Super Secret Graffiti Movie Appropriate for your Elementary Art Students.

A million and 12 years ago I made a handout on "How to Write Your Name Graffiti Style".  It's had some success in my TPT store, and I still use it in my classroom, so I consider it a success.  Kids love to learn about graffiti and street art.  But, I'm no street artist and my limited knowledge of writing fancy is literally all on the handout.

I was always looking for some elementary school appropriate resources on graffiti and street art, without much luck.  Like, sometimes part of a book was good - but then it went dark real quick. Street art can be sort of controversial, so in addition to seeing gang tags or nudity I'd have to make sure kids weren't getting a confused view of the legality of the subject.  Sometimes a video was good. However, it might not get into the depth I was looking for or it was 2 hours long and a snoozefest.

If you read all of that and didn't just scroll to the super secret video, I'm so proud of you.  

So, I edited the TED ed movie myself, which is sort of ridiculous, but aptly named "Graffiti Redux". It originally didn't have all the information about the artists I wanted my kiddos to know.  It had toooo much information about stuff I didn't need. Plus, It  had animated breasts which I knew would freak out my seventh graders.

It's currently unlisted on my YouTube channel, and has been flagged with a copyright claim, which is completely legit - but I think it just means I can't make money from it.  Now that I'm advertising it, it might just get taken down!  Oh no!  But on a serious note, where are these art teachers making money off of YouTube?  I gotta get in on that.  Yadda yadda - enjoy.

I have a few other posts about graffiti and street art projects if you're interested.

Hand lettering Resources

Shepard Fairey PowerPoint and my old resources on Graffiti for 2013

Signs from my Graffiti Themed classroom (also from 2013)

Shepard Fairey for Kids! Free PowerPoint Slideshow for Elementary use.

It is difficult to explain street art culture and graffiti to a bunch of fifth graders.  I touch on the history of graffiti, and try to carefully discuss the legalities, but it can get kind of sticky.

This is where Shepard Fairey comes in.  We are influenced by the Obama Hope poster for our project "monochromatic identity" (full lesson at the link).  I think Shepard Fairey's entire story  - from the viral Andre the Giant stickers to the appropriation battle over Obama's image- is fascinating.  My students think it's fascinating too.  They always have a ton of questions and often hung up on the whys, whats, whos, and hows. 

I put together this PowerPoint presentation on Shepard Fairey (with sources!) to teach my students a little bit about his life, street art, and activism.  Our discussion often turns to what is ethical, on top of what is legal and illegal.  It draws forth a good discussion.  I love when they see Shepard Fairey in the videos too.  They always say "he's so young!"  This makes me happy, 'cause he's older then me, AND it makes me realize how many old dead guys we learn about.

There are two short video links in the presentation.  I'm sharing them here because I think they are pretty good to show elementary kids.  The first one is a mash up of Obama's "Yes We Can!" speech with images of a HOPE mural being installed.
Barack Obama x Z-Trip x Shepard Fairey x Fresh Pressed from chumpchampion on Vimeo.
 The second is Shepard Fairey talking about influencing students to be positive.  

Table and Classroom Signs with a Graffiti/Monuments of the World theme now available on Teachers Pay Teachers

My classroom theme for this year is "Monuments of the World" and I chose some graffiti fonts to kind of fit in with my new signs.  I spent a few hours downloading, cutting, and pasting in PhotoShop to make these new decorations.

This set includes 1 .pdf file with twenty-one 8.5 x 11 signs
The signs are:
Art
Art News
Goals
Warm Colors
Cool Colors
Neutral Colors
Complementary Colors

The color-coded/double sided signs for labeling classroom tables are:

Red, The Taj Mahal
Orange, The Eiffel Tower
Yellow, The Colosseum
Green, Big Ben
Blue, Christ the Redeemer
Violet, Statue of Liberty

and Bonus Black with Pink, The Sphinx

Once printed, these can be mounted on construction paper or tagboard and hang above your classroom tables.

TeachersPayTeachers.com

I recently put a few things on TeachersPayTeachers.com.

There is a link to my shop above.

I have included my: How to draw your name Graffiti Style  Handout

Circus themed artist table signs

Art room bulletin board signs

I will continue putting FREE resources on this page.  I have 14 years worth!