Kindergarten "Perfect Square" Reconstructions!

This was such a fun project to get the creative juices and imaginations flowing in Kindergarten! We focused on the Element of Art: Shape. I had the students name a shape that they know and I drew it on the board. We talked about how a shape is a line that touches at both ends. Then I gave them a worksheet to practice drawing and recognizing different shapes. On one side, they had to use a crayon to trace the shapes to practice what it feels like to draw them. On the other side, I gave them instructs on which color to use and what shape to color in with that color. They had to search through all of the shapes and look for the right one. It was great practice for counting too since they had to add up the number of each type of shape at the end.

Next, I read them the book Perfect Square. I love this book! The book is about a square that is torn, cut, ripped, etc. each day of the week and then reassembles itself into some new like a mountain, park, river, etc.

Biblical Integration: I used the concept from the book to teach the kids about how God makes us new (like the square is made new) when we accept Christ and His forgiveness for our sins. 

2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

The next day, I handed out a white sheet of paper and gave each student a colored square of construction paper. Like in the book, the students had to deconstruct the square by tearing or cutting it and then reconstruct it into something new and gluing it down on the paper. The only rule was that they had to use the entire square. I gave them a black sharpie to add small details when they were finished. 

At the end of the project, I allowed the students to share with the class. They had to say "On Wednesday, my square was cut into pieces and was turned into ____________" It was so cute! They were so creative!

2nd Grade Folk Landscapes!

For this project, we looked at the artwork of Heather Galler. She is an artist who paints folk-style portraits, city-scapes, and landscapes. We talked about the use of lines and patterns in her work. The students then filled in a worksheet about lines and patterns to give them practice. The next class we discussed landscapes and talked about foreground, middle-ground, and background. They then drew their landscape in the style of Heather Galler.

The next few classes were dedicated to adding lines and patterns to the landscape with marker. The goal was to have the whole paper completely colored and colorful with unique and fun patterns and lines.

4th Grade Still Lifes!

The line focus with 4th grade was contour lines. We talked about what a contour line was and spent the first day of the lesson practicing the elements of a still-life (overlapping, proportion, etc.) on dry erase boards. When the students came in next class, I had a still-life set out at their tables (yes, it included Yoshi) for them to draw. We briefly reviewed how to draw a still life and then I let the students begin drawing.

The next class, I briefly introduced value to the students and they colored in their still-life with colored pencil, using value when they could. The last class, we reviewed the different types of lines used in art. I instructed the students to lightly color in their table with a crayon or colored pencil and then add lines on top with marker to make a table cloth pattern. The background was filled in with different sections of patterns.

1st Grade Illuminated Letters!

In first grade, our line project was illuminated letters. We began this project by looking at a PowerPoint of images of illuminated letters used in stories and in the Bible. We discussed how the books used the illuminated letters to add color and design to the beginning of pages. I told the students that we would be making illuminated letters using the letters of their names.

Biblical Integration: We discussed the different names of God and how Jesus got His name. We also talked about how our names were chosen especially for us too.

Then, I showed the students how to use their rulers to make  border around their papers.

The next day, I showed the students how to draw their initial in bubble letters on the board. They each drew their letter as I drew it. Then, I told them to choose an object or animal that started with the same letter as their initial. They were to draw the object next to their letter (part of it touching) and in the four corners of the paper.

The next class, we discussed different types of lines used in art. The students filled in their letters and borders with different types of lines using markers. They also colored in their objects that they drew. They turned out cute!

5th Grade Blind-Contour Self-Portraits!

5th grade started the year out learning about contour lines and blind-contour lines. I talked to them about what a contour line was and then handed out colored construction paper, markers, and mirrors for them to look at themselves with. We reviewed what a self-portrait was and then I explained that we were going to make a self-portrait using a blind-contour line. I explained that they had to draw their face using a long continuous line without lifting up their marker. They could also not look at their papers at all, just focus on their face in the mirror. They thought I had lost my mind. I demonstrated on the board and explained that it is mainly an exercise for your mind to strengthen your drawing skills and it doesn't have to look that great. So then they went for it! They were surprised at how their drawing actually ended up looking like people.

The next class each student got a large sheet of construction paper. I showed them how to divide the paper into 16 different sections. We then talked about different types of lines. They filled in every other space with different types of lines. The next day they filled in the other spaces with drawings of facts about themselves. I encouraged them to draw more than write. Here was my list:

1. Name

2. Favorite color

3. Favorite food

4. Favorite sport

5. Hobby

6. Favorite Bible verse

7. Favorite subject

8. Extra

Last, they cut out their blind-contour faces and glued them in the middle.

Biblical Integration: We talked about how God made each one of us unique and different from each other.