Food Art

The 5th graders loved creating their "fake cakes"! They used a template that I downloaded from the internet (just google cake slice template to find one you like). The first day of this project was spent with them cutting out the template and taping them together to form the slice form. Looking back, it would have been a good idea to cover the entire template with some good, thick masking tape to keep the cardstock from collapsing under the weight of the paper mache. The next class used ClayCrete to create the cake slice. They put them on styrofoam plates to let them dry. The next week, they finished them up by painting. They were thrilled, for the most part! There are a few that always hate their work, but most of the kids were very supportive of them and encouraged them with kind words. The cupcakes were made by the 4th graders using Model Magic by Crayola. I find that it is much cheaper to buy the large containers and give them a hunk at a time instead of an entire small package. I like to divide it into balls before class, that way it is kind of "measured out." Make sure that you leave the Model Magic in a sealed plastic bag with the air pushed out- or else it starts to dry out. I demonstrated how to make the cupcake, and the icing, and then let them go to it. Of course, once one kid makes a cherry on top, they all need one! I can honestly say I have never had a cherry on top of a cupcake, but who am I to judge? I thought they turned out super cute, don't you? The final project in our Wayned Theibaud unit was the cake/3D shape lesson. We talked about all kinds of 3D shapes first, reviewed how to draw them, and they began with the pastels. I used the Crayola oil pastels this time, because it seems like the thickness of them helps them last a bit longer. This is a fun, one day lesson most of the time. I have a few who didn't finish, but they are the ones who usually take longer on everything. I hope you enjoyed their artwork! Leave me a comment if you have any questions, and I'd be glad to help!

Thanks to the donation of several paper bags from Kroger, the 4th grade students created their Picasso Head bags/masks.  Some of the kids wanted them to go the other direction so they would sit up better, so I let them...it's their creation, right? Anyway, after studying Picasso, the kids got to work using pencil, and then Sharpie to outline their drawings.  They then used Crayola oil pastels (I like them because they are thick and harder to break) to color them in.  They were quite impressive to have sitting around at the county art show, I thought! The colors were so vibrant, and each one was so different. 

Stop Motion Animation at LWE

This year the kids used different media for their stop motion animation videos- You can check them out here!
https://youtu.be/AW5JhqLrmBY

We used the ipod app "Stop Motion" that is free in the app store.  They also have it in the google play store if you have an android device.  I went on and bought the $4.99 upgrade because this allows them to edit the video and add other things.  They love making these videos! This year, I tried to have the kids make a video that the younger students could learn from.  I had a few do Prey and Predators, and some did the life cycle of a butterfly. I think this year, we will try this again.  Any suggestions of movies they could create? I was thinking The Water Cycle would be a good one!

Onomatopoeia + Pop Art + Shrinky Dinks!

One of the student's  favorite things to do is make Shrinky Dinks.  I mean, who can resist them? I change up what we make with them every year, and this year we did a little Pop Art twist with them.  Ideally, they were making necklaces or keychains, but we never got that far.  The end of the year got crazy, and with all the special activities, we just couldn't get it together.  They did all get to take them home, so I am hoping that they were able to do something with them! I did a lesson on Onomatopoeia, and we looked at some Roy Lichenstein artwork, and they got to it.  We drew the words on paper first, then used sharpies to write on the slick side of the Shrinky Dinks.  Sharpies on Slick! On the rough side of the plastic, they used colored pencils.  That really is the best way to do it. Too much of the Sharpie and there is a major stink fest going on! The ooohs and ahhhs when you shrink the plastic makes me smile! I use a heat gun, and they are allowed to come back and watch the transformation.  I promise I offered more ideas than Boom and Crash, but those were the overwhelming choices.  Kids are funny little creatures, aren't they?