Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Joan Miro Art Project

I'm always searching for one session lessons. You know the ones. Art projects that don't take two or three class times to complete. This Joan Miro inspired lesson is one such lesson. I teach this lesson to first grade but second or third grade would enjoy it as well.
First grade students have a good laugh as I explain shapes and lines, and drawing lines on shapes and lines over lines that sit on shapes.... you get the idea!

I've never done this before on my blog but it occurred to me that taking a photograph of my white board while demonstrating a lesson might help some of you visualize how I teach. As you can see, I display photocopies/print-outs/calendars of the artists work, a sample of the finished lesson and then I draw. I always break the lesson down into bits and pieces.


With the Miro lesson, I spoke about Miro's art in terms of shapes and lines. Explain the difference, especially for first graders. I like to draw a curvy line and ask them what it is. They say a line and they're right. Then, I connect the curvy line so that it becomes a shape. This way the kids see how a line and a shape differ.
Big oval head or small triangle head or wiggly, squishy round head. I draw all three and the kids can decide if they would like to copy or try their own version. I do the same for the body, giving lots of options.
I set out Crayola braod tip markers and black medium tipped markers and let the kids draw. Becasue there are few large shapes to color, this lesson doesn't take much time to complete. Only 40 minutes or so.

8 comments:

tana... said...

I love your blog, Patty! I have used a few of your lessons with my students - thanks! I have started my own elementary art projects blog, I would love to have you check it out, remember, I'm a newbie...:)
Love the projects!
Tana
mnartgal.blogspot.com

Miss Tabarcea said...

Fantastic! I am definitely going to use this. I have been looking for a couple one day projects for the end of the year! Thanks for sharing!

Amanda said...

I am so impressed with all you do with your children.

I would love to see how you organize your art supplies, and what things you use for your children when doing the project (paint containers, etc.). Is a post like that possible? Have you already done it and I can't find it?

Thanks!

Snippety Gibbet said...

Oh fun! I may have to try that these last few days of school. jan

Patty Palmer said...

Thanks for the nice comments everyone!
Amanda: I'll try to incorporate more visuals of set-up logistics into my posts. I think you're right and it is helpful to see how other teacher set things up.

Samantha said...

Hi--this is a nice shape/line lesson. Check out the book "When a line bends, a shape begins". It's a very first grade friendly book and would be a nice intro for this project. Every year I have my first graders make an elements of art book so our first seven projects are connected to an element of art. For example, we'll make a line page for our book, then a project that focuses on line. Then we'll make a shape page for the book and do a project that focuses on shape. This year I'm thinking that we could do a line page then a shape page and connect the ideas with your miro project.

Aimee Cronan said...

I am a 3rd year pre-service teacher, I really believe in getting away from simple crafts, and teaching students about different artists and art forms. Your ideas are awesome! And I am going to be trying one of them with my class. Thank you so much for posting this to share with others!

Anonymous said...

Love this project!

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