I made this Wacky Weaving Challenge at the end of Distance Learning last spring 2020, and just came across it. It's actually pretty useful and I couldn't find a place where I had posted it before, so wanted to share!
Weaving food was definitely their favorite, but there were a bunch of creative choices.
The handout is full of linked videos or websites, so this is a .pdf page that would have to be shared via Google Classroom or on the web somehow so the kids can just click on it.
I put together a bundle of my K-2 Catholic School Christmas Art Lessons directions. As I mention in the description, the end products aren't very unique from one another when they are finished, but they are cute when done in the children's own hands.
It's the constant struggle of "step-by-step do this and it will look awesome" vs. "have at it kid". The end results of these three lessons come out fantastic for my K-1s especially. I know my second graders can do more riveting things. Parents love them and tend to purchase lots of things on Artsonia, which makes me happy. Plus, we do learn valuable skills along the way. Think of it as process and skills over product. That helps me sleep better.
I enjoy teaching about Wassily Kandinsky's art mostly because I like to play Flight of the Valkyries for the first graders and kind of scare them a little. I read that Wagner was a favorite composer of Kandinsky's, so I go with it.
I also like the kids to pretend like they have synesthesia to an extent. I want them to learn about lines, line qualities, shapes, and colors. I don't actually care if they "feel" the music in a classroom setting of 23 first graders, or I'd end up with 23 scribble scrabbled brown and green "masterpieces". Not my jam. Feel the music at home, kid.
I like to show the Mati and Dada Video about Kandinsky to start off the lesson. Most of these videos are pretty great because they show just enough information to keep the kids entertained and then end. Whoever decided 7 minutes was enough art history in cartoon form was a genius. If you watch these on YouTube, definitely bring the link over to ViewPure though. These videos are cluttered with pop ups!! Also, if you've watched nearly all of them like I have, there is a formula that they follow that the kids haven't picked up onto yet. Literally the same thing happens in every episode with a different artist, different media.... anyway.
This year I made my OWN little video demonstration of the entire lesson. I make goofy voices. It's how I teach. If you want to see the whole lesson in action:
When I do actually start to teach the lesson, as mentioned above, there are some limitations. Even so, no two projects look the same, and the kids are still learning what I'm trying to teach. There is also a direction sheet for this lesson. Direction sheets are great for students to see what they are supposed to be doing, and what is coming next. It is not a step-by-step-do-it-this-way-or-the-highway page, it is just additional guidance. Plus, when you get kids saying "what am I supposed to do now?" You can say, "Read the directions!"
This lesson ended up being spread out over several weeks for my class because of holidays and field trips. To review the information I showed the class a video of someone reading the book "The Noisy Paint Box." It is cute and gives some nice information about Kandinsky's life, work, and inspirations.
Here are some pictures from my friends painting on day one. I used Rubbermaid - Egg Keeper containers for the tempera. (I've tried others like stack & snap lids etc.... but the Rubbermaid - Egg Keeper is the best. My favorite tempera is Crayola Premier .
I was a little nervous on our last day when I passed out the black oil pastels for our super black-thick-black-outlines. I was suddenly seeing little black finger prints all over the place. However, I needn't worry. I started hearing music as I photographed the finished pieces!
I made this video for the Artsonia After School Art Club! It's basically everything you need to know for this lesson in under 10 minutes.
My third graders rocked the pastel chalk pumpkins this year. It is one of those classic lessons that isn't too difficult to get awesome results, but admittedly, sometimes they "get" it and sometimes they don't.
First, before I get into the actual lesson, I want to bring something to the attention of the art teachers out there. This first pumpkin was outlined with traditional Elmer's Liquid School Glue.
This pumpkin below was outlined with Jot, AKA Dollar Tree glue.
Under normal circumstances, I despise the Jot because of it's glossy, and honestly, not as adherent and liquidy quality, but in this instance it is amazeballs! I love the way that turned out.
I have Jot in one of the schools I teach in because the students bring in supplies to donate to the art room and about 2/3rds of the kids purchase the kits where I have dictated the brands etc...and the other 1/3rd bring in rando things. Sometimes rando things are okay. They'll bring in amazing artist quality pastels that I would've never asked for, or super nice sketchbooks for their cubby, but sometimes you end up with Jot glue.
Back to chalk pumpkins. I began this lesson with a slideshow where we discussed still life objects, and what makes up a still life. I am completely honest about stealing images off the internet for my slideshows for educational purposes.
The second part of the slide show discusses analogous colors, but I usually save that until after the drawing part of our project is done.
I have been using direction pages a lot this year. They have been great for when kids are not paying attention, kids who need a little extra help, and for the kids who are constantly asking what they are supposed to be doing. Sorry, this one isn't the best quality. It was before I learned I had to use a 5B pencil to write it out! Anyway, the directions page shows the kids how to draw the pumpkin. I draw with them too. Like I said, the direction page just help keeps them on track. It's not a substitute for my teaching.
As they drew the additional objects in their still life, I had little items for them to look at set out around the room. Some kids did just take ideas from their imaginations though, which I said was OK. I tried not dissuade them from anything Halloweeny though, simply because our art shows at both schools are in the Spring, and pumpkins will look okay, but jack-o-lanterns will look out of my place in my opinion.
Once we have our still life drawn, I have a video of me adding glue and color to my project. It is about 5 minutes and gives those visual learners a little extra nudge to see what it is exactly we are going to be doing.
This is the first video I made for this lesson way back in 2018- before my production skills were as refined as they are now. It's shorter than my Artsonia version, but doesn't really give you all the info. :)
The practice coloring sheet isn't really necessary. They could just practice on one of the pumpkins they practiced drawing. However; my kids usually practice in their sketchbooks, and it got kind of messy last year. So, this year they practiced on this pumpkin, but I printed the rubric/assessment page on the back...and well....when I went to grade projects it was also very messy.
Timing wise, this project may have it's issues. The gluing of the black paper has to be done the week prior to using the pastel - so if you end up with a weird time thing - I sometimes have them put a glue outline on their practice papers too.
Besides the video, I did go step-by-step through their practice page on how to mix the colors. I walked around as they did the rest to see if there were any major issues.
As mentioned above, I had great success with this project this year! I hope you do to! Check out my school Artsonia galleries below.
