Mrs.Williams Art Room

 Here is a quick lesson on Monkey's...I love monkeys!  I did this project with my 6th graders and we focused our lesson on the painting called the Blue Dog byGeorge Rodrigue. Instead of typically doing a dog we discussed as a class what other animals we could do as a series like George Rodrigue. We came up with the Monkey. We started out by drawing sketeches of our monkey using some example sheets that I prepared. We drew our monkey keeping in mind that we wanted to make this memorable, so we added either a unique background or article of clothing to our picture. After drawing it on white 12x18 paper we used black elmers glue and traced our picture. Lastly, after a good drying time we using water color to paint our monkeys. Below is one example of our monkey painting. Things you need: elmers glue mixed with black tempera Watercolor paint (any variety will do) Pencils Monkey images Example of George Rodrigue Blue Dog 12x18 white paper

This lesson is called Character Bells. My 7th and 8th grade students created a bell using the pinch pot method. We started out by rolling a ball of clay the size of a baseball. Next, we stuck our thumb into the ball and created a hallow opening. Lastly, we took extra clay and created a unique character for the top of our bell. Underneath each one of these is a fishing wire string and clay ball. The rounder the opening the better the ring. The kids loved it and had a great time making them .

          During the last week of school I was "Art on a Cart" due to the fact that the PTO used my room for the holiday store. I didn't mind because we have a great PTO at our school and one week wouldn't kill me....I thought.  So what do you do when it's the last week before break and you're floating from classroom to classroom and the kids are restless and are ready for a break? Well, I did not know...but thank God I found this great worksheet on Pinterest you can find it on expressivemonkey.com they have great drawing worksheets.  It is a perfect holiday art lesson. Elves!! My 3rd thru 6th grade classes used dice and created these awesome elves. The kids loved it and they were very engaged during the entire lesson.       Below you will find the handout and a few student examples.            I asked them to create some unique backgrounds for their elves.

  It's been about three weeks since my last blog...I promised myself that I would post at least once a week...life happens.   Recently my Ceramics class created a few cool projects that I would like to share. The first project is clay pumpkins. Students were given the opportunity to create a unique clay pumpkin using the skills learned so far in class. I think that they did a great job.         My Ceramics class also created a few clay tile relief projects. Our main subject was the Koi Fish. I love Koi fish they are so unique and beautiful. The last project that we are working on is "Sparky" from Frankenweenie the movie. I just received some Scholastic Art Magazines and they had a great article about Tim Burton and careers in sculpting character puppets. My 7th and 8th grade students really enjoyed doing this project. I will post more pictures later of their finished work.            

 My ceramics class created clocks inspired by Salvador Dali's "Persistence of Memory". Each student sketched out their idea first. Then created a their piece using clay. The motivation was to create a clock design that would be memorable. Students used the slab handbuilding methods to create these unique designs.

I just started part two of this unit with my third graders. I posted a couple of weeks ago a lesson called "What's in the attic?" this is a drawing lesson based on a short story about a silly character who lives in an attic. Students based their drawing on the description of the character in the story. Well...now we are continuing this lesson but using our cutting and gluing skills. Here are a few examples. My third graders were really excited about this project.

  Each year I give fifth grade a review lesson on elements of art.  Students use shapes, texture and color in this lesson.   Students learn to overlap shapes by erasing lines that are within a shape. They may use all organic shapes or mix them with geometric shapes.  Later, we color the entire paper with marker and finally add texture by adding glue and then sprinkle glitter over the paper. Every things better with glitter! Lastly, we mount our designs on to construction paper.              Brighter colors really make the artwork stand out the best.

My art fundraiser is going great. In two days I have raised $200.00. I have students, parents and organizations donating old broken crayons for this fundraiser and I only have to purchase the molds  (with a few coupons they are cheap).  The kids and parents love the crayons. I will start getting new shapes each month. So far I have stars, hearts, little figures, pumpkins and leaves. I just ordered football shapes for my sports fans. All of the proceeds go towards purchasing art supplies through out the year.  I am so excited!   Check out some of our crazy color combinations.          

          How many of you art teachers have tons of broken crayons that you get so sick of looking at? I did..notice I said I did.   Well, I came up with a great way to reuse those crayons, but also make some money for art supplies in the process. I am making shaped crayons from old broken crayons from last year.   I melt the crayons down in a rubber mold and sell the crayons to the students 2 for $1.00 or $.50 a piece. The kids love them I don't have to spend any money to make them and the art room can buy more supplies as the year progresses.  I make them in a variety of colors and shapes.     Why didn't I think of this before!     They are so cool! Here are two of my crayons. I will use open house as a way to advertise to parents.  

    My third graders are starting with this lesson this week. It's a great way to incorporate reading and comprehension in art. We start out by reading this short passage which is called What's in the Attic? After we read the story aloud I ask the students to describe Bill in the story.   After we have discussed each description the students receive a large piece of white paper and draw Bill using the story. The kids love it! The next day of art is when I show them my example..(students tend to want to copy my example) so I wait a day and allow them to create their own first. We use markers for color and I also have them create the attic.             Here is an example of what Bill could look like.  

  Here are a few more pictures of my room. I am so happy to be finished.   My word wall consists of principles of designs and elements of art . (I will add more throughout the year)   This is my assignment box, for dry papers. I took a huge box from my poster board order and used fabric to cover it. I saw this stop sign on Pinterest, I just had to add it. I dislike with a passion no name papers.   Love these hooks! The best idea I could have ever come up with.                                                     To keep my line straight in case I have some late pick ups from teachers. I even put foot prints in front of my sink.   Finished product and looking forward to starting a new school year next Tuesday.