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Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Games in the art room

We somehow ended up with a mindware catalogue in our home before Christmas. This was dangerous for a number of reasons. It got me wondering what kinds of games and toys other art teachers use in their rooms. The following are some staples in my classroom for days when they earn a "free art day" as part of their PBIS reward. 

1- Etch a Sketch
2- Magna-Doodle
3. Wooden Blocks
4. Shape by Shape
5. Square by Square
6. Tables and Chairs
7. Doodle Dice
8. Logic Dots
9. Jenga
11. Qbitz

I love that Qbitz calls itself a game a visual dexterity. That's going right on my lesson plan. 

Which games do you use in your art classroom?

*This is not a sponsored post. I have purchased all above items for use in my classroom.

Who will see their shadow this year

If you had asked me where I stood on "seasonal" art projects three years ago I would have asked you where I would find the time. I was going to be super busy with all the critiques and social issues that I was infusing into each lesson. Please don't bother me with your pumpkin/nutcracker lessons. I'm a little too busy cramming ten thousand years of art history down the first graders' throats.

Ahem.

So over winter break I was browsing the children's book area as I am wont to do when I have giftcards and I saw yet another book that I had to have for school. My daughter is now nine and I can't even pretend these books are for her anymore. But it sure was a sweet ride while it lasted. The cynic in me noted how quickly (Dec 26th) the Christmas books had vanished in favor of Valentines day themes. Right there amid all those red hearts I saw this little gem. That's right. Because no one know how to plan for a holiday themed art project like this girl right here. I'm already feeling that uneasy pang that we may not finish in time for Groundhogs Day if there is snow. Fingers crossed for no snow!


The book reminded me of a cool lesson I have seen and pinned no less than 3 times over the past couple years and it seemed like just the right time. My second graders will be starting a figure drawing unit once we return, and I've decided to have them try the crushed foil sculptures with shadows.





















Can't wait to give it a go.

Monday, December 22, 2014

Melted Snowman and more fun winter lessons

Some of the recent works from my students:

Melted Snowman Pinchpots (2nd Grade)
















Symmetrical Nutcracker (2nd)




















Still Life Drawings (3rd)



Still Life Paintings (4th)


Snowmen at Night Landscape Collage (1st)