Colorful Gyotaku

Gyotaku

So here are the Gyotaku prints in color as promised! 

Last year we did them with only black ink and this year we used lots of colors.  We use rubber fish to create these prints but you could use real fish purchased from the seafood department or any fish that you catch ;)
Make sure you clean the real fish well. 

The bubbles prints in the background are created by mixing tempera paint, soap and water together.  We each get our own straw and blow bubbles!  The students love this part, really who doesn't enjoy blowing some bubbles sometime.

There is a great video out there that shows Gyotaku with real fish and rubber fish.  Cherrie Swig is the artist that demonstrates on the video.  The video is created by Sunburst Visual Media and is called "Gyotaku."

Kindergarten Thankful Turkeys

Kindergarten is creating a Turkey drawing.  This is a guided drawing.  I show them the steps first so they have an understanding of how to draw a turkey-pointing out the shapes that I use as I go.  Next, we draw it together step-by-step creating our own unique turkeys.  Even though I show them the steps and guide them through the drawing, all of our turkeys look different.  In addition to the turkey, we talk about a horizon line and what it is.  The students draw the horizon line to show that the turkey is standing on the ground rather than floating in space ;)

During the next class we paint our turkeys using tempera paints.

Here are a few of the finished turkeys:

Window Painting at McDonalds with 6th Grade

Here is our final window painting project at McDonald's.  I took 6-sixth grade students to McDonalds last week to decorate the windows for the holidays.  The owners, Chuck, LuAnn and Roy Jackson, are always so generous and kind to us.  They provided lunch for us in exchange for the the window painting.  What a great deal!  The kids love to paint the windows and always enjoy the lunch.  This is the highlight of their week! 

This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to get out in the public and do some good deeds for our community. 

Here are the windows in progress and finished:

The students with one of the owners, Roy Jackson

The entire crew (except Ms. Dalton, who is behind the camera)

Thanks to Roy, LuAnn and Chuck Jackson and McDonalds!!!

Window Painting at Laurel Highland Village

I took four of my 5th grade students to Laurel Highland Villages to paint windows for Christmas.  Generally, I do this 3 times a year: once at Laurel Highland Villages and twice at the local McDonalds.  This is a great opportunity for our students to get out in the  public and do some community service. 

Laurel Highland Villages is a local high rise that caters to retired folks.  The students had an opportunity to interact (limited) with the residents.  The residents always enjoy seeing the students and watching as they brighten up their surroundings for the Christmas holiday.

Origami Fold-Out Heart Card

Fold-Out Heart Card

Another origami card ;)

This one is rather easy to make but stunning just the same.  It is especially striking if you make it with double sided paper (as these are).  

I do not currently have these on my Etsy shop but if you are interested in purchasing any please comment and I will get back to you!

This design is also from Origami Card Craft by Karen Elaine Thomas. 

Window Painting at McDonalds with 5th Grade

With Thanksgiving and Christmas quickly approaching, I took my fifth grade students to McDonald in our community to help spread some holiday cheer.  The owners-LuAnn, Chuck and Roy Jackson- are always generous and provide lunch for the students in exchange for painting the windows.  The students have an opportunity to interact (limited) with the public and show off their painting skills. 

Many thanks to LuAnn, Chuck & Roy at McDonalds for having us and providing the kids with lunch. It was the highlight of their week! 

http://www.mcdonalds.com/us/en/home.html

These windows were done by 5th grade students:

Rudolph in progress

Santa

A Christmas bell

Admiring the work from outside

A holiday candle

Checking our work from the outside

Admiring each others hard work



Origami Greeting Cards- Kiss

Front of the card

Inside of the card

Origami Greeting Card-Kiss

I am addicted to origami!

Most of my students know this because every year I create ornaments with them.  Last year I decorated my Christmas tree with origami ornaments.  Over the past couple of weeks I have been hard at work in the evenings creating various cards.  Most of the things I try or do at home, I do with the intention of teaching my students.  Although this card is eye catching and exciting and my students would love to do-it is a little beyond their skill level.  I am addicted to this one though and have been making a good bit when I have time at home.

This card is a pop up.  The lips open and close when you move the edges of the card.  :)
This design I learned from the book Origami Card Craft by Karen Elaine Thomas.  This is a fantastic book.  One of my favorites.  Here is a link to Karen's website:

http://www.karenelaine.com/

I do not currently have any of these on my Etsy site but if you would like to order some please comment.  Thanks!

Critiquing Art with Kids

"Summertime" by Rita Lee Spalding

 Critiquing Art With Kids

Every year I have the opportunity to bring 3 art works back to the classroom for the students to examine and discuss.  After our discussion, the students are asked to vote for their favorite piece.  Our school has a community organization that supports this program and purchases the favorite piece for our permanent art collection. 

This year we have three very different pieces.  One sculpture, one collage/painting and one photograph.  This is the first year, since I have been teaching in this school, that we have had a sculpture.  It's really interesting to see how the kids react to it and how excited they are to see it. 

Often I use VTS (Visual Thinking Strategies) when presenting art to the students.  I allow them to lead the discussion.  They always offer many things such as: what they see, what shapes can they identify, what they like and dislike, what mood is evoked, what is the medium, is it 2D or 3D, etc.  It's always interesting to hear what the kids have to say and how they respond to the art.

I apologize for the quality of the photos but the glass made it difficult.

"Waterfall #2" by Skip Allen

"Cathedral" by Ron Nigro