New Art Curriculum!

We are very excited to announce that the Grovecrest art program has a new art curriculum this year! 

(Parent volunteers can go here to access the new curriculum.  However, we have had some technical problems with this blog, so if you can't access the new blog, you should have had the lessons for your grades emailed to you). 

New lessons have been written specifically for each grade that follow the state core standards and objectives for visual art.  As in years past, we will rely on our wonderful parent volunteers to teach these lessons to the students.

Kindergarten and first grade students will be creating projects inspired by popular children's picture books.

Second - fifth grade will be studying great artists throughout history and various art styles.  They will create projects that will enhance their drawing, painting and creative skills.

Sixth grade students will study specific elements, such as perspective, illusion, architecture, color value, etc.

The art room has also had a make over!  You will find all new supplies, large art posters, and children's picture books that go along with each lesson. 

We are also looking forward to a special Arts Extravaganza night next spring, where each child will have artwork on display for the school and community to enjoy, as well as special performances from the school choir, ballroom dance team, and musical groups.  With all these exciting improvements, we can't wait to see the amazing creations our students will come up with this year!

Thanks so much for your support.  Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Leslie Stinson
grovecrestart@gmail.com

Harold and the Purple Crayon - K-1 lesson

This is a lesson plan based on the book Harold and The Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson.  The target age for this lesson is kindergarten to first grade.  In this lesson, students will learn how to utilize their imagination to create art using basic shapes and minimal color.  This lesson plan was written by Misty Ivie.

Context

Name:            Misty Ivie        Grade Level: K         Group Size:   Whole Class

Subject/Topic:  Art

Lesson Length: 45 minutes         

What Taught

Teaching Objective:            Students will explore shapes and how they influence art.

Standard: 

Major Concepts:  shapes, imagination

How Evaluated

Behavioral Objective (ABCD objective):  Students will use five shapes to create an imaginative artwork.

How Taught (Direct Instruction)

State Management Expectations!

Good listening.  Eyes on me. 

Anticipatory Set:  15min

Start at rug.  Read Harold and the Purple Crayon. (while reading, have students draw in the air with their "purple crayon" the shapes Harold is drawing).

Discuss imagination (like looking at clouds). Use large circles, squares, and triangles to imagine what else they could be.

Objective: Create imaginative artwork using the color purple and shapes.

Instruction:

10min

            * Input - Real Artists use their imagination to create pictures from shapes. Using my imagination what could I add to this shape to create something else? *Repeat with shapes.  

            *Modeling – Watch how I put glue around the edge of the shape 2 times and then smooth down the edges. Now let’s add some detail (press hard with crayon!)Glue large shapes onto large black poster board and create new images based on student suggestions.

            *Check for Understanding –Listen to student responses

20min

Guided Practice:  Each of you will have a bag at your desk with 5 purple shapes in it and a black piece of paper.  When you get to your seat, take out the shapes and see what new shapes you can make using your imagination.  Then add detail with your purple crayon. 

Students make imaginative shapes on paper.  Walk around and encourage ideas.

Closure: Just like real artists, you used your imagination to create your artwork today.

 Management

Expectations:

I expect good listening.

Eyes on me.

Don’t use scissors.

Only use purple crayons.

Procedures: Shapes are precut and sorted into individual bags.  Crayons are handed out at desks.

Fast finisher:

When you finish tell a friend at your table about what you imagined on your artwork.

Resources

Harold and The Purple Crayon

Black Construction Paper

Purple Paper Shapes in 23 baggies

Purple Crayons

Purple Glitter Glue

Black foam core board with large purple shapes

Large glue stick

End of year party.

I thought I would re post this party from our last day of art last year.  Even if you don't have time for a full lesson, it is a neat idea to have a little "graduation" and present them with an official artist certificate!

I planned a surprise donut party for our last art session.  First we created coffee filter flowers, which were a big hit. 

As the projects were drying I called each student up, one-by-one and presented them with a very official looking graduation certificate from Mrs. Stinson's art class (and we all cheered as each student came to the front of the class to accept their certificate).

You can print these free certificates here and fill them out with your own name and the names of your students. 

We enjoyed our Krispy Kremes and talked about all the projects we created throughout the year.  Then Miss Cook and the class surprised me with a gift!

(My son, Camden and I with a few class mates.)

They gave me the book, The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds, and each student signed the inside cover. 

 So sweet!

This is a neat book about a student who doesn't think she can draw, but her teacher inspires her.  I will definitely be using this book in a lesson to come this year.

I think anything you can do to make each child feel special goes a long way in the memory of a child.  Thanks Miss Cook and her 2nd grade class for a great year! 

Colorful Etching

I remember doing this project in a Jr. High art class.  The results are stunning and I was so excited to share it with my class this last week. 

Age group: Any

Supplies:
White paper,
crayons,
black ACRYLIC paint (not the tempera-the acrylic covers better and dries faster)
foam brushes,
dish soap,
scratch tools like toothpicks or pop cycle sticks.


Start with a white piece of paper (I used regular computer paper), and have the students color hard and dark with crayons until the complete sheet is covered.  The brighter colors: the better the results.  I kept reminding the students not to leave any white spots.

This is the first step, half way finished.

After their 2nd grade arms were ready to fall off from coloring, we painted over the entire page with black tempura paint mixed with just a drop or two of dish soap.  (The dish soap helps the paint to adhere to the waxy crayon).

I didn't take a picture, but at this point, their projects should be completely black.  The paint will take about 20 minutes to dry.  To pass the time, you could read a picture book about space to the students,  you could let them free draw, or come up with another idea. (Maybe play some Star Wars music in the background).  Also, you could bring a couple of blow dryers, set on low heat, and lightly blow the pictures to help them dry.

Now for the magic!  Use the tooth pics to "etch" out the black paint and make drawings of space so the color shows through. 

It would also be fun to draw spring flowers or jungle scenes.  Really, anything is going to look awesome with this project. 

(Note* if you don't want to use paint, you can also go over the entire project with black crayon.  You have to push pretty hard, but the etching will work the same way).

Let me know if you have any questions.

Tissue Paper Hearts

This is a classic project you might remember doing when you were in grade school. 
Age Group: K-3

Supplies Needed:
* Tissue paper in varying colors, cut in about 2" x 2" squares.
(*Note* there is white tissue paper in the art supply room but you will need to provide the other colors yourself).
* Desired shape cut out in construction paper or card stock (I used hearts for this one.  You could use shamrocks in March, eggs in April, etc.)
* Glue
* Pencils

We talked about the color wheel: primary colors, warm and cool colors.  (You can check out a big color wheel poster from the school library for a great visual).  I showed them a few paintings from the library collection and we discussed how warm colors make you feel as compared to how cool colors.  Next, we decided that since we see a lot of red and pink around Valentine's Day, we would do our hearts in "warm colors."

To begin the project, take one small square of tissue paper, wrap it around the eraser side of a pencil, dip it the glue, and stick to the construction paper.  Repeat, repeat, repeat!  This project turns out so pretty, but it took longer than I thought.  My second graders worked for almost an hour to finish.

New Supplies in!

Just letting you know we have new watercolor paints and new watercolor paper available in the art supply room!  Let me know if there is any other supplies you need.

Shaded Heart

I haven't tried this Valentine project, but it looks like it would be a fun one for older grades.  I found it here at Art Projects For Kids.  Here instructions are easy to follow.

Supplies:
White construction paper
Oil pastels
Ruler