Symmetrical Paper Cut Aliens!

This lesson is based on symmetry so as far as teaching kids cool subjects, this one is perfect. In my opinion, there is nothing more pleasing to the ear than hearing a six year old explain symmetry, let alone saying it. It's a fun word...lots of syllables that when spoken correctly (or very near to it) earns a pretty respected look from parents and teachers. Kids LOVE this word.
So now turn the word into creepy, strange, whimsical ALIEN and you have one hour of pure joy on your hands.


Step One: Creating the Alien.
Not easy for wee kids, but the older they are, the easier it'll be to teach. I have done this lesson with first and third grade students and it's a safe bet to say that the older kids got more out of the lesson. But the younger kids do, too.
Take a sheet of construction paper and fold it in half lengthwise. It doesn't have to be lengthwise, but it'll make the alien taller. Please forgive the kid who folds it the wrong way.
Now, for the next step, you have options...
First option:For younger kids (1st-2nd grade), give them a crayon (not a pencil...it evokes to much perfectionism) and have them draw a line from the top of the paper down to the bottom. Not just any old line, but something that resembles a half of a head, half of a body, arms, legs, etc. A little talk on symmetry helps here. Explain how the children will only draw half a body. You will need to demonstrate this step repeatedly, but consider it an investment since the rest of the project is a breeze.
Once the line is drawn, cut it out.

Second option: For older kids, give them a pair of scissors and instruct them to create their half of an alien body just by cutting. This ends up to be more of a surprise. When they open up the paper, they will have a big blob. Now it's time to turn that blob into an alien.

Step Two: Decorating the Alien
It really helps to have small scraps of paper (get out your scrap box), sequins, googly eyes, plastic and aluminum gizmos...anything that the kids can use to decorate their aliens. But first things first. Glue the alien onto a piece of white paper. I like white because it provides a great contrast, but so would black. I just had an idea...you could, in another class, paint a planet or alien habitat on the background paper. Hmmm. Might try that next year.

Tips: Many kids will cut the wrong side of the paper. They will end up with two pieces instead of one alien. I wish I had a picture of this common mistake but trust me, it'll happen. One way to fix it, is to glue the two pieces together. They'll have a line down the middle of their alien, but to be honest, there is no better mistake a kid can make. They really understand symmetry by trying.

Line Drawing: Graphic Squares

Here is another take on my Line Drawing Series. These graphic illustrations are perfect for fourth grade when many children love to doodle. Instead of leaving the pictures black and white, you can take it a step further and either color in with marker or add watercolor paints.

Step One: Drawing a Grid
It doesn't really matter how the kids divide up their paper, but I can tell you what's easiest. Two straight lines across the paper and two lines down. Simple. Of course, some kids will go a bit crazy adding intersecting lines, but they will figure out that this method is limiting. But more on that later...

Step Two: Drawing Shapes, Lines and Patterns
This step can either be fun or frustrating. Many kids will go to town creating their lines and patterns, but many won't. Ideas will expire after the second square, so be a good Girl Scout and be prepared. Have a plethora of squiggles and patterns available to them. You can do this in a couple of ways. Either provide them with a handy-dandy handout (obviously this is not my method or it would be included in this post) or run amok and create some of your own squiggles on the white board. Brainstorm. Have fun. Create some lousy patterns and some good ones. Need not be perfect.
Tip: Use a waterproof black marker. Sharpies are the ideal choice but if such pens aren't available, use Prismacolor markers. Expensive, but are waterproof. To avoid the waterproof problem all together, don't use watercolor paints in Step 3.


Step Three: Coloring in...
As I mentioned above, you must use a waterproof black marker if you intend to paint the patterns. If you don't, you will end up with black smears covering the paper. I subjected one such class to this unfortunate blunder, and although the kids were enthusiastic in spirit, I know it caused inner turmoil with my young artists.
But let's face it, using markers is easier and requires less set-up. So dig out your bins of markers and let the kids go at it.
This is a great activity for kids to finish up during "free time" so keep the art accessible.

Step Four: Making the Art Dramatic
To kick this piece up a notch, add strips of black constrcution paper along the straight lines. Use a glue stick and make sure the kids snip off the ends. I think it finishes the piece well, but it does take some time.

Teachers note: This art project takes longer to complete than you think. I allowed two 45-minute sessions for this project and only 25% finished the entire project. Many kids didn't want to complete it becasue it took so much time, so here's a thought. Cut your paper in half. I used a 12" x 18" piece so reduce it to 9" x 6" and you'll increase your productivity.

Tissue Paper Dragons

Here is a fun and very easy art project for any age and for anytime of the year. You can vary the subject matter to feature anything you like (flowers, boats, cats, dinosaurs, etc.).

The supply list is simple: tissue paper and some liquid starch.
The challenge here is to have the children think visually, not worry about creating a perfect dragon and basically, have fun with the cool textures of tissue paper and the starch.

To start, tear a piece of tissue paper in the shape of a dragon head. Of course, everyone's shape will look different. Now, dip a paint brush into a bowl of liquid starch (yes, the kind you find in the detergent aisle of the grocery store) and apply a little bit to the paper where you intend to place the head. Set down the "head" and brush again with the starch. Continue along this route with the body, tail, legs, spikes, etc. Smooth down any dry or rough patches with more starch.
Once dry, you can place the artwork between two heavy books to flatten out the piece.
If you want, you can draw a black line around the figure to create a more distinct picture. You can even add details like eyes or scales.

Overlapping Bird Drawing

Here is a lesson that I taught to my second graders a few years ago. It was a great "intro-to-drawing" lesson but after teaching the lesson, I felt it would be more age appropriate for third grade and up. The skills are slightly complex and while most kids did very well, I remember a few frustrated souls and that's something I hope to avoid in the art room!

Supplies:
1 piece of 12" x 18" white drawing paper
I pencil and eraser
I black fine tip marker
Colored pencils, oil pastels, markers or crayons (whatever your preference!)

Step One: Drawing the First Bird
The idea here is to draw three birds of varying sizes and even shapes. I show the kids how to draw a simple bird and then lead them through a directed line drawing . I ask them to place their first bird near the bottom of the page. For young kids, this is hard. Demonstrate visually by placing an actual size paper on the white board and point to where the beak starts. A surprising number of kids will draw the beak towards the middle of the page (especially if they are left handed). This leads to some problems (no room for the body) so take your time at the beginning. You can speed up later.

Here is a step-by-step drawing guide for you...


Step Two: Drawing the Second Bird
Now, draw another bird, either in the same direction or facing the opposite way, just above the first bird. Okay, now here is the trick: tell the kids to "jump" over any lines they come in contact with. For example: if they are drawing the belly of the second bird and they are about to "run" into the head of the first bird, lift up the pencil to "jump" over the line and then begin drawing again. Of course, if this is challenging, here's another plan of action....

Alternative (better for younger kids)
Just above the first bird, have the kids draw a second bird, but this time, completely ignore the first bird. If lines get in the way...forget 'em! Just go straight through them.

You can see from the illustration above, that the birds all intersect one another. You can also see how confusing albeit fun, this can be!

Next, take a black marker and trace the first bird completely: beak, head, body and tail. Then, and this can be tricky so make sure the kids watch first...trace over the second biord's pencil lines but make sure to "jump" over any lines that intersect the first bird. The second bird is now behind the first bird.

Do this step again for the third bird.
Finally, ERASE all pencil lines.

Step Three: Coloring
Once all the birds are outlined, the kids will have three birds of varying distances. Now it's time to have some fun. If they want, add polka dots, stripes or feathers. Use any color they wish!





Second Grade samples...

Inside the Art Room: Managing Student Art

One of the most overwhelming aspects of being an art teacher is the management of the artwork. Of course, you don't have to manage it at all; children can take their precious piece with them when they leave class. But for me, I like to keep all of the art created in the art room in the art room.

There's a reason for my madness:Art Shows. Each spring there are a medley of opportunities to showcase the student's art, starting with the biggest: the school art show.
Each child gets to display one piece. I like to have all pieces available in individual portfolios in order to select the student's best one. Also, this system gives me the opportunity to select a variety of artwork so the parents can see all of the projects done throughout the year.

So that's what I do: create a portfolio for each student.

Sounds like a lot of work, but done in baby steps, it really is no big deal. At the beginning of the year, I take a 18" x 24" piece of Sulphite Tru-Ray drawing paper (any color, but color coding would be cool!), fold it in half then:

1. Write the student's name,
   
2. Write the teacher's last name or room number
   
3. Write the grade level.
   
4. * If that class has inclusion students, I like to put an asterisk next to those children's names, because even though they attend art with this class, their artwork is group with the inclusion classes for the art show.

So, now that you have a portfolio for each child, what do you do with it? At one of my schools, I have this nifty cubical shelf. It's old and wooden and the perfect size for holding a classroom's stack of portfolios. (see photo at beginning of this post.)
By chance, this shelf has 5 cubes per row. Perfect, since I teach no more than five classes in one day. So this is how I organize the cubicles. I put a label at the very top of each row: Monday Group A, Friday Group A, Monday Group B and Friday Group B.
As you may have determined, I teach in cycles: Group A for 5 weeks, then Group B for 5 weeks. I work two days a week (Monday and Friday). So If I'm looking for Friday Group B's portfolio's, I just look at the last slot.
Of course, you may have a different schedule. At the other school where I teach, my schedule is different and so is my storage. I don't have this nifty shelf, so I use legal size filing cabinets. They are a perfect fit for my portfolios and you can organize the drawers however you like.

Now, don't think I'm an organizing freak. I'm really quite sloppy. After a class is over, the art either goes on a drying rack or gets placed in a stack with a piece of paper on top stating whose class it is. Sounds easy but there have been many times when that little piece of paper that should have a teacher's name on it, gets forgotten. I've mixed up ALOT of art by being rushed and anxious to get home or whatever.

The best part of this system is when a parent comes into the art room and wants to look at what her child has done, I can easily go to the filing cabinet, select the right class, find the portfolio (never alphabetized, I'm afraid) and let the art work spill out in all it's glorious color.

So there you have it: my version of being organized.
Good luck!

Patty

Introducing: Single Subject Lesson Plans!

I thought it might be helpful to introduce a new format of lesson plans directly related to specific art lesson posts. I figured that if a teacher wanted to print out a post, it would be hard to do so. Too much cutting and pasting! So, I've taken a few of my most popular lessons and reformatted them to include handouts that you can reproduce and give to the students as well as a printer friendly version of the lesson plan. For those of you who have purchased my Art Booklets, these are similar in format, just smaller and more focused.

My first is "Royal Pooches"!
This adorable art lesson comes with three "how-to-draw" handouts for a Bulldog, a Basset Hound and a Cocker Spaniel.
The nine-page mini-booklet also includes a supply list, photo tutorial and student samples. The PDF is designed to be printed out so you can bring it to your classroom. This lesson is perfect for grades K-3.

Only $3!
ALL PDF'S ARE DOWNLOAD ONLY. THEY WILL NOT BE EMAILED OR MAILED.
To purchase, click on the "Add to Cart" Button below.

Line Drawing Part III: Name Designs

Here is another popular line drawing lesson that I do with my fourth grade students. It's a play on their name. This lesson teaches how to make block letters and to think a bit outside the box.
Again, like other the other line drawings in earlier posts, I tend to start the year off with this type of lesson. It's simple, requires little prep and the kids love it. Plus, it helps in learning names!

After I show the kids a sample, there is always one student who points out that their name is too short. I mean, what can you do with "Sam" or "Amy"? Lots, I say. It doesn't matter how many letters the students use (first name, last name, both), layering and toppling the letters in a random, creative way is what its all about.
I suggest using all capital letters, as their are less round shapes, but that can be decided by the students.


Step One: Start with the first letter of your name and place it on the bottom of the page in a block letter format. This letter becomes the "foundation" of the pile.
Then, begin adding the other letters, not necessarily in spelling order, around, behind, in front and on top of the first letter. To help with flow, tell the children to turn their papers around.

Step Two: After the letters are piled high (repeating letters is encouraged!), fill in the spaces with patterns. It helps to have some sample patterns on the board to kick-start creativity.

Step Three: Once the patterns are filled in, bring out the markers and let the children color in the letters. No color rules here: whatever color they chose is fantastic!

Line Drawings Part II: Owls and Cats

In keeping with my theme for line drawings, I'm posting a few of my samples that I have done with my students over the years. I don't like to show "teacher samples" as I don't feel that helps you much with your expectations, but I'm making an exception here. Hopefully, you'll get inspired to try a few with your students this fall.

The instructions are simple and are mostly the same for all the line drawings that I do. Start with a directed line drawing (these are great at the beginning of the year because it gives you an idea of how able the kids are at listening) and then progress to showing examples of patterns. Let the students finish up their drawings at their own pace. Many teachers I've talked to love to have their students work on these line drawings while reading a book. It gives their hands something to do, while listening intently to a story. Beware though, some kids cannot listen and draw at the same time. Many will stop drawing! Either way, it's good for the child.
Here are a few samples of cats, owl and fish. As you can see, you can do any animal, even insects (think ladybug!). The focus is to teach children about patterns. To extend this project, cut out the image and paste onto a colorful piece of construction paper. The contrast of the black and white drawings is stunning with a bright color.