Transparency Printmaking

I am not sure where exactly I got this assignment from. But it's great for 6th grade. We start off the first day brainstorming about shapes and what they could represent. Each student uses a whiteboard and then we make a master list. Then we play a quick drawing game, where I have them draw various things (a city, a person, favorite food) using only shapes. Their assignment is to then go and think of three adventures they have been on--it could be a road trip, a visit to another state or country, an exciting game they played in, etc. They are to use shapes.

The next step is to choose their drawing and then redraw it onto a piece of 8.5x11 paper. They then place the transparency on top and use tape, old labels and stickers to "redraw" it. We use Exacto knives to make precise cuts (and talk about safety!)

After that, I do a printing demo. We've already gone over vocabulary, so they know what a baren and brayer are (which doesn't stop them from calling it a hand roller and stomper...). I have them make multiple prints because we will alter the ones that are not successful.

This one was my favorite from last year:

Here is an example of the printing plate, a print and a modified print, also from last year. This year, NO CORNER SUNS!

And a few that have been printed so far this year:

The kids really like this project and once they see the process, they really get it. I think I might continue with the printmaking unit and do styrofoam printing next.

Composition

Before we really get into art class and creating, I spend about two class periods talking about composition and coloring/shading. My hope is that by giving them these tools or suggestions, they will use them in their work. I often refer to our composition guidelines when explaining projects.

We begin by taking some notes about composition and "hints" to remember when drawing. I have them draw a house, tree and clouds. And then I ask where they placed these items in their picture.

Then we do a drawing activity that I found in Carla Sonheim's book Drawing Lab for Mixed-Media Artists: 52 Creative Exercises to Make Drawing Fun. As a class we come up with 12 random nouns. I then use a random number generator to choose 4 of them, one at a time. We then draw each one, keeping in mind the composition hints. It's pretty fun and I talk about how to make it look like a cohesive, yet weird drawing. I usually draw along with them, but AFTER so I don't influence their composition choices.

This takes about one class period. The next class we talk about shading and using colored pencils (since we use those the most): even coverage, short strokes, blending and layering color. Then they have to color their composition drawings.

Hello 2012-13 school year!

Welcome to the 2012-13 school year! This year we moved to an A/B schedule. This means I have 12 classes a semester. It also means I have to be more organized. I've decided sketchbooks for this year will be the folder system for 6th and 7th graders and I was able to find inexpensive sketchbooks for 8th graders again this year. First project will be the bin nametags, and then sketchbook covers. From there, I'm not sure what!

Elements of Art-6th Grade Edition

The assignment on the left (my copy). Students completed cubes on right.

 Usually I like to start the trimester off with 6th graders, with an introduction to the Elements of Art. Sometimes I do the "Elements of Art Olympics" which I adapted from The Incredible Art Department but this trimester I started off showing this Elements of Art video and then we filled out a vocab chart. After that, I have them create an Elements of Art cube, where each side is different element (with Form being the cube itself). It's pretty cool and kids think it's neat that the cube is an actual element. Sometimes I have them complete an Elements of Art scavenger hunt around the room.

Completed cubes

Vocab chart done in sketchbook

New Trimester

Well, the new trimester started last Monday. Spring Break starts at the end of this week. Last week I spent time in most of my classes creating sketchbooks or decorating covers. I went with the folders for 7th grade instead of making them like last trimester. I'm out of paint and I wanted to get the trimester started.
My class are good--it's always fun getting new students and each class period has a different vibe than the previous trimester.
This week we are finishing sketchbooks and either doing Elements and Principles Olympics (6th grade) and E&P days (7th/8th) or Technique Week, where each day will focus on some basic techniques (shading, how to fill a space, coloring) that I hope will help with future projects and sketchbook assignments.

Robots, robots, everywhere!

Probably some of my best lessons are the ones that come at the last minute, born of desperation. Last year, I had only a few days left in the trimester and was about to start a clay unit with my 6th graders. And my clay was rock hard. I had no time to go get more clay. Time for Plan B. My best friend and I had spent an evening making a robot for a party. We had a blast finding normal items we could "robot-ize" for our project. Suddenly I thought about having my students get in groups of 3-4 to build robots out of recyclable materials. We scrambled around the school to find boxes and lids and other assorted items. I pulled out my box of randoms. They had a blast! Kids still come in to see their robot and I have all grade levels asking if they can make robots.

1st Generation Robots on display

This year I didn't do robots until the second trimester. I decided to include a value/drawing unit. I found these great handouts to help. We talked about shading and students had to use shading in their drawing (at least 3 values).

Next came the fun part. Building a robot! I told students to start bringing in recyclable items to use on their robot. And of course many wanted to go dumpster diving in the back of school. We talked about assembling the robot and the best materials to use (hot glue vs. masking tape) and how to alter items to use (paint, wrapping, etc.) on the robot.

2nd Generation robots watch over class...

It was a fun project and kids totally got into it!

7th Grade Coil Bowls

Love the city skyline theme

Great designs and I love the little bird!

For my seventh graders we talk about functional art and make coil bowls. When we are finished, we usually eat ice cream or cereal out of them. I like the idea of attaching another piece on the top. They have to do an original design on the bottom as well.

8th Grade Ceramic Projects

sushi

robot, pancakes (toast?) and a plate of cookies

Love this! Wish the glazing was better (light in some spots)

by far, the talk of all my classes

Usually for 8th grade, I show my students different examples of previous handbuilt projects and they propose their own ceramic piece to make. There is a "clay proposal" form they must fill out. For kids who haven't had art before and as a review for those that have, I demo different techniques to construct their pieces. For the most part they turn out really well. For the students that need a little bit more direction, I give them a specific assignment. Food is usually popular! This trimester they turned out pretty good! There were some that I wish had glazed better, but all in all I was pleased.

6th Grade Monster Heads

Well, after the first firing they didn't look so good. So I took some samples to Georgies to see if it was kiln error, glaze error or user error. The good news is that it wasn't anything major and the pieces could be re-fired. I was pleased this morning when they looked normal and shiny and not pitted! Here are a few standouts from this trimester.

3-D Letters

I usually do a typography unit with my 7th graders. It started as just designing letters but then a couple of years ago it turned into creating a 3-d letter with a pattern. They turn out pretty cool and kids like building them. We talk about fonts and typography and look at example. They have to do a "ransom note" style of the vocab in their sketchbook. Next we talk about pattern and they have to design 3-4 patterns for their letter. Next, we start building them. I use little 3/4 oz cups to give it structure and they wrap masking tap around it before painting. They always turn out really cool.

Note: I'm working on getting handouts and other files uploaded here. I do have an assignment sheet for this project.

Sketchbook work 

construction of letters

Display at Central Office

Every school year each school in the district is invited to display art in the reception area at the central office. I went in this morning during my plan to hang up our art work. The 3-d letters are part of the seventh grade typography unit. I also posted the comic book/onomatopaeia art that sixth graders did lastly I have the tints and shades paintings that eighth graders worked on. These will be up for a little under two weeks. I like the addition of the 3-d element!

Clay Monster Heads

We are elbow-deep in clay this week. Well, maybe more like wrist deep. My sixth graders are working on their "Monster Heads" using hand-building techniques like pinch pot, slip and score and molding. Some are more fantastical than others, some are more realistic. I have been doing this assignment since I started teaching--probably the only successful assignment from that year! They end up looking really neat and the students learn techniques that they can build on in seventh and eighth grade (if they end up in Art).

The Mural

I am always looking for ways to add more art to my classroom. While I love that we have big windows, we don't have much wall space. I had this one very big, very blank wall at one end of my classroom. While finishing up a unit on typography with my 7th graders, I came up with the idea to have them paint art quotes in different fonts on this wall. They worked in small groups and I used quotes and images I found on Pinterest to project onto the wall and they traced them.
Here it is in the beginning:

Getting there, getting there. I wasn't too pleased with the blue quote but I've been working on "fixing it" for legibility. It was hard to decide on whether to use paint or sharpie so we used a mix of both.
Here is the latest update (students worked on while I was gone on Friday and thus some editing of the blue quote--I was not happy):

We are starting on clay this week, so this is put on hold while we make our coil bowls. I'm anxious to see it completely done! There are some spacing issues, but overall I think it looks great!

Oreo Carving

 It's always a good day when you get to use food in a lesson! I found the idea on Pinterest, from another art teacher who based on this amazing artist! Since we were starting clay, I thought this would be good practice for carving into clay and sgraffito. I used generic oreos and they seemed to work out fine. The students had a great time and came up with some fun designs.

Tints and Shades Painting

Another art teacher in my district gave me the idea for this painting unit and I've never seen my class work so hard and be so quiet!

We start off talking about tints and shades and creating a color wheel. I give the option to students to design a creative color wheel showing tints and shades or they can use the circles worksheet.

Then I have them sketch out ideas in their sketchbook and how they could do one big design and divide into eight sections or divide into sections and do a different design in each. We also talk about unity and balance. In each section they paint the tints and shades of the color. When dry, they can outline in Sharpie if they'd like. They always turn out really cool looking.

7th Grade Sketchbooks

I am really pleased at how the 7th grade sketchbooks turned out! Even though it took us well over two weeks. I had decided before school started that I would have all classes make their sketchbooks in modified forms of bookmaking. It wasn't a success and I sold back much of the color-coordinated posterboard I bought to use for the year.

At the OAEA Fall Conference, there were two workshops I took that inspired me for 7th graders sketchbooks. The first was a workshop on handbinding books. The instructor (a fellow middle school teacher) was amazing and I left with a really cool book of my own and a few ideas for next trimester. The second was a workshop on paste painting. It was pretty cool, using layers and assorted items to pull thru the paint. There is a whole formula for creating the "paste" for the paint.

My own little hand bound book

Second painting

I already knew that 8th graders would have "real" sketchbooks and 6th graders were using the pocket folder system. I decided for 7th grade, we would make covers using the paste painting technique. I just used regular tempera paint and then grabbed a bunch of random items to make marks. We had so much fun doing this! And they turned out AMAZING!

using a lace doily

cut up foam circle

a seashell worked great

After these dried, we glued them onto bookboard to create the front and back covers. I used Yes! Paste thinned down a little bit (otherwise is was SO sticky and hard to work with). Then we started on the binding. Each student had 4 sets of 5 11x17 sheets folded in half (to create 4 signatures) plus one from me that had Welcome to Art and their warm-up boxes. We used a western longstitch binding that seems to have held up pretty well. I worked in small groups, teaching the stitch but once they got the hang of it, students were quick to finish.

Once their signatures were all bound, the covers were glued on the front and back.

they lay flat, too!

You can see the binding