Outer Space Scene
Concept/Skills Covered
I can use a variety of art tools and materials.
I can create a 3 dimensional sphere on a 2 dimensional surface, using a highlight and shadow.
Grande Park Art |
The 4th grade will be learning about the solar system so I decided to incorporate it into our artwork this month. The artistic concept that we are focusing on in this project is creating a 3 dimensional sphere on a flat surface, using a highlight and shadow. The outer space scene that they created could be realistic or imaginary. Some students wanted to make the planets in our solar system, while others simply wanted to experiment with different colors. Outer Space SceneMaterials: watercolor paper, black & blue liquid water color, salt, drawing paper, circle templates, pencils, chalk pastels, oil pastels, compass, glue stick, scissors. Concept/Skills Covered I can use a variety of art tools and materials. I can create a 3 dimensional sphere on a 2 dimensional surface, using a highlight and shadow. Then we got to work on the planets.They needed to make at least 4. I have circle templates that the students traced onto white drawing paper. We cut the circles out and then add the chalk pastel. Color in the circle with a color. One side of the circle needs a sliver of white and the opposite side needs a sliver of black. We carefully blended the white into the color and the black into the color, trying to make nice smooth transitions and value changes. The following week we used a compass to draw a large sun and colored it in using oil pastels. The glowing rays of the sun were done with chalk again. Once the sun was complete we were able to arrange and glue our planets into place and add other details like rings if desired. If you ask me, these pieces of work are out of this world! Check out others in our Artsonia Gallery.
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Grades will be available on Wednesday, March 25 at 4:00 pm. Information on Art grades is available here.
Below are the concepts and skills that we have that were evaluated this quarter. As we wrap up the second quarter of school, I like to take the time to talk with the students about the skills and abilities that I expect to improve and grow as we work our way through the school year. We have been talking about our fine motor skills and how the art room is a place to practice and strengthen those skills. I'm not sure if many of them had really thought about the projects that we do as muscle control exercises. I compared art class to gym, describing how they only get an accurate foul shot in basketball by practicing over and over, teaching their muscles what to do to be successful most of the time. The same thing happens in art class. Many of them can't believe that I draw a circle on the board that is pretty close to being perfectly round and even. They always ask me, "How'd you do that?" I've trained my muscles to know how to successfully draw a round and even circle by practicing the successful motion over and over, for many, many years now. We've started a lesson in both fourth and fifth grade that I think helps my students slow down and really think about the lines and shapes they are making, as well has strengthening their creative decision making. There is an art "movement" that seems to be spreading sometimes called Zentangles or Zen-doodles. Basically, it's the process of using line, shape, pattern, and contrast to develop interesting and complex designs. I have collected a few example packets for my students to look at for inspiration or even follow step by step as they develop their own "tangles" and designs. We spent one class period practicing our Zentangles inside the shape of circles throughout their drawing paper. The next class period we used a letter, and filled the negative space of the paper with their tangles. Below is my finished example that I showed them when I demonstrated this lesson. To create the outline of the letter the students traced a stencil. I have many bulletin board letters that I've collected. They are great for successful lettering in art projects. The students then filled the negative space around the letter with the tangle designs. Here's where the "Zen" part of the Zentangles came in. My students were so focused on what they were creating. Today I even handed out a "Character Counts" ticket to my fourth grade class, because the past two art classes have been amazing. Their entire mind and body is focused on what they were doing. I was able to turn on some instrumental music while they worked and not a single student broke from the focus they were giving their project. It was AWESOME! That's the kind of work environment I've been striving for all year!
4th graders have been busy the past three weeks with a paper mache project. They are making a large, three dimensional letter. They chose to represent either their first or last name. Each student brought in a cereal box to use as the base for this project. We began by tracing a letter pattern onto the cereal box cardboard twice and then cut the letters out. To create the width of this three dimensional letter, we glued small plastic cups to one side of the letter and then glued the other letter on top. Next, the students added masking tape around the edges of the letter to add strength and keep the structure together, preparing it for paper mache. Last week, many classes began the paper mache process and added a layer of newspaper pieces covered in paste. The paste we use is School Smart Art Paste and it is awesome. I can mix up a 4 gallon batch with one box of this stuff. It's non-toxic and easy to store so I can use it for weeks at a time. Most of the students loved dipping their fingers into the ooey-gooey paste. However, there were a couple that were repulsed by it. This week, we began to add our last layer, using white paper towel to cover the print on the newspaper. Hopefully, this step will help us avoid having to put layers and layers of paint on the letter to cover the print. I really like how this project is turning out. So many students really got a hang of the process and were able to create a nice, smooth and even surface with the paper mache. It's not as easy as it looks! Great job 4th grade! We have one more week of paper mache and then we will begin to plan how to paint our letters.
We are having fun with fall in the art room. The fourth graders are drawing pumpkins and filling them with a variety of complex patterns. We began by drawing our pumpkins on 9"x12" drawing paper and then tracing them with a black Sharpie. Next we discussed how we can turn simple patterns into more complex designs by adding 1 or 2 elements to them. For example, in the photo below and on the left, the student started with repeated wavy lines (a simple pattern), then drew circles on top of the lines & chose to color in some areas black and leave other areas white. Adding these elements turned the simple line pattern into a complex pattern. We worked with one of my favorite materials, black Sharpies. Sharpies create such nice lines and the ink really saturates the paper, making the contrast of black and white visually appealing. To add a pop of color we painted on top of our finished designs with watercolor paints. Similar to my 1st grade pumpkin project, I taught the fourth graders how to add dimension to their pumpkin by outlining each section of the pumpkin with orange and then adding yellow to the center of each section, blending the two colors together with the brush where they touch. The black ink will not bleed, because Sharpie markers have permanent ink. I thought I would like these pumpkins just black and white, but the color really has a striking effect!
The fourth graders are busy making these realistic drawings of eagles. They followed along with me step by step to draw the eagle's head. I call this a "My Turn, Your Turn," drawing. When it's my turn the students are responsible for watching me draw and listening the tips that I am giving while drawing. When it's the students' turn, they may begin to draw, using the tips that I gave during the demonstration. We go back and forth between turns until our drawing is complete. I actually found the idea for this project on another art teacher's blog, smART Class. She used the drawing steps pictured above when having her students draw the eagle. The students could choose to draw whatever they wanted to in the background. We discussed how the eagle in the foreground is the focal point and should grab the audiences attention. The items we draw in the background should compliment the eagle, however it shouldn't take attention away from it.
As we begin the school year, it is important for me to communicate to the students what a good art student can do. On the first day of art class, I introduce the students to the "Art Targets," and stress that I want them to show me that they can achieve each of the targets. I use these targets to evaluate student projects and their progress throughout the year. They are posted in my classroom everyday so that students can remember them and I can refer to them while we are working. I am very excited to start off this school year as the art teacher at Grande Park Elementary. I am looking forward to meeting all my new students and begin making art. You can learn more about me, Mrs. Danno, here.
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