Project #11: Pop Up Character

 Description: For the lesson, we created a pop up character art. We completed this activity with a partner. We began by drawing our two characters and our scene from a pile. My partner and I drew a cow, bunny, and the city. We then had 5 minutes to brainstorm how we wanted to create our scene with our characters. We also had determined what colored construction paper to use; we did purple construction paper for kind of like the night sky. Then we had to mark where we were going to cut for the pop up part; we cut two slits 1 inch in width and two inches tall. Then it was time to design; we cut out buildings and drew windows on them for our scene of the city. We cut yellow diamonds for the stars in the sky. We drew a moon. We drew a cow and glued it as if it was jumping over the moon. For our two pop up pieces, we did our bunny (because it was required) and a stop sign that says "no jumping" (for the cow); these pieces get glued onto the slits that we cut. At the end, we had to share with the class two sentences about what our design was/what was happening. 

Extension Activity: Students complete a story page. Once they have their pop up art created, they can write a short story about the their characters and scene. It could be totally made up or somewhat realistic - just an opportunity for creative writing. 

Project #10: Clay Mosaic Tiles

 Description: For the lesson, we created mosaic tiles using air dry clay. We began by brainstorming ideas/symbols for our creation (favorite food/drinks, hobby, family tradition, place to visit, etc.). After we brainstormed on a small square piece of paper, we then took our chunk of clay and wedged it. Then we took a roller and rolled out the clay, making it even and big enough for the square. After we had the perfect size, we took our square paper, set it on top of the clay and traced the outline of the square shape. After we had the shape, it was time to design; we had to have three specific techniques - additive, subtractive, and self choice. Additive was adding on clay and subtractive was taking away the clay. When using the additive technique, we had to score the clay; scoring is drawing "X"s on the clay and getting it wet so that the two pieces of clay would stick together like glue basically. Once we had our design all done, it was time to paint. 

For my mosaic tile, my additive pieces were a Christmas tree and a checkered pattern. I did the Christmas tree because it is my favorite holiday and a fun tradition for my family every year. I did the checkered pattern because it simply is just my favorite pattern. My subtractive designs were the letter "D" for my first initial and a cup of coffee because that's one of my favorite drinks. 

Extension Activity: The students swap their mosaic tiles with a partner. With their partner's tile, the student identifies what the symbols are and the techniques to use them. Then with their partners, they discuss the symbols that they chose and why they chose them. 

Project #9: Printmaking Christmas Ornaments

 Description: Through a powerpoint, we learned about the history of printmaking. For this printmaking lesson, we made Christmas ornaments. We began by sketching two different designs, on the rubric, that related to us, our family, our culture, etc. Between the two designs, we chose one. We then took the design we chose and drew that onto a smaller square piece of paper. After we had the drawing done, we took the paper and laid it on top of a piece of styrofoam, taping one side together so it didn't move. We then traced the drawing onto the styrofoam, pressing quite hard so it would go through. We then cut it out. Next it was time for the painting part; we took our cut out ornament and piece of white or black construction paper to the paint stations. We laid our ornament on a plain sheet of paper. We took a brayer (roller) and rolled it evenly through the paint, followed up with rolling it over the ornament to coat it evenly. We then took the ornament and rolled it onto our construction paper using a dry brayer and applying really good pressure. We repeated this process one more time with our ornament and then two times with our partner's ornament. Between the partners, one's ornaments were blue and the other's were red. Lastly, we drew the strings as if the ornaments were hanging. 

I did a Christmas tree because Christmas is my favorite holiday (red). My partner did a spider with a web because she loves Spiderman (blue). 

Extension Activity: An extension activity that I would do is creating a collage. I would have the students create their designs based around a theme (maybe Christmas). Then I would have them printmake all of their designs onto the same sheet to create one big collage. Then they could talk with a partner about their designs and why they chose that specific design. 

Project #8: 2D Snowflakes

Description: We began by designing three different snowflakes. The first two snowflakes we copied the design of both of the teachers. The third snowflake was our own design. We had three little pieces of paper. We took each of those papers and folded a corner to another corner to form a triangle. Then we took the triangle and folded it again to make a smaller triangle. Then we drew our design - squares, circles, triangles, etc. We then cut out the triangles along the pencil lines. After we cut the triangles, we glued them onto a piece of blue construction paper. Once we had the triangles glued, we layered glue on only our snowflake we designed ourself. Once we had a good amount of glue, we took a small cup of salt and dumped the salt on the glue (to make it stick). After, we took the paper to the garbage can to dump the excess salt off. We brought the paper back to our spots and took watercolor. We dabbed the watercolor over the salt to make the snowflake look crystalized. Once the project was finished, we did a gallery walk and had to write down three observations that we noticed. 

Extension Activity: Instead of blue construction paper and white snowflakes, I would do white construction paper and have them glue blue snowflakes; so then, for an extension activity, I would have the students add a winter background by drawing. They could draw things like snowy hills, houses, snowmen, etc. 

Project #7: Stain Glass Turkey

 Description: For the stain glass turkey art, we began by taping off sections using masking tape. With thicker tape, we taped off the feathers and the frame of the face. With skinnier tape, we taped lines through the feathers. Once we had the feathers taped off, we painted. For painting the feathers, the requirements were to have 1 primary color, two secondary colors, and two tints. Then we painted the face of the turkey. Once it dried, we peeled the tape off.

Extension Activity: An extension activity that I could do is two of the feathers could be experimented using texture; for example, sponge dabbing or salt. 

Project #6: Zentangle Pumpkin

 Description: The students created a pumpkin using zentangle patterns. The lesson began with a PowerPoint introducing the concept of zentangle. After that, the students practice drawing two patterns - one related to fall and one related to their personal interest. Then they followed a step by step showing of how to draw a pumpkin. They drew with a pencil first and then traced with a black sharpie. After, they filled in all of the sections (6 of them) with all different patterns, including their fall and personal. They did their patterns with crayons. When they had their patterns done, they painted orange and brown watercolor over the pumpkin. As they completed their pumpkin, they listened to an audiobook called "Charlie Brown, A Great Big Pumpkin." Once they were done, they had to share with a partner their designs and why they chose them.

My fall theme pattern was pumpkins, and my person interest pattern was pencils for teaching. 

Extension: An extension activity that goes with this lesson could be like a zentangle series. With every season, students can create a zentangle design. For example, for winter, they could do a snowflake, or for spring, they could do a flower. With each of these seasons, they would still have to do at least one pattern that is related to that season. 

Project #5: Landscape inspired by Vincent Van Gogh

 Description:  For this lesson, we learned about a wonderful artist named Vincent Van Gogh. We learned about his life, early work, art styles, development, self-portraits, his final time, and more. We looked more in-depth at one of his most famous paintings known as "Starry Night."As we listened to information about Van Gogh, we had to write down three facts that we learned. Then, it was our turn.

We had to create our own version of the "Starry Night." We began with a piece of construction paper. With that black paper, we had to take ripped tissue paper (the colors were our choice) and use acrylic type glue to make the tissue paper stay on the construction paper. After that, we took oil pastels and drew any pattern over the top of the tissue paper pieces. Once we had all of that done, then it was the final step; we took a piece of black construction paper and created a landscape of our choosing. I chose to do a city with layered buildings because I thought it was neat. 

Extension Activity: An extension activity that I would have the students do is a reflection piece. The reflection would include them explaining what inspired their choices of color. I would also have them reflect on their landscape and why they chose their design. The reflection could also include if the art piece relates to their personality, or if it makes the students feel any emotions.