Layered Landscape Watercolor Paintings (3rd and 4th Grades)

For this project the 3rd and 4th graders learned how to construct a landscape using foreground, middle ground and background. They began by developing a sketch of a landscape and then broke their images into its three layers. They then created each later independently, with pencil and watercolors, and finished by adhering each layer together to complete their collage landscapes.

In addition to landscape construction we also touched on the concepts of visual perspective and how the atmosphere manipulates color and light.

Hat Knitting (4th Grade)

In continuing a long tradition of my school, my 4th grade students learned how to knit a hat. Using quality wool and round knitting needles they mastered the knit stitch, learned how to increase and decrease their rows, and worked with multiple colors at once to create patterns and designs.

This was a full semester unit of study in which students engaged in each step of the process, starting with planning and pattern design and ending with wearing their hats for the first time. It is a moment of celebration when the hats are completed, and even our 8th graders still wear the hats they made back in 4th grade.

Natural Element Watercolors (4th Grade)

In this lesson the 4th graders learned about both color temperature and shape in order to create four water color paintings. Their subject matter were the four natural elements, including water, fire, wind and earth.

As a class we discussed all the various shapes that each natural element could take, and even pondered what wind would look like if we could see it. We also discussed how color temperature interacts with the characteristics of each element, like the heat of fire or the coolness of water.

Interior Space Collages (4th Grade)

In this lesson students learned about foreground, middle ground and background through the creation of interior space collages. Students developed their layout, as well as how to properly order their layers to achieve depth in their scenes. In addition to strengthening their skills in composition, students learned how to apply glue with a brush in order to create smooth shapes and clean lines.

Leadership Crowns (3rd Grade)

In this lesson students explored the history and use of crowns. As a class we discussed how crowns are often used to signify leadership or importance. Students then brainstormed what kind of leader they are, and what their crown would look like.

Using variety of sculpture materials, like wood, shells, string, beads and paint, each student created their own crowns, unique to the kind of leader they are, or hope to be.

Secondary Color Painting (2rd Grade)

In this lesson the class learned about how each colors is made. We discussed primary, secondary and tertiary colors, and how these color interact with one and other. After practicing how to mix all secondary colors using primary acrylic paint, the students created a painting where they were asked to explore the range of each color they could mix.

Drawing Techniques Using Clay Drawing Tools (3rd Grade)

In the first lesson of the unit the students learned about cave paintings, and sculpted their own drawing tools out of air-dry clay. In this lesson they got to use these tools and create a drawing of their own, with the addition of white chalk and black charcoal as well. They were prompted to draw their own narrative, using techniques like blending, smudging and outlining. They also had the option to explore these techniques in their own inspired ways.

Keith Haring Oil Pastel Drawings (3rd Grade)

After learning about the Lascaux Cave paintings in the previous two lessons the students shifted gears and learned about a contemporary artist who worked on walls as well. We focused the class on the underground work of Keith Haring, with an emphasis on his outlines of the human and animal form and on his use of radiating lines to convey movement. 

The class used black, white and red oil pastel to complete a drawing based on the work of Keith Haring, with a focus on movement and figure interaction. They also had the choice to draw a scene in their own style