2nd/3rd Grade Weavings

The 2nd/3rd split class' most recently completed Unit was on weaving. For this Unit, 2nd and 3rd grade students discussed Textiles and how handmade textiles differ from machine made textiles. Throughout the course of this unit students learned how to tie simple knots, set up a chipboard loom, and create a weaving using two different styles of weaving.

Upon completion of this Unit students reflected on how their weaving was similar to or different from a machine made woven textile and how artists might be able to make money off of handmade items.

Check out Room 202's handmade weavings below!

The students seemed to really enjoy this Unit! I think they had great results and they could not wait to take their weavings home!

5th Grade Totem Pole Display!

Before the 5th grade totem pole display comes down soon I wanted to post an image of it:

Although the 4th and 5th graders completed their unit on totem poles awhile back, I think they did a great job. Below I have uploaded some images of the 5th graders idea sketches for their totem poles.

Idea inspired by a lesson found on: Thomas Elementary Art

4th Grade Totem Poles

This post is overdue, but a few months back the 4th and 5th graders completed a Unit on the totem poles of the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. As students progressed through this Unit they focused on the concept of Stylization, Symmetry, and Limited Color.

After discussing totem pole examples in class students chose an animal, any animal that they felt a personal connection to, and sketched that animal in the style of a Pacific Northwest totem pole. While sketching students looked at reference packets filled with totem pole examples. After students completed full color sketches, each totem was limited to four colors, students created totem pole collages.

See below for some of their completed art work:

Idea inspired by a lesson found on: Thomas Elementary Art

3rd Grade Pixel Self-Portraits

The 3rd graders recently completed their pixel self-portraits as well!

For this unit students completed portrait and body drawing lessons prior to practicing pixel symbols, all of which led to their final pixel self-portraits. Throughout the progression of this unit students completed scaffolded lessons to build their drawing skills, analyzed pixel and mine craft imagery to compare and contrast different artistic styles, and developed a personal idea behind the setting in their pixel self-portrait.

All-in-all, through this unit students were introduced to the idea of style in self-portraiture as well as envisioning (one of the 8 Studio Habits of Mind) themselves in a video game world of their choosing.

After the students completed their self-portraits they completed a reflection sheet to explain their background and why they chose it.

See below for some of the completed works:

Idea inspired by a lesson found on: Thomas Elementary Art

2nd Grade Pixel Self-Portraits

The 2nd graders recently completed their pixel self-portraits!

For this unit students completed portrait and body drawing lessons prior to practicing pixel symbols, all of which led to their final pixel self-portraits. Throughout the progression of this unit students completed scaffolded lessons to build their drawing skills, analyzed pixel and mine craft imagery to compare and contrast different artistic styles, and developed a personal idea behind the setting in their pixel self-portrait.

All-in-all, through this unit students were introduced to the idea of style in self-portraiture as well as envisioning (one of the 8 Studio Habits of Mind) themselves in a video game world of their choosing.

After the students completed their self-portraits they completed a reflection sheet to explain their background and why they chose it.

See below for some of the completed works:

Idea inspired by a lesson found on: Thomas Elementary Art

Kindergarten Burr Re-Design

Most children go to school… but what would school be like if students created it? After reading A World of Your Own by Laura Carlin students redesigned their rooms, then, they redesigned Burr... from the look of the building outside to the inside of four different classrooms. As students created a "school of their own" they discussed vocabulary words such as Design and Invention whilst creating a school with meaningful classes such as swimming, tasting food, and of course, Lego class.

Although this unit did take longer than most of the units I have done with Kindergarten and 1st grade it was well worth their time, the students really did enjoy feeling like they could create their own school and they completed this unit meeting any challenges by working together.

Below are some of the completed works by Kindergarten!

2nd/3rd Grade Pattern Animals

The 2nd/3rd split class recently completed a unit on pattern animals inspired by the art of Wangechi Mutu and Storm Tharp. For this unit, students began by first comparing and contrasting the work of the two artists then creating a "dark" pattern, "light" pattern, cool pattern, warm pattern, and a random pattern. Once the patterns were completed the students then collaged at least 3 of the patterns together to create an animal that the students had chosen and sketched prior.

Throughout the progression of this unit students enjoyed working on Patterns, which was a primary vocabulary word, and experimenting with multiple different mediums to create their patterns.

Below are a few examples of the students' work.

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