Every year I am charged with coming up with an art project for students to create and contribute to our school's Gala Auction. I've recently shared one of my awesome ideas, that I did with my third graders. And really, I should share all the crazy things I've done over the past few years because some of them are real doozeys. I'm of the philosophy that if I'm using art time to do these projects - they should be art projects that have something to do with our curriculum. That has lead me down some weird paths.
This year has been especially tough because I am on cart due to Covid. Kids can't share supplies, and my entire curriculum is turned on its head.
I usually try to think of a project that 1) students are making the parts individually and I put them together 2) doesn't stray too far from something I was already going to do, or have already done. In other word... I don't want to teach a whole new skill for no reason.
This year I had the great idea of having my combined third and fourth grade make a giant bowl out of newspaper and magazines. I thoroughly researched how to do this, and how I could make it simple to do in their classroom.
The skill I would be reinforcing was manipulating 2D shapes into 3D forms. We would learn all about making cylinders and putting a 3D work of art or a sculpture together. I made this video to teach them how to do it.
That R2D2 is going to college this year.
Well, you know. It went okay. Some kids were good at making the tubes, some kids were good at making the rings, some kids were only good at flattening the tubes. It happens.
The tube/ring building seemed to be going on FOREVER. I only see these guys 2X a week for a half hour... and we have other stuff to do!!
After what amounted to about 2.5 hours of tube, ring, and flat circle building, I knew I had to put the kibosh on it. There was no way we were ever going to make enough pieces to build up my giant R2D2 head punch bowl.
I told the kids to power build what they could and I would take the pieces home and see what I could do with them.
If you are looking at this picture and thinking "There is no way 15 third and fourth graders took 2.5 hours of art time to make these. That is insane. That teacher is crazy." Well, guess what? It did. Rolling newspapers and magazines actually takes a long time, and then YOU NEED A TON!
I know, I know, I know it does not look like that many pieces. You guys, it takes a long time and you literally need 100,000,012 to make anything. I have way more respect for those ridiculously expensive recycled wastepaper baskets, owl door art, and earrings I saw on etsy.
Once I saw what I was working with I tried to come up with a new plan. I tried multiple bowls that I had in my house, and found that the wooden salad bowl was the best since it had a flat bottom. I could easily lay the pancaked pieces at the bottom and build around it.
I used a ton of glue. Before it was completely dry I removed it from the bowl and peeled off the paper liner just so it wouldn't stick on there permanently.
When the glue was dry, I applied two layers of glossy Mod Podge - allowing it to dry completely in between layers.
It is actually very sturdy! I am very pleased and proud of the results! Great job third and fourth grade.
I think the pandemic and isolation has had some residual effects on my art teacher resource output... I made this video that didn't really need to be made. But, hopefully you find it helpful! It has worked for me.
It didn't really belong on my YouTube channel - since those videos are mostly for students and lesson directions. So, it has found a home here on my mostly neglected blog.
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.
