for the vanishing line, but, overall I was just thrilled with the results. When one of the 5th grade teachers saw what they were doing, she asked that I give her the finished work for a future geometry lesson to count vertices. Oh yeah!!!!

 

 

 

We did take some time discussing why artists, especially architects learn to draw from different perspectives. Students that caught on quickly were helping other students or adding some interesting details to their buildings like helipads, roof pools, one even had a tight rope across 2 buildings, perhaps remembering this lesson from a few years ago? They added windows, signs, cars and traffic lines. 

Lessons that are successful always make for a happy day! Thanks for reading!!

A Paper Bouquet for Mother's Day

 

While subbing in art rooms during the early 1990's, I would take notes on the different art lessons that teachers did with their students. Not get into files or anything like that, mostly snoop through art books or look on shelves at what they were doing. That's how I came across this really great Mother's Day project. And I must say one of my favorite lessons! Materials list: Two 9"x12" pieces of green construction paper (also works well with 2 different shades of green paper), assorted scraps of colored paper, glue-your choice liquid or stick, stapler, scissors, yarn or ribbon, ruler and pencil.

 To get started fold both sheets of green paper together the long way (hotdog style). Line the side of the ruler up with the open edges of the paper and draw a line down the other side of the ruler. This will be referred to as the STOP line! You can have students draw this line with a RED crayon.

 

 Then with the 2 pieces of paper still together have students cut up from the folded edge to the STOP line. I instruct students to measure about 2 fingers wide for each cut or stem. You don't want these too skinny or too fat.  It seriously takes to long to have students measure it out and then cut.

 

 When that's done have students separate the 2 papers.

  

This next step is a little tricky, however, don't stress over it. Each of the green papers need to be glued. The trick is to glue with the edges about an inch apart. See photo. Using a glue stick is neater. Or tell students they need to hold it down, after gluing it for a count of 50.......

 

The next step is to take one of the folded papers, roll it to create a cylinder then staple it together. To get the stems to open out like the photo, roll with the glued edges towards the inside.

 

 Then wrap the second folded paper around the first, adjust to balance out the stems and staple.

   

 Now you have a bouquet of stems....time to make the flowers!!

 

 You can either cut out 2"squares of assorted construction paper for your students, or put out all the scraps of colored paper you have been saving this year! I demonstrate for students how to draw different flowers and how to cut out multiples. I also instruct them to use the scraps for the center of the flowers. Students like to add bees, butterflies and hearts. They can also make a little card to attach like you get from a floral shop.

 

Yarn or ribbon can be tied around the bottom of the flowers to finish the bouquet. 

There you have it! Something quick and simple for Mother's Day. Let me know if you try it!

I can't believe it BUT this is my 50th post! And, I have had over 8560 page views!

So seriously-  Thanks for reading!

Fun With Shapes!

Shape is one of the Elements of Art we all teach! And I gotta say I like to have fun and do different activities with my students.

But first, we have a discussion and define what makes a square a square, a circle a circle, a triangle a triangle and a rectangle a rectangle.

Next, I past out a photograph to each student to place on the appropriate shape. The photos are ones that I have taken, had laminated and put magnets onto. For me, squares apparently were the hardest shape to find!

 

   

 We have a discussion on how everything has a shape. And that we really need to look at things to figure what shape it is and how that helps us in art. I have recently added 3D shapes and must say I'm amazed at how many of the little ones know about spheres, cylinders, pyramids and cubes!

Then, I past out shapes to students and have them match it up with things in the art room. This is the fun part as everyone is walking around the room finding shapes! Students start making connections.  This wonderful introduction into geometric shapes usually will take up one class session. 

So.......

When students return the following week, we do a quick review and I read either the book at the top of this post or this book-

Then a quick demonstration on how we can use shapes to create art.

Look! What can be done with a rectangle? Or a square? What can you make?
Students then choose a shape to work with to make art.

I use the sheet below and photocopy it onto colored copy paper. I separate the shapes and have children  pick which shape they wish to focus on.

In the past, I have had students create their own shape book. Which includes more shapes and takes several classes to complete. However, I found that if there are too many sessions for one project, there are always kids who miss some lessons, or just move in, and it's just hard for them to catch up.
Keep it simple the voice in my head tells me!

I feel the need to apologize for the lack of student work in this post.  The last time I did this lesson, writing a blog was the furthest thing from my mind! So, I didn't obsess on taking photos ALL THE TIME, like I do NOW! Hope this will still inspire you all!

I can't believe the end of the school year is in sight. I have been packing my little heart out as I will be returning to my newly renovated school in August! More on that another time!

Thanks for reading!! 

I would love to know the fun things you do to teach shapes to your students!

Tick Tock-Still Making Clocks!

Continuing from the other day: My unit on Functional Art-

This lesson for my 2nd, 4th and 5th graders started out with a power point. (3rd graders were busy on another project.)

After a short discussion of functional  art, I started the power point.

One of the slides had the students compare and contrasting the above clocks.

We then talked about how to plan our clock according to the following questions on this slide. Then they each received a worksheet with these questions.

 

We looked at slides with different themed clocks. Here is one example.

 

We considered what shape our clock should be.
What should our numbers and hands look like.

   

I have a big supply of donated cardboard that the students painted their clocks on. The cardboard is pretty thick, so I though the students should consider the background of the cardboard to be the wall they would hang the clock on. This way we wouldn't need to cut them out.

Students were encouraged to create a pattern or shape for their clock on the back of their worksheet. I did offer tracers for some of the younger and less confident students. I also went on the internet for some free coloring sheets for their requested shapes.

 

When students were ready to paint, I spoke to them about the different size paint brushes and when to use them.

 

    

I had some packing corners left from some computers and students used them to make desk clocks.

 

Not everyone has finished making their clocks, so I will publish more photos another time!

I haven't even finished my sample......... Where does the time go?
By the way, am I the only one who doesn't finish stuff??

Thanks for reading!