Mr. Popper's Penguins Artwork!

In late January, the 2nd grade students at our school get super excited. Why? Because it's time for Mr. Popper's Penguins! This play is based on a cool book, and our teachers turn it into a really fun play with happy songs.

Every year, I ask the kids to make some penguins to decorate the hallway. If you want to see what the penguins looked like in the past, Click HERE!

Here's how we did it:

First, the kids drew a big oval for the penguin's belly.
Then, they drew a smaller oval for the head.
They added some noses using triangles.
Arms and feet were next on their drawings.
After that, they colored their penguins with Stabilo woodies.
Finally, they painted the top part with liquid watercolor.

This year, I learned that I should get more sets of black woodies because they are awesome but run out quickly!

Take a L👀K at our fantastic penguins! 🐧

 ❤, 1965

Clay Chickens: A Fun and Creative Pinch Pot Project for Young Artists

Students will learn the basics of working with clay by creating whimsical pinch pot chickens. This lesson plan is designed for all students just depends on the detail and information you want them to learn in this hands-on lesson. We have a guest artist coming to our school in the spring and I wanted to introduce her book and talk about her style of art. This was a great way to let them learn about Mavis Stevens and her book Last Chance Trailer Park. We created clay chickens that could be Lucy's friends from the book. I like to introduce them to fundamental ceramic techniques and foster their creativity through the lesson and the vocabulary.

National Visual Arts Standards:

1. Creating: Conceiving and developing new artistic ideas and work.
2. Presenting: Interpreting and sharing artistic work.
3. Responding: Understanding and evaluating how the arts convey meaning.
4. Connecting: Relating artistic ideas and work with personal meaning and external context.

Lesson Outline:

Introduction (15 minutes): Begin by discussing the basic properties of clay and its use in art. Introduce the concept of pinch pots and explain how they are a simple yet versatile form of working with clay. Show images or examples of pinch pot chickens to inspire the students. I usually find a clip or too from online to share with the class as a reference point for them.

Vocabulary:

• Clay: A natural material composed of minerals, decomposed plant material, and other organic substances.
• Pinch Pot: A hand-built pottery technique that involves shaping clay by pinching it with fingers, forming a hollow container.

Demonstration: I demonstrate the step-by-step process of creating a pinch pot chicken. Emphasize the importance of starting with a ball of clay, pinching the sides to create the pot shape, and adding details like a beak, wings, and tail. We talk about slipping and scoring…all the clay “things”.

Vocabulary:

• Review Coil: A long, snake-like piece of clay used to create cylindrical forms in pottery. (this was done in a previous lesson)
• Score and Slip: A method of attaching pieces of clay together by scoring (scratching the surface) and slipping (applying water or clay slip).

Hands-On Activity: Allow students to work individually on their pinch pot chickens. Circulate around the classroom to aid and encouragement. Encourage creativity in the design of their chickens, such as experimenting with different facial expressions, feathers, and textures.

Vocabulary:

• Texture: The surface quality of an object, often sensed through touch.
• Bisque Firing: The initial firing of clay to a low temperature, which makes it more durable and ready for glazing.

Clean-up and Reflection: Instruct students on proper clay cleanup procedures. Discuss the creative process and ask students to share their thoughts on what they enjoyed and found challenging during the activity.

Vocabulary:

• Kiln: A high-temperature oven used to fire clay and transform it into ceramic.
• Glaze: A liquid mixture containing minerals that, when applied to bisque-fired pottery, creates a glossy, colorful finish.

Celebrating the students' unique clay chickens was easy! We emphasized the importance of creativity in the arts. Displayed the finished projects in the classroom and put them on our social media platforms to showcase the students' achievements.

Scroll down to see how they came out. We made the pinch pot and then we flipped it upside down to create the chicken. Fun….1969

 

 

Thank You X Street Artist ART

 

Who is Thank You X?

Here is Thank You X and his art!

Click HERE to Watch A Great Video of Thank You X!  This is a great story told by Thank You X on how he got started.  He is such a great guy!

Kids really enjoyed every bit of this project!  They loved learning about how an artist made it big!  They were very impressed with his journey.  Thank You X has art that is very appealing to kids.  They feel comfortable trying to do art in the style of Thank You X!

How did it go down?

Of course, I showed the awesome video!  

Then, the kids drew out designs.

They painted with acrylic.

On the black outlines, they came back in with a big Marks-A-Lot permanent marker and tidied up!

Waa-laa!

Have a L👀K!

Thank You, Thank You, X!

💗, 1965

Snow globe Magic: Unleashing Your Creativity with Visual Arts

This lesson is an artistic journey where imagination meets technique! In this visual arts lesson, we'll be exploring the enchanting world of snow globes, but with a twist—your very own individual theme. Get ready to dive into a winter wonderland of creativity as we blend visual arts national standards with drawing techniques to craft unique and magical snow globes.

1.    Setting the Scene: Understanding Visual Arts National Standards Begin by introducing the fundamental principles of visual arts national standards. Emphasize concepts like creative expression, communication through visual language, and making connections within the artistic community. This sets the stage for a holistic learning experience.

2.    The Canvas: Sketching Your Snow Globe Dive into the drawing techniques by starting with a simple sketch of your snow globe. Encourage participants to envision their theme and translate it onto paper. Whether it's a snowy landscape, a bustling cityscape, or a fantastical world, let the imagination run wild.

3.    Adding Depth: Shading and Textures Explore shading techniques to add depth to the snow globe. Teach the basics of light and shadow, creating a three-dimensional effect. Discuss how different textures can be incorporated, such as the softness of snow or the sparkle of holiday lights.

4.    Fine-Tuning: Refining Details Guide participants in refining the details of their snow globe. Discuss the importance of attention to detail in art and how it contributes to the overall impact of the piece. This step allows for personalization and showcases each artist's unique style.

At the end of the last semester, I used this lesson as one of my summative final grades. I found it on Teachers Pay Teachers, A Space to Create Art's Account. The name of the purchase was Winter Drawing Packets, 5 Art Sub Plans, Middle or High School Art Activity. What drew me to the lesson was the description which read: This Snow Globe drawing worksheet pack is perfect for middle or high school art teachers as a mini-lesson or as a quick go-to lesson that's easy to teach for any substitute! It also will add a touch of creativity to sketchbook assignments or student choice projects. With this engaging worksheet, middle or high school students can explore their artistic talents while practicing hatching and cross-hatching. Keep scrolling. Everyone had a success with this lesson. I actually had a sub teach it as I was out of town and I loved coming back to see the results. She did a great job on her lesson planning because it was easy to follow for all involved.

In this visual arts lesson, we've embarked on a journey to create personalized snow globes that blend creativity with technique. By incorporating visual arts national standards and drawing techniques, participants have not only expressed their unique themes but have also honed their artistic skills. The magic of the snow globe lies not just in the winter scene but in the individual stories each artist brings to life through their creations. Cheers to a winter wonderland of artistry!

1969 and special thanks to A Space to Create Art for having a wonderful resource on Teachers Pay Teachers!

 

Penguins in Plaid!

These penguins are so fun!  Who doesn't like plaid?  And penguins are so cute!  

We have been putting a lot of penguins up in our building because our 2nd grade will be performing the play, Mr. Popper's Penguins!  You know how it is, the art teacher has to help those classroom teachers out with the art!

How did this go down?

We used Kwik Stix to make the plaid.  I told them to make a tic tac toe board and keep adding lines.  What are Kwik Stix?  Kwik Stix are tempera paint sticks.  Here is what the box looks like:

Kids cut out black, white, and orange paper and made a penguin!  I talked about a penguin basically being ovals and triangles.

Next, they glued the penguin to the plaid paper!

L👀K!

 💙, 1965