Native American Art Camp Pt. 2

So, wrapping up my summer camp lessons, I had seen several blogs posting a lesson on Dream Catchers, including Smart Class, and knew I needed to include it as one of the lessons for camp. They turned out so great and I had lots of compliments from parents on this one.

Then we also did a pinch pot as our potter piece. One the clay dried for a day, we glazed the pieces with one color.  Students added Native American designs into the piece by scratching into the glaze with a sharpened wooden dowel. 

For a fun, quick activity, the students had fun painting designs on a feather.

We also did a metal embossed piece with the thunderbird theme. I usually save metal activities for 3rd and up in school. But using metal at camp works well, especially if I buddy them up with an older student that can help guide the younger student.

And, here I got to see one of the parents had the canvas framed. I love that she added in the painted feather, it looks great together! 

Tree Murals Continued

This was the third of the ten murals painted. It is from the book Tree: Seasons
Come, Seasons Go. I spent the most time on this mural. It actually still has a few
details that I'd like to add. But, I felt like it was time to move on and start filling up
other spaces.

It was one of the two largest, and had the most color changes. 

Most elementary teachers will recognize this next one as Scaredy Squirrel. 

This is not the finished piece, I think I spent another hour or so on it after 

this picture was taken. 

And a Few More Tree Murals

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein, seems to be a favorite amongst the adults. This may have been the first of the ten that "sold". 

For $1000, there will be a dedication plaque near the tree. I think 6 sold before school was out. 

This one was a lot of fun to do. It comes from the book Stars. Even though we can't totally black out the library, because of the emergency lights, we added some glow paint for when the lights are turned down. 

School Murals

Since March I've been working on this mural project in my spare time. The library staff asked me if I would be interested in painting some murals in the their library. Not knowing exactly the number, I said yes.

Things didn't quite come together for that summer, but I was able to make a Pinterest board and brain storm some ideas. When we started this year, I met with the librarian and he had done the same. We had both been pinning literary trees. 

The hope for the library was to transform and be more versatile with tables that could function in a variety of ways easily and include a makers space with a 3-D printer. And of course the murals, 10 to be exact. 

To be honest, I had never painted a mural and was a little intimidated. Where do you start? What kind of paint is best. They are offering to pay, how much do you charge? I'm still working on that last one. If anyone has advice on this...I'm all ears,

 Well, after a budget was approved for the tables, chairs, shelves, printers and so on they approached me a couple days before spring break to start on the paintings. Luckily, we had decided to do a staycation for spring break. So, over those 9 days I worked in the library on these two murals, a Truffula tree from The Lorax and the cover picture for We Planted a Tree. I'll be sharing more pictures soon.

Aurasma

So this spring I was trying to be a tech savvy teacher and incorporate QR codes into the student art show.  I researched and looked and researched some more.  Each time feeling a bit overwhelmed and really disappointed.  I DIDN'T want an ugly QR code next to all this wonderful work my students had created.  I searched high and low for something more pleasant and attractive to add more content to the student show.  Well, I love watching the videos with Principal Gerry and his Southern accent and his humorous out look on education.  In one of his videos, he showed his music teacher's bulletin board and how she made it come to life with Aurasma.  I knew instantly that my search was over!  This was such a great tool.  I wasn't sure how many I would be able to produce, so initially I said I would do 3-5 per grade level.  This would have amounted to 18-30 kids with the Aurasma App added.  It was so easy that once I had the 5 per grade level, I kept adding more.  I ended up with 52.  Next year, my goal is to add all the kids who are in the art show.  So, if you are looking to add more to your art show, keep Aurasma in mind, I give it a thumbs up!!

The Great and Wonderful Dianna Aston Hutts

Spring is in the air, and there is so much inspiration all around us from flowers and insects and birds.  As everything starts to come back to life there is  inspiration to draw and create everywhere we look.

I love to incorporate literature into my lessons as often as I can.  It adds another layer to the lesson that helps our young learners understand the world around them.

Well, here is a series of books that is a must have for your personal collection, or at least in your school library.  The words are beautifully arranged and the illustrations are just gorgeous!

I had the privilege of teaching Dianna Hutts Aston's children in elementary school, many years ago.  She was just beginning her career as a hopeful author.  I remember sitting and having conversations with her about artist styles and what she was hoping the illustrations would be for some of her first books.

After a while, I lost touch, but one day I searched her on facebook and we have reconnected some.  I'm so glad, she is just one of those individuals that you can't help but like, no...love.  

She would give you the shirt off her back and not blink twice.  She herself is a true artist.  One of her personal favorites of her own collection of books is Dream Something Big.  The story of the Italian immigrant Simon Rodia, who created the Watts Towers in California.  It was an endeavor that would take thirty-four years to complete, made out of broken glass, seashells, pottery, any found object treasures.  A really great book to use for the upcoming Earth Day on Friday, April 22.  

I also love this, one of her newest passions, SOS: Messages of Hope, Love and Peace. Seriously, look it up!  She really is one of those people that make you evaluate yourself and makes you think about how you contribute daily to bettering our world.  

Hundertwasser- Homage to Van Gogh

I had never seen Hundertwasser's homage to Van Gogh until several months ago.  Or, most likely, I've seen it, but I saw it as an opportunity to teach my kids about two artist.   It was also a great way to talk about how different artist can interpret something they see in two totally different ways.  

I love how bright and cheerful these turned out.  These were done with 2nd graders, one of my larger classes, between 30-32 kids in a class.  So, these took a little longer to complete. I had picked out several of his paintings that we would interpret in our own way.  I think these came out great, definitely one of my favorites!

  

                                                                      

      This art piece took most kids 4 art classes (50 minutes).  One day to paint the papers and background paper. One day to draw and cut out the vase/mug, stem and leaves, one day to glue stem, leaves and cut our petals and glue them as well.  

 And one day to trace, cut and glue the circles.  A few kids needed a little more time, but the majority was done in 4 days.