Giant Panda

This was a quick, one day lesson I did last week to have students practice their drawing skills. It's based on the Panda from Blue Tadpole Studio's how to draw page. Since we are studying art from China it's the perfect opportunity to learn about the Great Panda.

The San Diego Zoo had an awesome kid friendly page with important information about the Great Panda, and a super cute video of their pandas.  

Student gallery:

Van Gogh Pop-Up Project: Sunflowers and Chairs

I was looking for fun lessons to introduce students to Van Gogh. It was around the end of the school year and I wanted to give them something a bit more complicated. All students did the pop-up from first grade all the way to 5th. It was a challenge! It involved measuring with a ruler, drawing lines, cutting folding and drawing. The original inspiration came from ART with Mrs. Smith's Van Gogh Chair lesson. 

                                                                                                                          

Required lesson time: 2 to 3 45 minute lessons

Lesson objectives:

• Learn about Vincent Van Gogh and study his painting style
• Create a pop-up page inspired by Van Gogh’s paintings.

Vocabulary

• Vincent Van Gosh, Impressionism

1st Grade:

Matryoshkas

This lesson was inspired by the Patterned Matryoshka Dolls lesson from Deep Space Sparkle. Since I decided on the theme of "Asia" this school year it was perfect!This was a great lesson for teaching students about overlapping shapes, I also taught them a bit about light and shadow.

To prepare for the lesson, I printed out templates of a small, medium and big matryoshka on card-stock and cut them out. I tried to make one for each student. I also managed to buy some matryoshkas at my local World Market to show the students how they worked.

Class began with an review of the map of Asia so students could locate Russia and remember key facts about the country. I then explained to them what a Matryoshka was and who invented it. I showed them both matryoshkas I had bought and then shared this cute video from Sesame Street.

Before students started working on their matryoshkas I shared with them the story that inspired the original nesting dolls.

The students received the templates one at a time, from the smallest to the biggest. I showed them how to trace the templates correctly to create overlapping shapes using a recording I made.

When they were done I showed them some less traditional matryoshkas with superhero designs, animals, robots, etc. They picked a theme and got to work.

On the next class we discussed shadows and looked at some prints of paintings to identify light and shadow. Then I showed them how their shadows would look if a light was shining on their matryoshkas and how to use presure to create a dark and light shade with the same crayon/pencil. Then off they went to add colors and shadows.

Class time required: Two 45min. lessons

Lesson objectives:

• We will learn about the history of Rusian nesting dolls or Matryoshka.
• We will learn how to make shapes overlap.
• I will draw three or more Rusian nesting dolls overlapping from the smallest to the biggest. 

Kindergarten:

First grade:

Second grade:

 

Fourth grade:

 

Kimono Art Lesson

We started the class by reading Suki's Kimono. I used the projector and camera so all the students could see the pictures and follow the story. I asked them some questions about the story, like who gave Suki her Kimono, why was it special, etc. 

I then explained to them the parts of the Kimono, the fact that I was wearing my Kimono helped!

Kimono from CaramelBun

The students then followed my instructions and drew their kimono outlines. I record myself drawing, then play it back and stop after each step so the students follow. We have a program that lets us remotely control the computer using the iPad, it's called Doceri. That way I can walk around and help and keep an eye on everyone. 

This is the video I recorded for my students. Then I instructed them to add patterns inside the Kimonos. They were drawing with markers, no pencils in my clasroom!

The last couple of minutes we danced "Under the big chestnut tree" since Suki shared a dance with her class. I showed them the moves before, and explained the lyrics, then we danced with the song.

Under the big chestnut tree,

you and me,

are playing happily. 

For the next class, they colored everything on their papers, starting with the pattern, then the kimono and last the background. We danced some more at the end of class.