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!

Mini Art

Wow! Where has the time gone? It's been OVER a week since my last blog and I have NO idea what has kept me SO busy........  However, it appears I am on level 327 of Candy Crush.......

I seriously need to get an exercise bike to use when I play, this way I can burn calories as I lose brain cells.
Back to blogging........ I mentioned in a previous post that my students exhibit at a local museum.

The exhibit will be up middle of January to the middle of February.  I have planned a field trip for the fourth grade to see, not only their work in the student gallery, but other galleries as well. When I do this exhibit of student work, I try to consider what will be hanging up in the other galleries at the same time. AND there will be an exhibit from The Miniature Art Society of Florida. Soooooo I showed my students this video-of The Miniature Art Society's display at the Leepa-Rattner. Introduced them to a display of art posters that I put up AND then tied it in with the concept of Artist Trading Cards then they got to work!

 

I told students to think of their favorite projects from previous years to inspire them. One of last year's favorite projects was our 17th century ships. I also had an example of a Grant Wood landscape I was doing with the 2nd & 3rd grade up on the board.

 

I felt the need to bring home all the mini art, to mount, since I'm on winter break.

Check it out! Some of you may notice that I am using covers that were left over from the sketchbooks. Also, it occurred to me that I could use the scrap paper, the wonderful data entry person, always saves for me. (Thank you, Patty!!)

 

 

 

I consider this to have been a really great lesson from many different perspectives. First of all the cost to do this was ZERO! Second, students actually finished their work (and many of them more then one piece). Third, it freed up the students to do something that was somewhat unstructured (in other words, I was pushing the creativity aspect). And finally, most of them will get to see their work in a REAL, LIVE MUSEUM! 
Are there things I would do differently next time? Upon reflection, yes, I think I was a little unprepared. Next time I need to consider starting earlier, and perhaps push the different genres or art styles a little more. Maybe have more samples of previous student work up OR have students complete mini art before or after doing larger art. It's all good, us art teachers are the best at being lifetime learners!

Thanks for reading! Hope you all have a wonderful winter break!
And, let me know if you have a museum that displays work from your students!

Fairy Doors: Street Art My Way

Art teachers take inspiration from just about anywhere! And I was VERY inspired after watching this video Family Street Art. The family had seen a Banksy video and the 10 year old daughter insisted that she wanted to become a street artist. Well, not wanting to discourage her they decided to create art that they could leave all over their community.  Not ONCE but THREE times. I thought this was awesome. I want to do SOMETHING like this................... but what???????

Well, while recently looking through a catalog I came across these fairy doors-

AND I KNEW!!! I would have my students make Fairy Doors and we would display them through out the school!
I started off the class by talking a little about street art and how it's different from graffiti. And that it's illegal to deface other people's property. Then I showed them the video about how this family created movable street art. I explained that we would be creating art that we could display all over our school community. I then googled fairy doors and showed them a variety of images.

I made 3 different shaped tracers and inspiration sheets. Inspiration sheets are for my students to look at and be inspired. They can switch out what they see, use the best of what they see or just create from their own imagination.

 

  

They used colored pencils, markers and ultra fine sharpies. Doors were done on 4" squares of different colored paper. We also went over the function of a door and what it needed to have on it.  And they created beautiful Fairy Doors!!

 

 

 I laminated them.  And then I went around the school with students to hang them up.

 

   

 

I made these with 3rd graders and sent out an email to alert staff. Had a lot of questions as to what it was all about. Didn't really think that out...... But, it's really simple. Did it make you smile? Did it inspire you? Did it start a conversation?

Students want to know about the doors. Do they open?  How did they get there? One teacher is telling her students to check with me, because, I am the fairy coordinator! I LOVE IT!! Next week when students come to art they will be drawing the fairies that live behind those doors! Oh yeah!!

I hope that this inspires those of you that are reading this. My students really got excited about doing this project and I have a feeling it will extend beyond my 3rd graders!! ENJOY!!

Thanks for reading!
Link to my store to a free list of suggested art centers TpT Primarily Art with Mrs Depp.

Printing with Gelli Plates

 On a recent trip to Plaza Art Materials, actually on my first trip EVER to this awesome place, which is located in Nashville, Tennessee they had a Make it and Take it event. In other words an assortment of people letting you try their product in the hopes that you will fall in love!! Well, IT WORKED!!

There was a woman demonstrating Gelli Plates. And, did I mention everything that day was 40% off!  I don't know how it works in other states, but Florida gives their teachers lead money AND I just figured out how I was gonna spend mine!

I really couldn't wait to try it with my students. Thought I would try this with my 3rd graders. I see them at the end of the day and would have plenty of time to clean up. Really a good thing!

Had it all figured out. Here's what I did. I showed them my sample, which is at the top of this blog. Explained that I wanted them to know all the different ways artists make prints. I wanted them to understand the purpose for printing. And to have the opportunity to do a mono-print.

Then I demonstrated on my Elmo. I used a spoon to apply acrylic paint to the plate, rolled it with a brayer.

 

 Put down a paper leaf, used a stamp for a little texture. Then I pulled the print,

 

My goal was to keep it simple, as it was something new for all of us. I purchased 12 plates, because I don't believe I have more then 24 students in any class. My thinking was a 2 to 1 ratio.

I put 2 trays down on each table. Each tray contained 1 Gelli plate, 2 small cups of paint (colors that work together), a spoon, a texture stamp, a foam stamp, that ribbon that has holes and a brayer.

 BUT before putting the trays out, students were given two pieces of paper with instructions to write their names on the paper as the pencils were going away.  

                                    NO SHARP OBJECTS NEAR MY PLATES!
 Also, directions were given for cleaning the plates after printing, by using newsprint to pull off any paint still on the plate.

My students in action!

 

 

And some of the finished results!

 

  

They had a blast doing this! AND everyone was happy with the results! If anyone reading this, has used other materials successfully with their Gelli Plates, please share!
                                  I will need to step it up next time!
                                                                   Thanks for reading!