Kindergarten create Eric Carle-inspired flower collages

Children painted papers using tempera. They were instructed to first paint the paper one color and to decorate it with another by either making lines, dots or criss cross lines all over the paper. 

Total focus...

Here are some slides from my Notebook presentation on the Smartboard:

 To demonstrate how simple shapes come together to make something more complex, I design a flower and then break it up. While doing my demonstration I will create the flower right before their eyes. Every child gets how shapes come together to make more complex images after this introduction.

Here is how the flower looks once I am done putting it together in front of them.

For when we added the details, we brainstormed what details we could add to our work.....the images, yes, are borrowed from Google images online....

Here is my flower again, after I have added some of the details kids suggested I add to my work. 

For all kinder classes I use a 3-4 step visual agenda to help  guide them. Here, Kids have to do three things during their 35 minute lesson. (1) add your details to your work. Kids have already started their flowers during the last class. (2) add glue all over your image at the end to help seal and protect the work. (3) place your work in the drying rack once done. 

The second day we worked on details. Children were to add anything in the background they wanted...such as butterflies, moon, sun, tree, plants, bugs, rocks, rain, etc. 

A garden full of flowers here....

Drawing bodies on motion- Learning about where we bend

After school painting class for all third fourth and fifth graders

Fourth-graders build experience with clay

Mrs Cutelis gets her home art studio set up

Kindergartners practice cutting zigzags wavy lines spirals and dottedlines

More explorations of stencils- making greetings cards -4th grade

Second graders begin their collaborative paintings

Kindergartners combine basic shapes to create animal families

Kindergarteners learn how to combine basic geometric shapes to draw familiar animals. This is a super lesson for kinders. They love being able to better draw the things they love.

4th graders begin exploring the makings of a stencil

I ordered spray paint and exacto knives..... This focus on stencils is a further extension to our printmaking unit. I wanted to give them a unit that went beyond what they've already done in printmaking in 2nd grade. In 2nd, they did scratch foam. This year, I want them to walk away much more knowledgable about the other branches of printmaking. 

Final samples of Oaxaca-inspired paintings

Oh!!! I am SO in love with these works. They look so rich and fun. I am most proud of the fact that all the secondary colors and tints and shades were created by each child. I never gave kids anything but primary colors, white, black and brown. All secondary colors, tints, and shades, they make on their own....

Ways to help with writing in the art room