YAM 2016: Painted Deserts and Missions

Every year my school districts hosts an Art Show. We as teachers have the very hard task of choosing a dozen plus pieces to represent our whole campus, and this year, my 3rd graders earned that honor!

With one week left before the shows closes, I thought I would share a few pics, and give ya'll a closer look at the painted desert project that accompanied their clay missions.

I took 12 paintings, and six 3D pieces.

The day of set up was a bit crazy, since I had my two year old with me!

Before the pieces moved over to the show, they had been transforming our school's walkways into a mini Big Bend.

The 3rd graders worked on these while we waited for their clay missions to dry and be fired.

The final results were equally as impressive as their clay sculpture!

Moving Lines

I wanted my students to have a better understanding of how to use rhythm and movement to enhance their artwork. To start I had them wash a paper with water and layer water colors one at a time. After applying each color, the students would lift their papers and let the colors drip and blend. The 2nd graders LOVED this.

The next class, to continue the theme, we talked about the use of Lines in our artwork and how different types of lines give the feel of movement. The student then used black paper to cut of a variety of straight, dotted, wavy and zig-zag lines to create a composition. The results were gorgeous, and very striking when displayed with their classmates.

A Few of my Favorite Things

So I really love my room, it has this beautiful big window and tall walls of bulletin boards. But there are a few additions that make me smile the most everyday...

Having a Word Wall has been a project I have been wanting for my room for a long time, But not just a space filled with words on a strip, but something visual that tied students back to the lesson plan, So began my wall, where after each lesson I add a new word or repeat one with a picture from the lesson drawn along side it. I find the kids are retaining the vocabulary a lot faster with the image attached.

And my pride and joy, the Comic Corner. I really wanted to have a reading center in my room and what a better way to combine art and literacy!? Graphic novels have made a huge resurgence in the art field today. Spot the new Archie! The revamp of that series is awesome, and I love getting to share it with the kiddos. 

For anyone wanting to start a comic center of your own, ask your local comic book store about Free Comic Book Day, it's usually the first Saturday in May, and it s a great time to score a dozen plus free books for your center. And clear blinder sleeves taped back are a cheap way to keep the comics clean from everyday messes.  As of today I have more than forty books and only 3 have had to be mildly repaired from general wear.