I developed this simple coloring project to teach Kindergarten students how to fill color and outline shapes. The shapes are printed on large project paper. Students trace over the edges of all the shapes with black crayon to create outlines and then fill color with crayons. Fill coloring is when we fill in or color with one color up to a line or the edge of a shape. We stress neat fill coloring, not leaving blank space and coloring inside lines. Students are taught to use black for lines and not to fill color with black. Teaching kindergarten to "fill color" was extremely successful because it encourages them to color without leaving blank spaces and it divert them from coloring in splotchy patches of random colors. I immediately realized the potential to improve upon this lesson and created similar printed shapes to outline and fill color.
This lesson was inspired by the artwork of Piet Mondrian. Teaching kindergarten students to trace cardboard shapes created impressive results. The traced shapes were outlined with black crayons to create dark edges of the shapes, the dark edges reinforce coloring inside the lines and is great fine motor and strength practice . The shapes were overlapped to create smaller areas and shapes which were then colored with primary colors. Kindergarten students were a little bummed they could not use other colors, however many of them eventually figured out how to mix the crayons to make make secondary colors. Students did look at a small image of a Mondrian painting, however I was unable to show more because I did not have a functioning digital projector at the time. I look forward to doing similar lessons and being able to show and discuss more images of artwork with students. This lesson was designed for 1st graders to practice drawing geometric shapes and learn to differentiate between warm and cool color. Students filled their paper with large geometric shapes drawn in crayon. Then students were instructed to connect the shapes and edges of the paper with lines. We discussed warm colors and cool colors and decided on only coloring the shapes with warm colors and used cool colors to color the space around the shapes. Space, element of art, is a difficult concept for first graders to understand. This project gave me the opportunity to simplify the idea of space for first graders. We repeatedly discussed that space is the area between to shapes and reinforced this idea of space between shapes by only using cool colors in the area/ space between the shapes. This project was extremely successful for introducing the Elements of Art to first grade; Shape, line, space, and color were all reviewed and expanded on with equal opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and skill. I would have like to see the students be more excited about this project. I am glad that I have the students for an entire week and I definitely notice an increase in their understanding compared to similar lessons I did last year. More students can successfully identify warm and cool colors after this lesson in 1 full week of art. A surprising number of students were unable to identify warm and cool colors after a similar project last year, while students came to art class once a week. This project was inspired by Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflower paintings. 3rd graders were guided through drawing the form of a vase and flowers. The art element of texture was discussed previously and brought up again, this time the class discussed the differences between the element of texture and the principal of pattern. As a group, we ultimately agreed that textures are felt and patterns are seen with eyes. I then taught them the difference between visual and physical texture. To start students were instructed they needed to demonstrate the difference between texture and pattern by creating pattern on their vase and the texture of wood on the table-using pastel. In a later class the principal of contrast was revisited and discussed while looking at a Van Gogh sunflower painting with a blue background. Students were instructed to paint the background blue because blue contrasts with the yellow and orange flowers. The lesson was wrapped up by showing the students more images of Van Gogh's sunflower paintings on my new projector, courtesy of my 5th funded Donnors Choose Project. I am very thankful I can finally show images to students on a digital projector, it enriches my lessons and provides endless opportunity for class discussions. This project was extremely successful as an introduction to oil pastels and watercolor painting. Students traced and overlapped CDs to create the circles. Then outlined the circles with oil pastel, which helps to keep the watercolor paint from mixing on the paper. Again I stress painting inside the lines because it is essential for students to build hand control and work precisely with a brush. I see the potential in this lesson as an introduction/review of using pastels and paint and I look forward to adapting this basic lesson for other grades. This is one of my favorite lessons so far this year because of how great the artwork turned out. 2nd grade had already been introduced to Cubism and Collage so the beginning of this project went smoothly. I showed students step by step how to draw simple eyes, nose, and mouth on separate pieces of construction paper. Students were introduced to blending with pastels using scrap paper instead fingers so that they do not get their hands dirty. We blended with pastels and outlined the facial features. The pieces were then collaged onto watercolor paper and the rest of the portrait was drawn, blended, and outlined. The portraits were finally painted with watercolor, I instructed students to use 1 color to paint the background to create balance and unity, and to keep interest on the portrait. I adapted this project from a lesson I did last year and I am impressed with the results again. Using black paper to start a drawing is great because it's not necessary to erase drawing mistakes. I guided students through drawing a portrait in pencil. The portraits were colored with colored pencil and then pastel was added. We discussed the principals of contrast and movement. Students were instructed to demonstrate the use of low contrast colors in the face and high contrast colors in the negative space. Students were instructed to create movement by controlling the direction of small strokes of color. I did show students examples of how to use directional strokes in a portrait, however I also explain to students it is variable and can be changed as long as the strokes generally lead the views eye in a direction. I allowed students to add final details and outlines with pastel. I was impressed with the variation in the projects and feel the students learned a great deal. I plan on using a heavier paper the next time I do this project as well as introducing Impressionism to students. Vincent Van Gogh's Starry Night is such a wonderful painting to copy and to teach. This is another Go To project that I keep coming back to. It was such a great way to introduce using pastels and watercolors as well as the principal of Movement. Van Gogh and the other Impressionists were masters of movement and it is most obvious for students in Starry Night. First I explained to students what a stroke is and then let students describe the strokes in Starry Night. Eventually they hit on the direction of the strokes is showing wind. Then I pointed out that it is not only the strokes in the sky, but also the strokes in the hills and the trees and the stars are showing direction and movement. I encouraged students to use different shades of blues and purples in the sky and different greens and browns in the hills and trees, however I was disappointed in many students who did not experiment with the variety of colors available. When I do this project again I will surly have students work larger and require them to use more of a variety in their color choices. I would also have liked to show a projected digital image of Starry Night and zoom in to show the direction of paint strokes to students. This is a go to project I've adapted for multiple grade levels. This year 4th graders had the pleasure of creating crazy hair portraits. I guided students through drawing a simple portrait. The element of line was reviewed and classes spent time describing and discussing different types of line. The principal of variety was introduced and students were instructed to create 10 different types of lines for the hair on their portrait. The drawing was finalized with marker outlines and then colored with a variety of colors. I also introduced value to students and had them create a fade of disappearing color in the negative space. Creating a value fade proved difficult for some students, especially at the end of the project when they are all tiered of it and want to finish quickly to move on. If I did this again I might introduce value earlier and have students experiment with with mixing colors with the colored pencils. This project was successful for introducing and reviewing the elements of line and value and the principal of variety. I see many different opportunities to change the materials and adapt this lesson for other grades. |
Mr. AnewaltA is for Art and Art is for Everyone! Archives
December 2016
Categories |