Printmaking

 

 

Courtney Weber and I taught a lesson on Printmaking. We started the lesson by displaying two famous prints from well-known artists. We asked students to describe what they see, and the similarities and differences between each piece. Then, we discussed the concepts that students will be using for the lesson today such as line, pressure, and contrast. We also incorporated the language arts concept of alliteration. We first had students chose a zoo animal to draw onto a piece of paper. Then, students transferred the drawing onto a Styrofoam piece to prepare for the printmaking process. Next, students went to the "print station" to create the print of their drawing onto a piece of black construction paper. Finally, students were instructed to create a flyer on a piece of colored construction paper of their choice for the "Hub City Zoo" that incorporated alliteration and gave their animal a special talent.

 

After the project was finished, we gathered all of the flyers and created a bulletin board display in the art hallway for other students and faculty to see. We were really impressed by the creativity and effort that students used for this project.

 

 

 

For an extension activity, I would incorporate different types of writing and have students create a newsletter for the "Hub City Zoo". Each student will be assigned a different form of writing or poem such as, haiku, persuasive, narrative, etc. I would have each student create an article or column containing their assigned writing and animal. Finally, we would put all of them together to make the newsletter.

 

Under the Sea

 

 

Maggie Hepper and Evan Finley taught a lesson using the medium of paper. We started the lesson talking about the children's book The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister. We discussed how the fish was unique and why he was unique. For our final project we created an ocean collage using different cool colors such as different shades of purple and blue tissue paper. We tore and crumbled the different pieces of tissue paper in order to create texture. Then, we added green tissue paper to create seaweed. Finally, we created our own fish using warm colors in order for the fish to stand out from the ocean background. We were instructed to make our fish unique just like The Rainbow Fish. I made mine unique by adding pom poms to each fin, sequence all around the body, and purple pipe cleaners. At the end of class the teachers had a handful of us share what we did to our fish to make it unique.

For an extension activity I would incorporate environmental science by talking about the topic of pollution. Students would learn about how polluted the Earth's oceans are and what we as humans are doing to cause this. Student's would add pollution to their ocean collage to show the reality of what is happening. Then, students would write an action humans can take in order to reduce the amount of pollution that is being dumped into the oceans.

3D Design

 

 

Calli Compton and Emma Niewenhuis taught their lesson on three dimensional design. We first talked about what 2D and 3D are and what they look like. For our first activity we were instructed to chose a partner and pose that partner in any way that we want. We then use pipe cleaners in order to recreate the pose. Above is the pose I chose to create with my partner. Then, in order to better stabilize the pipe cleaners we wrapped tin foil around the entire structure. Next, we designed the figure using different materials that were given to us. I chose to use beads for the hands and feet, tissue paper and yarn to create the dress, and brown yarn for the hair. To finish off the project we stuck the figure into a Styrofoam piece in order for it to stand on it's own.

 

For an extension activity, I would incorporate language arts by having students create a story about their figure. My example represents a dancer, so I would write a story about a dancer. If the student didn't want to chose a dancer for their story, they could create a pose that may represent something else of their choice such as a football player or a tennis player. 

 

Clay Prints

 

Jordan Stotz and Amber Ogren taught a lesson using the medium of clay. We learned how to work with the clay in order to reduce any air bubbles. We also learned how to use a roller and wooden dowels in order to flatten out the clay to the desired shape we wanted without making it too thin. First, we were allowed to play around with the different materials we had in order to create prints in the clay to get a feel for what each print will look like. Finally, we were instructed to create our own unique print using at least three different materials. I chose to use a lace headband to create the texture for the background. I used a paw print stamp to create the puppy print and carved Mako into the clay using a toothpick to represent my puppy. We also had to use a variety of colors to decorate the print.

For an extension activity, I would incorporate social studies/history by teaching a lesson about fossils. Then, I would have students go outside and find an artifact that could create a unique print, or bring something from home that would represent them and what they would want future historians to remember about them. Students would create their print and we would build a "time capsule box" and hide it either somewhere in the school or bury it for future students to find with all of their unique prints inside. 

Yarn Weaving

 

Sasha and Kaitlyn taught a lesson on yarn work and weaving. We learned concepts about pattern and the history of weaving, as well as the different tools that weavers use even today. I liked how Sasha and Kaitlyn split the class into two groups to get started on the project as they knew it would take quite a bit of time to complete. It is important to be able to give each students a task to do while they are waiting, otherwise classroom management becomes an issue, and I believe they did a great job with this. One group was instructed to pick out their colors and cut the yarn for the project, while the other group learned how to cut their cup. Our final project was to weave yarn around a cup in an ABC pattern. I chose to use green, white, and purple.

For an extension project I would have students keep a pattern throughout the weaving process, but I would let them choose what type of pattern they would like to use. For example, they could have AB, AB, or ABCD,ABCD, or AABC, AABC and so on. This would allow students to put their own personal touch into the project.

Watercolor

 

 

Miss Fines and Miss Kellen taught their lesson on watercolors. Throughout the lesson we learned the different techniques you can use to create a watercolor picture such as crayon resist, flat wash, graded wash, blotting, and scraffito. We started the lesson just practicing each technique and then moved on to create a picture using music as a guide. Lastly, we were instructed to create a watercolor picture that used some of the techniques we learned. I chose to create a natural scenery that used crayon resist to create the shape of the flower, flat wash to color the petals, blotting for the center of the flower, graded wash for the sky, Sun, and grass, and also scraffito to create the clouds.

 

For an extension activity I would have the class go outside on a nice day and create a watercolor picture of what they see in nature. Then, you could incorporate science, art, and language arts, and have students create a story about their picture from what they saw outside.

Contour Drawing

Cassie Bottum and Carlee Sanders taught this lesson on "Contour Drawing". We first had to draw an object without actually seeing exactly what we were drawing on the paper with a pencil and paper plate. This allowed us to become more comfortable with our drawing and understand the idea that not everything has to be perfect. Then, we practiced drawing using something as a model. Miss Bottum and Miss Sanders had objects in the front of the classroom for us to use, or we had the choice of drawing something without having it right in front of us. Lastly, we used the techniques, of the Japanese artist that we learned about, as he took everyday objects and the concept of scale and made the object seem much larger than it really is. I chose to use a clothes pin for my drawing and added small people using it like a spring board. One person is jumping on the right side and the other person is flying high in the air because of the jump. This makes the everyday object look like a jungle gym and makes it appear much larger than it truly is.

For an extension project, before the lesson I would have students bring their favorite item from home that they could fit in their backpack. Students would then be able to use their own creativity, uniqueness, and drawing skills of their favorite item and use this in their contour drawing.