2nd Grade
#3: Moving Mondrians
#2: Introduction to Line Ninjas!
While making the Playful Paper LIzards, students were introduced to some very important vocabulary that we will build on throughout the year. I stressed the terms vertical, horizontal, and diagonal throughout the process of making the lizard's body. Now that they have had this introduction, it is time to deepen their understanding through a series of exercises and really engage with the ideas.
We began by hunting for samples of line directions in small groups with a sample of art images. They placed paper lines on top of the lines they found and discussed their thoughts with their teammates.
We began by hunting for samples of line directions in small groups with a sample of art images. They placed paper lines on top of the lines they found and discussed their thoughts with their teammates.
Now we are onto the REALLY fun part. I just had to say the word "ninja" and they got so excited. I give all the credit for this brilliant idea to a very talented art teacher from Minnesota. Visit her blog at www.minimatisse.blogspot.com. We will be practicing this over the next few weeks, and then I will be assessing their understanding at the end of the unit. Below the YouTube clip is a handout that I sent home so that all students can practice for homework regardless of computer access.
#1: Playful Paper Lizards
Folding, cutting, and gluing...oh my! Getting back into the school year and polishing off the ol' art skills has taken on a new twist this year with these very playful lizards. I've explained to the students that every lesson I teach, every experience I design for them, must hit on three points:
1.) It must help them to feel that their art skills are growing stronger in how they work with their hands and think about their art
2.) It must teach others something about them
3.) It must encourage them to become brave, confident artists.
If a lesson doesn't check off all three, it doesn't get the pleasure of working for my students.
I started this lesson off with a very candid discussion with my young artists. I explained that I was about to do something I don't usually do. I'm so opposed to cookie-cutter art lessons and step-by-step demonstrations. So I made them promise, the "I hereby do solemnly swear" type promise, that after I finished leading them through the first "follow me" phase, that they would then let their imaginations collectively run wild as they add both personality and pizazz to their lizards, thus shattering the "cookie-cutter" mold. That made me feel better. Whew!
(Just scroll over the images and they will enlarge.)
1.) It must help them to feel that their art skills are growing stronger in how they work with their hands and think about their art
2.) It must teach others something about them
3.) It must encourage them to become brave, confident artists.
If a lesson doesn't check off all three, it doesn't get the pleasure of working for my students.
I started this lesson off with a very candid discussion with my young artists. I explained that I was about to do something I don't usually do. I'm so opposed to cookie-cutter art lessons and step-by-step demonstrations. So I made them promise, the "I hereby do solemnly swear" type promise, that after I finished leading them through the first "follow me" phase, that they would then let their imaginations collectively run wild as they add both personality and pizazz to their lizards, thus shattering the "cookie-cutter" mold. That made me feel better. Whew!
(Just scroll over the images and they will enlarge.)
