Art Blogs!

I never realized how popular and valuable blogging is for teachers.  I can search for hours sometimes looking for different projects and I find some really neat blogs out there.  Here are some art blogs that have interesting art projects and lessons.  I wasn't really sold on the whole blog thing in the beginning, but now that I have seen all the possibilities and utilized so many of other teachers blogs, I think it is a great idea to have a blog as an elementary teacher.  I think parents would also enjoy having a classroom blog where they could view their child's work and have a bit of insight to what is being done in the classroom.  Not to mention, it is a great way to keep track of all your great lessons which could be used towards your portfolio. 
Happy blogging.

Here is a link to the Top 10 Art Ed Blogs of 2010!!!

Oodles of Art 

*Check out the falling back in space portraits 
for 3rd grade.





smART Class

Deep Space Sparkle
Art lessons for kids (top 10)

The Elementary Art Room


A Day in the Life of this Art Teacher

Primary Owl Project

ART INQUIRY PRESENTATIONS

The art inquiry presentations were really great.  I just love how we all come up with such different ideas and platforms to present them and I really appreciate everyone's creativity.
I think what really spoke to me during the presentations was the power of music in setting the mood and engaging the learner.  I personally felt much more relaxed and eager to stay on task during the presentations with music.   I was researching on-line and found that music is beneficial to learners in many ways from memory recall to increased productivity.  
This is an important reminder for me, as I am hoping on being placed in primary next practicum, where the young ones are learning a lot of new concepts and are open to singing and listening to music.  I've already learned a fair number of songs from my daughter's few years in primary, including "The Doubles Rap" and the "Even Song" for grade 1 Math. As soon as I get my placement, I am going to look into to grade appropriate songs to help my learners learn and have fun too.

Baby, it's cold outside...

Winter themed art to do in the nice warm classroom.  Doesn't it make you want a hot cup of cocoa? 

SNOW GLOBES

Got it from this blog click here. 

STAINED GLASS TISSUE PAPER WINDOW DECORATIONS

For instructions and materials click here.

Ooooh, a lesson on PERSPECTIVE! Fabulous.

Find it here.

So, who else here is finding Pinterest an awesome resource for finding art projects for the classroom?  I am loving it! I've already made a folder for Valentines, St. Patrick's Day, 100th Day of School, Dr. Seuss' Birthday for next practicum and can't wait to try them out with my students. 

36 days to Christmas!

Okay, I am already excited that some day in the future I may get to sing Christmas carols for like 3 weeks to prepare my students for a Christmas concert.  SERIOUSLY! 

Is anybody else excited about this?  I was looking up information on how to plan a Christmas concert and found some great ideas and tips out there. 

This is a great resource with tons of ideas, songs, themes, advice, etc.

Christmas Concert Ideas Link 

Here are a few songs I would probably sing for fun in a primary class...

Where is Santa? - To Frere Jacques

Where is Santa? Where is Santa?

(large shrugs with the arms)

Dressed in red, dressed in red,

(hands go from head to feet)

Hurry up and find him, hurry up and find

him, (run on the spot)

I can't wait (child points to himself)

So DON'T BE LATE! (loudly)

S-A-N-T-A (Tune: Old McDonald)

Who laughs this way, HO HO HO, S-A-N-T-A,

Who drives the sleigh through sleet and snow, S-A-N-T-A,

His hair is white, his suit is red,

He wears a red hat on his head.

Who brings fun for girls and boys, S-A-N-T-A

Reindeer Pokey

(Tune: Hokey Pokey) Wear brown and a reindeer headband.

Wear bell bands on the wrists.

You put your antlers in. You put your antlers out,

You put your antlers in and you shake them all about.

You do the Reindeer Pokey and you turn yourself around.

That's what it's all about!

Then you can do the ‘left hoof’ and ‘right hoof’ (hands), ‘back hooves’ (jump forward), ‘brown

tail’ (turn around and do a booty shake), and then the ‘whole reindeer’ to end it - or repeat the first

verse.

What's that you say? What about Winter concerts?  Wellllll.....

Here is a link for Winter Songs and Action rhymes!  

There will be singing.  Oh yes.  

Glue Line Chalk Pastel Pumpkins

Grade 5/6 Fall Art Show Project

I found this idea on Pinterest and was immediately intrigued.  It was something that was really quite easy, fun and turned out so well.  The students were really proud of their work.  It was also an interesting process for them to evaluate each other's work and explain their reasons for it.  
I was so impressed with the whole project and will definitely be repeating this one!

Lesson 1:  Still-life Art Sketches
Materials: White paper, pencil
I opened this lesson by displaying a still-life by Cezanne followed by discussion of still-life's.  I brought in real pumpkins of varying sizes and shapes (2 per group of 4) and had the students sketch using criteria.  

Lesson 2: Glue Lines
Materials: Black contraction paper and white glue bottles
In this lesson I introduced the project using SMARTBoard slides and went over the criteria again.  The criteria included at least 3 pumpkins of varying sizes and shapes, overlapping to create illusion of depth, use of curved lines and blended colours using pastels. Groups that were listening best during instructions were allowed to pick out their pumpkins and collect supplies first. Students drew their designs first in pencil then traced with glue.  
*Need a lot of flat (safe) space for drying overnight.

Lesson 3:  Chalk Pastel Blending
Materials:  Dried glue line pumpkin art from previous day and chalk (soft) pastels.
I started this lesson with a quick YouTube video on chalk pastel blending.  

I also modelled blending and talked to the class about the use of realistic colours and using the art supplies respectfully (not wasting the expensive chalk pastels that were bought by their teacher).

Lesson 4: Mini-Art Show and Peer Evaluation
Materials: Ballots, pencil
Before this lesson, I laminated the students' work, numbered it randomly with sticky notes and displayed it in the classroom.  Students were given ballots with space to record their favourite pieces (not including their own) and why they preferred each piece.  The criteria was posted for them to refer to. 



The students choices were well thought out and very close to the ones I would've chosen.  As I said before, this was a great project  enjoyed by all.  

I can enjoy getting messy again.

You know that wonderful feeling of squishing mud or wet clay through your fingers?  I used to really enjoy that.  I stopped in to my favourite pottery place during Thanksgiving and found my latest treasures.  I thought back to my Visual Arts 3D 11 class where I tried my hand at the pottery wheel.  The slippery, smooth clay, slid through my fingers and every movement of my hands, slowly and ever so delicately shaped and formed something that was uniquely my own.   I remember how peaceful and fully present I was in those precious moments where my focus was solely to create.

This made me think of my students and what an honour it would be for myself to provide those kinds of experiences to them even if the process was potentially "messy".   I thought about the year I banned play dough from my house because it kept getting stuck in my carpet and wondered how I had gotten to a place where the "messiness" of an activity determined whether it would happen or not.  I thought "Am I really going to choose art projects based on their messiness?" 

The answer is 'NO'.  I want my students to have the chance to experience different textures and forms and maybe even feel what I felt those many years ago.  I made a promise on that Thanksgiving weekend that I would not turn my back on art projects that may take more work on my part because of their potential "messiness".  Instead, I will explore and choose projects that will benefit my students and offer them varied experiences with art.

I can enjoy getting messy again.

x