5th grade pinecone progress...

We had some beautiful snow a couple of weeks ago and a few school delays, so my classes are a little behind on the projects they started at the beginning of January.  I wanted to post a few in progress pictures of the pinecones that my 4th and 5th graders are working on.  I have really enjoyed this one so far and I will definitely be adding it to my regular list of projects for winter.  The students have learned about so many of the elements of art AND principles of design with this one.  We've discussed value, shape, form, texture, and of course line.  They learned about repetition while drawing the pinecone, and are now practicing shading with black, brown, and white paint.  I can't wait to share our finished ones!

Whew.... Who knew snowflakes could be so hard?!

After a particularly disastrous snowflake-cutting lesson this week, I think I have learned my lesson as well!  I was tasked with decorating the Christmas tree in our school auditorium for the holiday program, so I was determined to use some student work this year.  Usually there is not enough time for us to create anything in art for the tree.  We are usually still finishing up fall projects until the beginning of December, and by then, it's too late.  So... In a last minute decision, I attempted snowflakes with 4th grade.  Thinking how much fun it would be and how "everyone needs to know how to cut a snowflake correctly, right?!" Riiiight. Maybe not.  

  It's all in the folding I told them... It was downhill from there!  Bless their hearts they tried so hard!  We did end up with a good good, no, GREAT ones though!! 

Lesson #1,436....Paper snowflakes... Harder than I thought. :)

4th grade Spooky Halloween Houses

This is one of those projects I repeat each year in 4th grade.  They seem to get better.  The colors were especially vibrant this year! 

We discuss unity and line, as well as artistic styles with this project.  I think they enjoy the fact that they don't have to make their lines straight. 

They are still finishing up some coloring but I couldn't wait to post them! 

4th grade Peacocks

I missed posting a few things back in March, one of which were these beautiful peacocks that fourth grade drew!  We used my all time favorite medium, (other than paint of course) Crayola Color Sticks. :)

Snowy evergreen trees

4th grade learned about layering and overlapping in these snowy scenes, and I love how the sky turned out in several of them!

Happy Haunts in 4th grade

This project has always been one of my favorites!  We draw the whimsical houses step by step, and students loved the fact that their houses did not have to be perfectly straight! 

4th grade chameleons

4th grade is finishing up these fantastic chameleons this week!  We drew our chameleons by picking out the basic shapes, such as a triangle for the head.  Then we discussed their environment and the different types and textures of foliage we could include.  I gave them color wheels and briefly discussed patterns before turning them loose with paint! 

Abstract sunsets 2014

I posted these last year from my 4th graders and this year I thought they turned out even better!  We started with drawing the sunset and waves, then traced in permanent marker.  Painting with watercolor, we used cool colors for the water and warm colors for the sunset.  After the paint dried, we used colored pencils to add patterns and thicken our black lines to give the appearance of stained glass.

I scream, you scream!

4th grade just finished up these yummy little treats just in time for spring break!  This year I decide to cut them down after we finished painting with watercolor.  This project is another great lesson for color and drawing.  We used cans to trace overlapping circles, then added a "ruffled" bottom to each scoop and added a cone!

4th grade Halloween houses

We are getting an early start on Halloween this year in 4th grade!  We did these Halloween houses by drawing them together step by step in white colored pencil on black paper.  We discussed all the whimsial details they could add, such as pumpkins, ghosts, curly trees, black cats, and stars.  If you have students that do not celebrate Halloween, they can leave off the ghosts and jack-o-lanterns, and just have pumpkins for fall "funhouses." I reminded students that they shouldn't be too worried about getting their houses straight, since they should look stretched and whimsical on purpose!  They are turning out great!  Here are a few for you to enjoy!