Mrs.Williams Art Room

Well, I don't know if you all have been affected by the school closings yet, but here in Michigan we are shut down for the next 2-3 weeks.  I am so glad that I started learning how to create videos and started this blog. My goal is to use this time to really update art lessons and share as much as I can. I am posting on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram. The hardest part is working with limited supplies. I know many of my students may not have a variety of things at home, so I am challenging myself to create simple lessons with simple tools. Feel free to use this March drawing challenge for your kiddos, if it looks like we are moving into late April with our closer, then I will add another challenge. In the mean time stay creative and stay well. Here is my first video for art at home using markers, paper, brush and water.

Teaching the weaving process has not always been easy for me to teach. Students struggle with the concept of over and under and being able to see the pattern. That all changed for me when I decided to create these large paper looms. Students were given more practice and able to work with their peers for extra guided practice. To make this even better, I turn it into sort of a competition, the group that finishes first and does it correctly may move on to the individual paper looms. They love the intrinsic reward of finishing and moving to the next task.  I hope that this helps you if you struggle like I did with paper weaving.  Each student gets one strip to weave correctly. Students may verbally assist each other in their own group.

This lesson is a real hit with my middle school students. We learned to create a stuffed felt pillow. I have used a variety of themes for this project but the list is limitless. I have done stuffed emoji's, and winter holiday characters you can have your students create all kinds of things. Our first step is to create a template of there design using carboard or paper. It must be large enough to fill with stuffing and able to be sewn or glued around the edges to seal shut. Pick two sheets of felt and trace your template onto the felt. Cut out your design and begin adding details.  Connect your two pieces with needle and thread, hot glue or fabric glue. My students used needle and thread as this was a sewing project for them but I have used hot glue guns with them when we are in a time crunch.  The hot glue or fabric glue can be used to add embellishments too. Below are some pics of my Art ED colleagues at a PD that I facilitated. I introduced this lesson to them to take back

One of my favorite modern/Instagram artist to teach about is Chris Riggs, his work is simple but edgy and has a great message of love. I decided to use his layering style in a cut paper collage project for my middle school students. I used a video to demonstrate the cutting technique and once they got that, the rest was history.   Supplies needed: 12x18 Black or white construction paper 5x5 inch construction paper variety of colors Scissors Glue Pencil and eraser   Loved how students tried new shapes to create their design.