Positive and Negative Space

My state standards include teaching 3rd graders about Positive and Negative Space. I provided patterns and a storyboard for this lesson. And while many of you frown about "cookie cutter" lessons, you gotta start somewhere. You can also consider this a practice lesson and have students create they own pattern for Higher Order Thinking.

The first class I did this lesson with, I had a lot of confused students. That's what made me decide to have patterns available for them. (Positive/Negative pattern is available under the Resource page.) Next time I plan to photocopy patterns onto colored paper to make it even easier for them. We had a discussion on what positive and negative space is.

Students picked out a pattern and got a 12x41/2" black piece of construction paper, and a 9x12" piece of white drawing paper.

   

Students learned about making a continuous cut and were cautioned that there were no scraps with this project. (Except for the pattern pieces.)

They were instructed after cutting everything out to place down their cut pieces before gluing them.
Students who finished early were sent around to help others.

When children returned the following week to art they were instructed on how to use the white pencil on the black side and the black pencil on the white side to add details. Symmetry was reviewed and expected as part of their project. Black and white paper could also be used for details.

 

 

  

 

Students loved doing this and many of these wonderful projects will be out on display for the 3rd grade concert next month. The 4th and 5th graders were disappointed they weren't doing them.

Check out my blog post from the last time I did this lesson: Art on a Cart. Definitely art cart friendly!

Hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving break! I've got some new lessons I'll be doing between now and the winter break. Can't wait to share them!

Thanks for Reading!

Art on a Cart

Yes, even though I have an art room, which is actually a middle school science room, occasionally I end up pushing a cart. Why? Because my art room is needed during testing for students who require extra time.
My knees are not happy with this situation, but, I firmly believe that I get good guy points for not complaining.

So, last Monday was one of those days. First, I needed to empty this cart that I store things on.... and start loading it up with what I would need.

 

We all know that art on a cart limits what we do. I needed a project that would cover 4 grade levels: k, 1st, 2nd and 3rd. I chose to cover positive and negative space.
My samples.......

 Now, since I was on a cart, students would not be given a choice of colors. They would get a 9" x 12" white piece of drawing paper and a 6" x 9" or a 12' x 4 1/2" piece of black construction paper.    Bonus-we got to cover contrast!

Then, in my head, I went through the steps of the project and started to put things I would need on the cart. Samples √,  black and white paper √,  black and white colored pencils √,  scissors √,  glue √, book: Art Is √,  large clipboard to demonstrate on √ , signage as to what students will know, understand and do √-and now I was ready.

I headed out a little early in the hopes of being able to finish and leave a little earlier to get to the next class. We don't have travel time built in the schedule-because-it's only a few days a year.

The photo at the top is me presenting the lesson. I pointed to and read the sign I attached to the side of the cart. Then I read them the book Art Is...

 

This is a wonderful book with awesome photos for each of the elements and principles of art. 

I demonstrated by cutting a shape out on one edge of the black paper. Then showed students how to flip that shape to show the positive and negative space. With my 2nd graders I did a second cut and flip, but, I knew if it got too complicated, we would run out of time and students would not have everything glued down. So instead we used black and white colored pencils to create details and continue the illusion.

 

 

I had 2nd and 3rd graders make faces.

 

 1st graders did animals and kindergarten did hearts.

   

 

Art teachers face many challenges when they teach art on a cart. My philosophy when I have faced that situation is to do the very best I can within the limitations given to me. Hopefully, "the powers that be", will one day recognize the importance of the arts.

If you teach art on the cart what are some of the lessons you feel work in that situation?

Thanks for reading!

Nancy Walkup posted on my facebook timeline the following information:
Coming to NAEA New Orleans? Don't miss our carousel on art teacher blogs on Friday, 3/27/2015, 11:00 AM - 11:50 AM    Convention Center/Meeting Room 216/Second Level

Elementary Carousel of Learning: Teacher Art Blogs
Talented elementary art educators from across the country will share their successful art blogs for their art rooms. Come learn how they bring positive attention and acclaim to their art programs and schools through their blogs. Learn what having an art blog will do for your art program and hear suggestions on how to get started.
Cassie Stephens, Phyllis Levine Brown, Sheryl Depp, Jen Dahl, Laura Dean

I'm really excited to be joining these wonderful bloggers! Hope to meet you there!