2 Soul Sisters Art Ed Blog: Bringing you fun, fresh art vibes for the classroom! Packed with inspiring lesson plans, creative projects, and easy tips to spark your students’ creativity. With colorful pics and step-by-step guides, we make art teaching a breeze. Check out our TPT and Shopify Store for more unique lessons—come vibe with us and get creative!
I think these are some of the most inspiring animal portraits from our Maclay Middle School students. Wow, how I approached the lesson...We looked at some picture references of animals. I wanted the kids to push themselves and not just make a brown bear brown. I was ticked pink when I saw a multi colored and textured bear. This year I am really trying to incorporate many Elements and Principles of Art in each lesson. I feel like these 4 examples nailed what I was trying to accomplish.
- Happy Monday!
1969
I found this art activity on Pinterest. It was an easy first of the year activity for my second graders. Most of the kids do not paint over the summer. We had several things going on here. Kids had to follow directions. As they worked, they had to judge spatial relationships on their paper. They also became familiar with the use of paintbrushes and paint, again. The artwork made a colorful display as a unit in the hall. Thanks to Le Journal de Chrys for the great idea!
Directions:
Get the tempura paint and paintbrushes out.
Tell kids to put a dot in the center of the page.
Then, have kids draw lines around the dot.
(I was drawing dots and lines on the marker board as a guide to help the students with verbal directions.)
Then, they drew a circle.
By the time I got to this point, they saw the pattern and were working independently.
I remember hearing them say it looked like "suns piled on top of each other".
To me, that is a great way to describe this art.
Have a look!
Song in the video below is "Blister in the Sun" by Violent Femmes (released 1983).
Movie is Grosse Pointe Blank with John Cusack released in 1997. In the video, Socks the cat is being hunted down by a professional assassin.
Socks just cracks me up. Bahahahahahahahahaha!
Who is Socks the cat? Socks Clinton (1989 – February 20, 2009) was the pet cat of Bill Clinton's family during his presidency. As an adopted stray cat, he was the only pet of the Clintons during the early years of the administration, and his likeness hosted the children's version of the White House website.
as I was researching Essential Questions and Understanding By Design.
It REALLY is a detailed analysis of what art is! Check it out...you will be glad you did.
You see, I am trying to grow as a teacher as that is our new brand "go further" and I have been thinking outside the box on just how to get students to understand that ART is EVERYWHERE.
A few examples: Cool running shoes just how do they come up with a color scheme?
How about patterns on a bedspread?
A High School Volleyball Game?
Lets just take a second and break that down.
Fans: Give them a theme...USA (red, white and blue) - See just how creative they can get
(this is the part that I LOVE)
I appreciate Gina Weaver from Blue Canopy Photography for sharing her talent with me.
Signs: Yep, you need art skills there
Bobble Heads: I'm seeing a pattern on needing some art background to create them...don't you?
Thanks Blue Canopy Photography for always supporting our school and volleyball program!
Great way to help celebrate our seniors!
We took photos, sent to printer, had them printed front with funny face and back with normal face, cut out and used at the games...such a fun time for all involved!
Hand designed t-shirts, a sign, USA themed outfits supporting Lucky #13 who just happens to be 1969's daughter...Love her friends =)
With this type of open ended mindset it allows us to communicate and visually participate in the world around us.
This brings me back to teaching...I am picking and choosing what works best for my students.
I think whether you are on the volleyball court or in the art room it is all about your MINDSET. Are you going to have a fixed Mindset or a growth Mindset?
I don't want to be stuck in a rut, do you?
Think about it...I love restless thinking because it allows me to reign in and focus on some super cool stuff going on campus and in my classroom!
Zentangle letters was an easy first of year project for 5th Grade.
Directions:
I gave kids a copy of the alphabet. The printout had letters bold so kids could easily look and draw.
Kids used a pencil to draw letters. I did not let the kids use rulers. The project was not a "draw the best letter that you ever drew in your life" project. I just wanted kids to get a decent letter, doodle, and reflect.
Once they got the letter drawn in pencil, they outlined the letter with a sharpie and begin their doodling.
As always, the zentangle project was a very relaxing project for the kids.
I had thought the homeroom teacher would enjoy having these to hang in her room for the first few weeks of school. I had assumed that the students would use the letter that started their first or last name. Nope. I actually had some students that just picked a random letter. Sometimes you just gotta say, "whatevs" and move on.
As a natural science illustrator, Ed Heck has illustrated numerous books and magazine articles for children. Much of his work has been on the subject of dinosaurs, including "The New York Times Notable Book of the Year, Dinosaurs of the Flaming Cliffs". Many of his whimsical drawings have been made into popular fine art prints. "Monkey Lost" is the first book he has both written and illustrated. Ed lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Jean, and their two sons, Eric and Jacob. He has always wanted a pet monkey.
