Kindergarten - Eric Carle Very Hungry Caterpillar Collages

Who doesn't LOVE a kindergarten Hungry Caterpillar??? I have done this a couple different ways in the past, but this is my favorite. I like it on YELLOW. I am not sure why, but it makes it so happy! 

Students get to paint a 9x12 yellow piece of paper with green and yellow paint, creating texture with scrapers and sponges. Next time, I give them a 2x9 inch strip, they cut it up into "french fries". Not too thin... then I walk by and put a long line of glue down, they glue it all down. 

Next, they cut out the circles for the caterpillar. Before class, I prep a bunch... I cut all their painted paper up into 3x3's. Their paper becomes community paper, each student gets 5 green and a red, (from other classes who have made painted paper). I hand draw circles on the back for them to cut out. We get the caterpillar glued together and then make a sun in the sky with some yellow orange papers from other classes. If they want clouds, they can cut some blue papers or use markers. 

I love giving them markers to add "friends". I demonstrate how to draw some bugs with dots behind them suggesting movement. They love it! They all like to draw a rainbow. This one is always so sweet when hanging in the hallway, a crowd pleaser for sure! 

ONE DAY - Keith Haring hits the Slopes Mural!

Right before winter break, I had one of those awkward days where I taught one day of students who were done with current projects and not mentally prepared to start anything new.  I was also in need of something more wintery to hang quick.  So.... we made a one day Keith Haring Snowboarder Mural! 

This was not a "real project"... I did not spend much time talking about Keith Haring. I had a couple visuals on the smart board for a visual reference and shared the basics. They all liked his work and were ready to create!

I had students focus their time on designing a creative snowboard. So, they traced MY Keith Haring figure patterns on to colored construction.  Most students had time to make 2 snowboarders.  They loved it!  Most the work was for me... I spent my workday changing the large boards.  Taking down the old mural and hanging this one for the next several weeks.  I love adding texture to a board when I can.  It is not overwhelming, just a hint.  But it makes a rather simple concept look more finished! 

Square 1 Art with Melanie Mikecz

Square 1 Art!

Every year for the last 15 years since Square 1Art has been in existence, I have participated in this fundraiser. It is an easy to manage and has raised my classroom a TON of money.  What is a ton?  over $25,000!  I teach in an elementary school that supports this type of fundraising, I do realize, not everyone does.  I have a profit each year between $1200 - $2400.  Profits can depend on how adorable the projects are to how well the economy is doing.  Having the extra cash flow has enabled me to make purchases for my classroom that I would not have been able to make.

Every year I choose a theme of some type.  This year I chose the artist/illustrator Melanie Mikecz.  I put together a Prezi of her work (Melanie Mikecz Prezi), and then got busy being inspired by her patterns on her fun subjects. ALL of her illustrations are created digitally, yet she considers works to be mixed media.  She starts with paintings or basic design on paper, scans and photoshops away! No originals exist!  Only digital files! Here is a sample of her great work...

 I find with Square 1 Art projects, it is important to use strong black line to draw and pattern.  It gives the artwork contrast which is important when students order smaller products.  When their images shrink, it is still clear.  I explained to my students that the artist did not use black in any of her work, but we needed to for the purpose of reprinting our artwork on fun products.  Here are some of our works inspired by Melanie Mikecz!

First Grade Fish!

Second Grade Turtles!

 Third Grade Butterflies!

Fourth Grade Parrots!

Fifth Grade Owls!

4th Grade - Keith Haring Crazy Art Folders!

Keith Haring is great for art folders... Working on a large 18x24 is perfect for a BIG space!  My fourth graders each made at least one template of their own out of tag board.  They were required to use it at least twice.  They could make more or share with their friends.  Most made 2 templates, and then there was a lot of sharing!  This is the final product, lots of color, lots of fun!!!

3rd Grade - James Rizzi Art Folders!

Who doesn't love James Rizzi??? His artwork is always a favorite of my students! We look at his cityscapes closely, noticing the perspective and layers of spaces he creates. While most items are created flat, the near and far element is definitely there! Here are a few samples of Rizzi's cityscapes  I use with my 3rd graders...

When I start the lesson with students, we are looking to create foreground, middleground and background.  We start by drawing a line a little lower than the middle to create the background first... the silly buildings with personality!  After the buildings are in place, they are able to decide how to finish the foreground and middleground.  Street with cars, subway, park with playground, sidewalks, river with boats... or anything they come up with!