Picasso- why are you so weird???

The kids are always asking me, "Why are those Picasso people so weird?" I have to explain to them that he just had a different way of looking at things. They have had a ball working on these portraits. I think it is because there are no rules. Here are a few of the ones that are completed...

Stay tuned for more!

Learning to weave!

This weather is for the Penguins!

It has been super cold here in Tennessee, so we've been learning about penguins! Here are some adorable examples of the pop-up baby Emperor Penguins that a couple of my talented 5th graders created.  They drew the penguins step by step with me, then colored them with colored pencils and outlined with my beloved Sharpies.  They then cut them out, made a zig- zag pop up tab out of the scraps, and proceeded to paint the background.  After the background was dry enough, we used double stick tape to attach the penguin to his habitat.  Needless to say, they were really proud of their creations!  To prepare for this lesson,  we watched a few videos from National Geographic Kids and BrainPop.

http://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/kids/animals-pets-kids/birds-kids/antarctica-emperor-penguins-huddle-vin-kids/  The other video won't come up, but I saved it on my computer at school.  I will see if I can get it to load from there.

I also showed them a video from BrainPop, but you have to have a subscription to play it.  If you do have one, just search for penguins. :)  These are all really short videos, but the students learned so much.  I have a globe I use often, so we looked at it, talked about the equator, and how all the penguins live in the Southern Hemisphere.  Then they named all the places they live.  (This info is on the BrainPop video.)  

The third graders made penguin collages, and they were pretty darn cute as well.  I received a donation from Newell Rubbermaid (makers of Sharpies)  that included A LOT of liquid paper, so they used that to add snow!

I must confess that after the first day of disastrous penguin making, I made stencils.  I don't know what the deal was, but they just couldn't get it.  This is the next day class, which turned out much better.  I didn't take pictures of the rough day.  It was the first day after vacation, so I will give them that.   

The kindergarteners (that I only have for 20 minutes at a time) listened to the story of Tacky the Penguin.  They loved it.  We are still working on our coloring skills, so they did a sheet with Tacky on it.

First and Second grade drew Adelie Penguins.  (Some wanted Macaroni penguins because of those cool yellow feathers!) They were so proud of themselves!  Here are a few examples...

I love the glasses- she is so cute!  This little girl always adds glasses to her subjects in pictures-because she wears them! I think that is awesome. :)  The last one reminds me of Beyonce dancing for some reason... I love how the kid's personalities show in their art.  

This activity took about 2 weeks to complete.  There are a few kids that still aren't finished...so that will be fun with the makeup days we will probably have due to the weather!  

Looking forward to the New Year

We lucked out today, and due to the bitter cold, In-service was called off.  I have been spending most of the day thinking up what we will be doing for the rest of the year.  I have pretty much decided on picking an artist, and coming up with a project integrating the elements of art and any other subject I can pull in.  I'll get back to you later with a plan-maybe it will help you come up with some ideas as well.  I would love to hear from you- what are your favorite artists to teach through?

My Snowmen at Night

After I made the Snowmen at Night with my 3rd graders, I went home and got to work on a set that were inspired by the book.  Even "Ole Pickle Nose" was included!  I believe the kids like him the best!

More Grinches

I just had to share these adorable Grinches! I love them so!!!

God's eyes

What is the best compliment I got today?  Aside from the compliments on my beautifully tacky sweater, it would have to be when the 4th graders were making these and one said, "This is more fun than a rainbow loom!"  Several of them didn't want to tie them off, because they wanted to undo them and do them over and over again.  I love it when that happens! :)

Shrinky Dink ornaments

The kids absolutely LOVED making these and watching them shrink in the toaster oven! Last year when I made Shrinky Dinks, I melted them with a heat gun.  Some would curl and mess up (several did, actually), but in a toaster oven they do much better.  The kids thought it was just "the coolest!"  That always makes this art teacher smile.  They were given a simple triangle and told to design an abstract tree.  They made zentangles and animal stripes...very creative, don't you think?

Beginning to look a lot like Grinchmas!

The kids did an awesome job doing a step by step of The Grinch! Thanks to Art Projects for Kids for the tut!

Didn't they do an Awesome job? These are just 2nd graders! I did it with them, and I'm so happy how they turned out! 

Snowmen at Night

Georgia O'Keefe and Poinsettias