Kindergarten artists recently completed their paper bag puppets! They absolutely loved creating these and can't wait to take them home. Each class created a unique cast of characters and I'm sure they could put on a charming puppet show:)
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1. PlanTo begin this unit we watched Masks from Many Cultures. This short video showcases over one hundred images of masks from a variety of cultures and time periods. Students learn why different people groups create masks, their purpose, and the variety of materials used. Following the video, students designed their own mask. Their design typically changes throughout the process, but I have found this planning time ensures that building their armature will be purposeful and more efficient. 2. Build the ArmatureWe collected gallon size milk jugs for a few weeks. Before the class time, I used an xacto knife to create an opening at the bottom. There is a seam at the bottom that is too thick for scissors to cut through. I demonstrating cutting the milk jug and how each side can be used. We talked about how when we remove material from a sculpture it is called subtractive. When material is added to a form it is called additive. I required them to use both methods to construct their form. Extra milk jug plastic was used to add--simply cut the desired shape and tape it on with masking tape. 3. Apply plaster wrapPlaster gauze can be extremely messy! Students covered their entire table in newspaper before cutting their plaster gauze into strips. I placed a tub of warm water on each table and they were ready to go. Check out this video, this artist will explain the process! 4. PaintWe've used the element form, now it is time to add color. Before they got a paintbrush in their hand, I set the timer for 4 minutes and they used a pencil to draw out a plan on their mask. I placed colors at each table and students were able to walk around to the color they needed. 5. VarnishSometimes tempera paint (the kind we always use in the art room; it is washable) can look chalky; especially on 3D artwork. Painting a coat of acrylic varnish made their mask shiny and much stronger. 6. Add embellishmentsFeathers, yarn, raffia, pipe cleaners, shells, sequins, felt--there were many different materials the students cut glue on to embellish their mask. The kiddos were begging me to take them home. I like to show them off in the school first, but they have to wait all year long to get the rest of their artwork home (so I have work to share at art shows), so I finally obliged:)
The Buffalo School community had the opportunity to watch the 1st and 2nd grade students rehearse for their concert tonight. Here are a few photos and videos from their rehearsal! If you missed the STEAM night in March, please check out your child's artwork hanging in the hallway! It will be located on the wall or bulletin board near your child's classroom. Concert at Buffalo Elementary on Thursday, April 14 at 6:30 pm.Day 1: Printmaking1st grade artists created a city with black paint and a piece of cardboard. We talked about how printmaking is different than painting. When we paint, we go back and forth, back and forth. I use Cassie Stephens' analogy that a paintbrush is like a ballerina: it always dances on its tiptoes and never scoots around on its bottom. When we print, we press and lift, press and lift. I displayed some photographs of cityscapes to inspire them. They used diagonal, vertical, horizontal, and curved lines to create their buildings, windows, doors, antenna, etc. Day 2: ColorWith our city prints, we already had a few elements of art: line, shape, space (students overlapped the buildings and created two layers of buildings), and texture (in the corrugated cardboard). Today we focused on the element color. Students used pattern and texture plates to color their buildings. They could label the buildings if desired. Day 3: Finish coloring + Sky PotionStudents finished coloring their city and used sky potion to paint the sky. I also set out some boxes of scrap painted paper if they wanted to cut and glue anything onto their city. I have found that the younger grades love having multiple mediums to choose from. Not only are they much more focused on their work, but they also are more creative with the options that are provided. The first grade artists are very proud of their work! This is a favorite project for 1st grade artists. "Does it actually write?" Is usually the first question asked when I pull out my example to show them:) This project comes from my sister, Amy Clay. Thank you, Amy! We absolutely love this lesson! 1. Build the formThere are 2 main forms on a pencil: a cylinder and a cone. A paper towel roll is the perfect start for our cylinder. The eraser end was formed by crumpling up a piece of paper (I pulled paper thrown into the recycling bin in the copy room) and taping it inside one end of the cylinder. The cone is formed by tracing a lid on a piece of white sulphite (4 x 4), and drawing a dot in the center of the circle. Cut out the circle and, starting anywhere on the perimeter of the circle, make one straight cut to the dot in the center and stop. We now have a walking circle! Cross the legs and once you have a cone that fits your cylinder, apply the tape. 2. Paper MacheNow it's time to get messy! As they entered the art room, I handed each student a little rectangle of gold paper and instructed them to write their name with a Sharpie. This "golden ticket" is placed in a safe place to be stuck on their pencil at the end of class. I make my paper mache paste using water and glue with a 1:1 ratio. This year I used paper towels for the strips of paper, but newspaper also works well. I think the kids were a little more successful with getting a smooth finish on their pencil with the paper towels. I tell them they need to cover everything at least once, twice if they have time. 3. PaintWhy do we paint our pencils? To add color, which is an element of art and to make them look more realistic. 4. Add final details and take home!We watched a short video on how real pencils are made. Turns out the metal ring at the end is made of aluminum. How fitting, then, that we used aluminum foil for our pencil sculptures! The artists appied some glue to a 2 x 9 piece of aluminum foil and wrapped it around the end. They were responsible to use a Sharpie for 3 things:
1. Practice with modeling clayI always like to practice with modeling clay before getting out the earthenware clay. Oftentimes the kids will overwork and dry out the earthenware clay and get frustrated because it cracks and doesn't stick together. Practicing with modeling clay first ensures that when they get the "real" clay in their hands, they'll be ready to be successful from the get-go. 2. Earthenware ClayThis time around the artists raise their hand when they are finished and I write their name and the name of their class on the bottom. If their turtle is thick, I also poke a few holes in the bottom to ensure it dries out quickly and completely. If there are any air pockets or moisture in the clay when I fire it in the kiln, the piece is likely to explode. 3. GlazeOnce the pieces are bisque fired, the artists glaze their turtle. Applying 3 coats of glaze promises bright, glossy colors. 4. Wrap it up for Mother's DayThe first day of spring was March 20. These "Petunia" paintings were quick, fun pieces to get us in the mood for spring! Now all we need is the warm spring weather to stay:) After a quick chat about seasons and the first day of spring, we read "Petunia" by Roger Duvoisin. This book is about a silly goose named Petunia who thinks that she is wise because she carries around a book. She provides poor advice to the other animals on the farm and is humbled when many of the farm animals, including her, get hurt in an accident provoked by her advice. She realizes that one does not obtain wisdom simply by possessing a book; one must READ the book in order to be wise! Listen to "Petunia" here. To begin our artwork, we looked at photographs of a real goose and identified the kinds of shapes and lines that make up the goose. I demonstrated place 3 dots on the paper to map our the drawing: one dot for the head placement, 2 dots for the placement of the feet. Students practiced drawing a goose in their sketchbooks and then drew on a larger piece of sulphite paper once they were ready. Bees, butterflies, flowers, books, and other details were added around Petunia. Once the artists decided their pencil drawing was complete, they used red paint to paint their background. Tints (color + white) of blue, yellow, and green were used for details. The last step was to use watered down black paint to outline.
Congratulations to 4th grader Cameron! His landmark was chosen by his classmates to represent Buffalo Elementary at the Davenport City Hall Reception. The reception took place on Wednesday, March 9. His work will be on display there for one full year. The show is open to the public and is located on the 3rd floor of Davenport City Hall.
I posted a preview of the 5th grade animal prints a few weeks ago. Click here to see the post. One 5th grade section finished all 3 sessions of printmaking and matted their prints. I am so pleased with the results! They are proud of their work and a few of them were on display for the STEAM showcase. Check them out below! Lesson is from the Thomas Elementary Art Blog.
For Buffalo Elementary's STEAM showcase, I chose one successful artwork for each student, matted it (if not previously matted by the student), and labeled it. Brenda, one of Buffalo's AMAZING paraprofessionals, hung almost every single artwork in our school for this big event. I hope you were able to come to our STEAM night. Here are some images from the fun evening!
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