First Week of School

Congrats at all students for getting through the first few days of school! Tomorrow will be the last day of our first week and I'm excited to get to know each and every one of you! Just posting a quick update of the first few days. Next week, parents will receive a newsletter from the art room which will include important information including contact and grading info and the URL of this blog.

Though rules and procedures are always the main focus of the first week of school, I make a serious effort to allow children to start experimenting with materials on the first day. It is an excellent opportunity to practice procedures in an environment of creation, which will prepare all students for the remainder of the year in art class. For the first week I always choose simple projects that serve as an ice breaker for students of any ability level.

During work time, we discuss the layout of the room, what my expectations are, and practice using my "Noise Chart", which goes from Yes (quiet talking) to Maybe (whisper art), to No (silent art). I stop them several times throughout the lesson to help them get used to my hand signals and sounds for quiet and I walk constantly around the room to try and start learning everyone's name.

One of the first projects we're working on, "Line Names", is an introductory project using students names and a variety of different types of lines. This unit also features the use of pattern and color.

2nd and 3rd grade will be using this project to introduce them to abstract art and different types of lines. This allows students to use their creativity to create a piece of artwork using the letters of their name, which they then add lines, dots, and other patterns using Sharpie. Students are instructed to not leave "loose ends", which are unattached lines, and to go off every edge of the page. Students are encouraged to choose colors and lines that represent them, such as zig-zags and straight lines if they are energetic and active, and curved, wavy, or spiral lines if they love to dance, explore, or are more calm and relaxed.

Objective: 
Students will use line and colors to represent themselves.

Standards: 
1.2.b - Use color, line, shape, texture, form, and space to represent ideas visually from observation, memory, and imagination

Objective: 
Students will use pattern and repetition to represent themselves.

Standards: 
1.3.b - Select and use principles of design, such as pattern, contrast, repetition, balance, rhythm/movement, and emphasis, to give personal meaning to visual compositions

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The "Hand Flower" project is a terrific way for me to gauge 1st grade cutting skills, which will be something we will work on throughout the year. Usually, some students are not confident enough to cut their own hands, but I encourage all students to fully participate. I always look forward to seeing their improved technique at the end of the year!

I also suggest to students that they choose colors that they love, or images and patterns that represent them. Since I don't do a traditional introductory project or activity, I use these first projects to get to know all of my students.

This project is designed for 1st grade, though I did do one flower with a 2nd grade class to see how effective the lesson was with their age group.

Objective: Students will use colors to represent themselves.

Standards:
1.3.b - Use color, line, shape, texture, and form to communicate personal meaning in artworks