May project: 3-D Clay

Project title:  3-D Clay

Description:

• Fourth and fifth grade artists developed an idea for their 3-D clay creation using pinch pot construction or coil construction.  Studio time was spent experimenting with construction as well as with clay tools.  Glaze was painted on their clay pieces after the first firings.  Then each art piece was fired again.  Enjoy these imaginative creations!

Vocabulary:

• Greenware
• Bisqueware
• Kiln
• Firing
• Glaze
• Pinch pot construction

Materials:

• Gray clay 
• Glaze

Examples of Student Work:

April Project: Sonia Delaunay

Project Title:  Sonia Delaunay

Example of work by Sonia Delaunay

Description:

• Sonia Delaunay was born in the Ukraine in 1885.  She was fascinated by colors and how they worked in harmony and contract with one another.  Students developed a balanced composition using their choice of shapes and then experimented with adding colors, resulting in rhythm and motion.  Sonia Delaunay was a pioneer of abstract art.  

Vocabulary:

• Harmony
• Contrast
• Composition
• Rhythm
• Motion
• Sonia Delaunay

Resources:

• Book: SONIA DELAUNAY, Francis Lincoln Children's Book

Materials:

• Watercolor pencils
• Bristol

Examples of Student Work: Coming Soon!!!

March Project: Aztec Chocolate Boxes

Project Title:  AZTEC CHOCOLATE BOXES

Example of Aztec Mosaic

Description:

• 4th and 5th grade students were introduced to Aztec Empire (Mexico).  The Aztec diet consisted of corn, vegetables and fruit.  The wealthier people enjoyed spices, pineapple, seafood and chocolate from cocoa beans.  Students carefully covered their chocolate boxes with construction paper then added geometric designs or mosaics on top.  A color tassel added a pop of color and texture.

Vocabulary:

• Aztec Empire
• Geometric shapes
• Quetzalcoatl - Aztec god, prophecy

Resources:

• Book: Crafts from the Past - Aztecs, by Gillian Chapman

Materials:

• Cardboard boxes
• Construction paper
• Glue
• Mosaic tiles

Examples of Student Work:

February Project: Kandinsky Prints

Project Title:  KANDINSKY PRINTS

Example of Kandinsky's work with shapes and lines

Description:

• Visual Thinking Strategy (VTS) was used to discover Kandinsky's use of line, shape and color.  4th and 5th grade artists used rulers to construct a variety of lines using colored pencils on black Bristol board.  Next, they printed a variety of geometric shapes using cardboard and sponges to develop a balanced composition.

Vocabulary:

• Abstract Style
• Geometric shapes
• Vassily Kandinsky
• Composition

Resources:

• Book: The Noisy Paint Box, by Barb Rosenstock

Materials:

• Sponges
• Cardboard shapes
• Printer's Ink
• Ruler work
• Yarn
• String

Examples of Student Work:

January Project: Sea Monsters

Project Title:  Sea Monsters

Example of Sea Monster drawing on ancient map

Description:

• A 5th grade vocabulary word, cartography, inspired our sea monster tooling foil pictures.  Students first discussed what they knew about the study of ancient maps and then speculated why sea creatures were illustrated in great detail on these maps.  Students next designed their sea creature with special attention to texture.  The drawing was transferred onto tooling foil allowing for a dramatic effect.

Vocabulary:

• Cartography
• Sea monsters
• Repousse
• Tooling foil

Resources:

• Book: Treasury of Mermaids, by Shirley Climo
• Book: The Loch Ness Monster, by Terri Sievert
• Internet images of ancient maps

Materials:

• Copy paper
• Pencils
• Choice of tooling foil

Examples of Student Work:

December Project: Squaring the Circle

Project Title: SQUARING THE CIRCLE

Description:

• The collage process was explored incorporating symmetry and balance within the design process.  Shape variety and overlapping within the confines of a square was explored along with repetition.  A demonstration of how to do "snowflake" cutting was the first step in this process.  Students were encouraged to layer above and below their base color adhering to a specific color scheme to create unity in their work.

Vocabulary:

• Collage
• Symmetry
• Balance
• Unity
• Contrast
• Rhythm

Resources:

• Book: Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears - A West African Tale, by Verna Aardema

Materials:

• Glue
• Chalk
• Pastel

Examples of Student Work:

November Project: African Senufo Cloth

Example of African Senufo cloth

Project Title: AFRICAN SENUFO CLOTH

Description:

• The Senufo people from West Africa are known for their handwoven and hand-painted cloth, originally used when hunting or dancing.
• The cloth is believed to protect the wearer and to bring good luck
• Students included texture and patterns in their colorful cloths

Vocabulary:

• Mud cloth
• Line weight
• Senufo people
• Texture
• Patterns

Resources:

• Book: Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears - A West African Tale, by Verna Aardema

Materials:

• Glue
• Chalk
• Pastel

Examples of Student Work: