5th Grade: Zentangle Animals

This is a project that takes a while, but if students will put the effort in always looks cool at the end!

First, we talk about drawing what we see, not what we think. We practice first with two drawings. One drawing I demonstrate with them, the second I have them do without my help. Students then pick out their own animal picture and apply what they've learned to drawing an animal. There are a lot of choices so they can pick something simple or complex! But they need to draw it the way it looks in the photo - drawing what they see!

This student did not get to add color to his (due to time contraints), but I thought it was a good example of the process. Photograph, draft, and final drawing!!

After students draw their animal, they split the entire drawing up into 6 or more sections. Each section will be filled in with a solid color of paint. After it's dry, students will begin adding patterns to each section. Below are the examples that were chosen to hang in the hallway.

3rd Grade: Line Sculpture

3rd grade gets to do a project that, in my opinion, facilitates a lot of creativity and helps with those problem solving skills! The line sculpture project! I cut a TON of papers into one-inch strips of paper (12 inches and 18 inches long). I give each student a little cardboard based to glue onto. Students basically have creative freedom, but I do tell students not to have papers going off the sides of the cardboard.

We start by talking about sculptures, how they are meant to be viewed from all sides, not just the front, what they can be made out of, etc. Then students get to start their sculptures. A lot of students think they look like roller coasters! Many times students will ask me how I did something and I tell them that I want for them to figure it out. If they are willing to try, they usually will figure it out! I love watching their minds at work.

The second/last day of the project, I introduce the last element they will add to their sculpture - emphasis! Each student will get ONE strip that has been painted on one side. The other side is up to them to decorate. It is the last piece they will glue to their sculptures and it needs to be somewhere that it will be easily noticed.

Here are some of the examples!

Students hard at work adding their emphasis pieces!

These projects always turn out looking so cool!!

Student Portfolios

The first project I do with my students each year is their Portfolios. We talk about how art can be functional and how the portfolio will function as something to hold all of their art in until they take it home.

I demonstrate on the board how to write using block letters. I stress the element of SPACE. I instruct students to write their names lightly with pencil and then trace the block letter around it so they do not run out of space. We also touch on line and shape.

Students color their portfolios and add personal touches. I try to keep them to the front so later on the early finishers can add more on other sides of their portfolios.

Examples!