Toy Story Gets A Glow Up

One of my favorite two point perspective lessons for my upper elementary students was inspired by the movie Toy Story. This year, I finally did not have any of my previous students who completed this lesson in a high school class and was able to move that lesson up to Art 1. 

If you've been following this account for awhile you already know  I've been mixing up my two point perspective lessons over the past 4-5 years trying to find something that resonated. We did perspective rooms, streets and houses. We've done them in pencil, watercolor and acrylic. Nothing was hitting the way that Toy Story lesson always seemed to with the younger kids, so I thought "why not?" The great news is that 14-18 year olds are still inspired by Toy Story. We are a 1:1 ipad school and my students are lucky enough to have the procreate app. 

The basic format of my perspective unit still remained the same. Starting with 1 point boxes, comparing 1 and 2 point perspective. Introducing angles like bird's eye and worm's eye. One of the fun ideas I added to this recycled lesson was showing short 3-5 minute clips from the movie and freezing the screen. This allowed students to identify the horizon line, vanishing points and angles.

I had a collection of toys in the room with a set up for them to photograph for reference and they were welcome to bring their own in as well. All students experienced a high level of success with this lesson and were eager to work on it. I find with paper pencil, students get so discouraged having to erase the lines over and over again, ruining their paper. This felt like the perfect time to go digital.

If you'd like to "just press play" on this video heavy resource you can find it here.

If you're an elementary teacher who'd like to see the original post use this link.

STEAM Art Teacher Inservice

This summer I've been participating in an amazing intensive 5 day steam boot camp. Here are some of the fun things we've gotten to try:

Creating Circuits with Makey Makey using play-doh and graphite

3D printing using tinkercad

After about 3 hours on the 3D printer I was able to take home my coded geometric design. This could have some fun printmaking applications.

3D lasercutting with dremel and beamo

Coding with "The Artist" on code.org and block coding with scratch

I've been working on an idea for my contemporary crafts class this fall. They would design a piece of jewelry using the 3D printer or the laser cutter. Here is me failing forward with a cuff bracelet design.

There was an extra "line" that connected all the way across, which cause 1/2" to break off so I fixed the design and also tightened up the curve radius by placing the lines closer together. This was done in google drawing and lasercut on a Dremel Digilab.

The bracelet is placed into steaming hot water and then inside a mold (this time a tin can). Once the shape is stable, it was removed from the can and this binder clip was used to maintain the desired shape until it dried. Because of the living hinge it stays flexible so it can easily slid into place on the wrist.

Next, I designed a book cover. The cut path (spine and shape of book) was drawn in google draw. The pattern was created in procreate and exported as a jpg. This was my first attempt and the last day of class. I would definitely made some edits, but overall I'm loving it. This tiny post it note sized book took 40 minutes on the Dremel Digilab Lasercutter.

We had a fun day inservice provided by CodeJoy on hummingbirds by Bird Brain Technology. Working in groups we illustrated a poem using lights, motors and sensors. Our group chose "One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish."

We did some collaborative warm ups prior to any group projects to help understand group dynamics. 

This rubber band cup activity was fun. We finished early so decided to try differentiating it by using two members with 2 hands who worked blind while two of us coached.

We ended the week with some lesson sharing. Can't wait to get some of this tech into my students' hands.

Collaboration in the time of covid

Recently I've been seeing lots of questions from teachers looking for ways to incorporate some classic collaborations like exquisite corpse. It is, after all that weird time of year where many of us have a short week ahead, maybe some half days or conferences and you're trying to even things out. Grades are probably due and you need a fun break.

While I do have an answer for your exquisite corpse quandary (hint, templates and contact points) why not use this time to expand our art teacher resource bank of collaborative art activities. I recall a fun idea from Ian Sands including post it note mosaics/murals many years ago. Assign each student a color, let them add to a giant wall sized mural. Use the smaller 1" size and break it into 3-4 smaller murals. Great article on murals here. Ian's lesson is available for free here.

(c) Image Ian Sands 2012

Some clever teachers are reinventing this lesson by having students work in shared documents like google sheets to take turns filling in blocks of color to create their images. Some are assigning students into breakout rooms and giving timed contests.

What about a collaborative collage? In this lesson, students are reinforcing their working definitions of juxtaposition, positive and negative space, as well as texture and pattern. Students can share an original drawing or photo of their choice to a folder or space in your virtual classroom. Other students choose a picture that inspires them and they cut out a piece. It is their job to fill the void with a new pattern on texture by holding the photo in front of a variety of objects. 

It is great fun for students to see their reimagined photo. Like a Flat Stanley for the art room! For this lesson have students look at the work of Shamekh Bluwi,  the inspiration for this lesson.

What fun ways are you allowing students to collaborate?

The Monster Mash Up

Some lessons are timeless. Six years ago I posted an exquisite corpse lesson plan that I have done with students in grades 3-12 and I am still hoping I can sneak it in this year now that I'm back at the high school. Right now my cartooning classes are developing original characters and it might be fun to have them submit and edit these digitally.

Since posting that lesson, I have added these fun muddle and match books from usborne to my growing resources for the project, which include a halloween card from 10 years ago.

The topic of "seasonal" art is sometimes hotly debated, especially at the high school level. I think an art teacher in an exploratory course like Art 1, could definitely make connections to surrealism and this could develop beyond a fluff piece for decoration. While I wouldn't have students collaborate their paper drawings this year, a technology connection could make this more interactive and add a layer of engagement and excitement.

Do you use seasonal inspiration for middle and high school art classes?

Art Teacher Summer Prep List

Contrary to public opinion, most teachers spend some portion of the summer thinking about the next school year. Some of us start that thinking the day after graduation. For others it's when the administrative welcome back letter hits the mail (or inbox). For many of us, it's right after the 4th of July when stores fill aisles with back to school supplies. We grab a few extra boxes of crayons for the kids who we know will not have their own. Maybe we purchase a new insulated lunchbox for ourselves. If you're an art teacher you might be grabbing ALL. THE. RAINBOW. ORGANIZERS.

I like the ability to take time over the summer to reflect on what worked, and tweak my curriculum. As I mentioned last week, I have been transferred back to the high school level. So whatever level of crazy this unpredictable year had in store for me, now feels magnified. I don't want to feel like I've wasted or squandered these precious days of leisurely planning at my own pace, so I started to think what can I do now, that will be helpful no matter what. 

Here's what I came up with. Maybe it will help those of you spinning your wheels, wanting to take action, but feeling paralyzed with indecision. 

1. Take inventory of your current classroom supplies:

My new principal allowed me a block of time to go in and see what the other teacher left behind. If you think you may be denied...you could try from the point of view that you are looking with fresh eyes on ways to save money. I used my phone and videotaped the entire room. Opening every drawer and cabinet. 

2. Look for inspiration of new artists. Try following working artists, art museums, galleries and art schools, as well as art teachers on social media. I find searching and subscribing to tags of subject matter, technique or media yields better results than something like "artteachersofinsta" where many members seem to post the same content. Almost every art supply brand has free tutorials posted online.

3.  Look through the supply catalog:

What materials would be helpful for fall. Imagine you had an unlimited budget and go crazy. When I'm looking through that bad boy in the summer...it's like making my Christmas wish list from the JC Penney Toy Book all over again. You can find ways to do it cheaper. Looking will give you the ideas and inspiration. Last week I found a series of videos from Strathmore when I saw they were offering "Educational sketchbooks with video links" in my cataglog. Do you have technology available for students to draw digitally? Now might be the time to do a "big ask" of your admin. Think of all the money they will save on sending home paper and markers by loading some quality software onto the ipads. 

4. Take a class:

Watch that you tuber, try the free subscription to skillshare, join a supportive art-making group. It's good to cross-pollinate. Never done weaving? Try it. Want to learn photoshop even though you will never use it with your students? Give it a whirl. Need to jump to the next column on your pay matrix. Go get it! Watching how others teach adds to your pedagogical tool belt. I look at how online teachers are transitioning. How much talking and explaining. What scaffolding do they provide. It's still fun for me, but I'm also growing my art teacher skills. 

5. Review standards with fresh eyes:

Look through your district approved curriculum guide, or in the absence of one, the national visual art standards. I like to make a checklist at the end of each year and go through my plans to see what what I've hit and where I need to do better. Many of us have been looking to see where we can be more inclusive with regards to BIPOC artists. Now is a great time to diversify your curriculum. When you find something you're missing, ask yourself if you can teach that content remotely. If you have to revise your lessons anyway use the time to work smarter. Here's my free K-5 checklist.

6. Sort your project list:

Take a look at the projects your students created this year. Use a hi-lighter or another system to code them. What skills can/must be done in classroom? What can be done with a paper packet? What needs video? What can be done from a cart? Even if you don't know what the year will look like, when you do, you have a list ready to go.

7. Cart shop:

Are you possibly on a cart? What does your dream cart look like? Will the school buy you one or do you have to upcycle a scary old clunker? Use this time to think about how you would retro-fit your cart(s). Not sure how to start the cart conversation with your admin? Here's a list I put together.

8. Kit planning:

Have you been instructed to make a care package of basic supplies? If not yet, chances are you might. What would it look like? What do they need. Can you find a local restaurant that gives crayons with meals? Would they be willing to donate some boxes for good publicity? Why not ask. If you promise to tag them on social media, with student artwork, it would probably be an easy decision for them.  Is your district willing to put out a survey to find out what supplies kids have? Many districts do this for technology, but it would be great to include a few questions about who needs paper, scissors or crayons.

9. Videos

A few years ago when I started making videos, I found that I had more time, not less in my day. Record videos with the dual purpose of teaching remotely, and also saving your sanity when we're back in the classroom. 

10. Prepare Your Online Classroom

Just as you would go in and set up your physical space over the summer, take some care to set up your online space. I'm not talking about spending 8 hours rearranging the furniture of your bitmoji classroom. Think of the set up and structure of Google Classroom, Schoology, Seesaw or other learning platform. This year artsonia is offering streamlined uploading connect to Google Classroom, but you have to set up your classes individually. If your district doesn't import them for you, this may take time. Think about what worked last year and what didn't. I have a free "how to attach files" cheat sheet for students because it was draining to type the same info over and over again. In this way, I could upload it and assign it to the students who claimed they had no idea how to load a picture of their work. Grab a copy here.

I know this sounds like a lot. And it is. For me, I know that none of these steps will be wasted time or energy. So instead of being sad or anxious that I don't know what to do to prepare, I'm doing the things I can. Did you know you can do 5 out of 10 of these items while binge-watching netflix and eating raw cookie dough? True Story.

What have you found to be helpful in planning for the new school year?

Submitting work to google classroom

Last week I created a graphic for students to include with my weekly choiceboard to help them (and parents) successfully attach images to the assignment. Many teachers have been sharing their frustration at receiving student work, so I made this a free download direct to your google drive.

This is only the 2nd thing I've tried to post from my googledrive. If it doesn't work for you, please let me know so I can fix it.


Something that has been super helpful for me is being a "student" in another person's class. Our technology coordinator created a classroom that we joined for training a few years ago. I never left that class. So now, I can go in there as a "student" and know what they see and experience. If you have a colleague you could each join the other's for the same.

Distance Learning Week 1

As a department our elementary art teachers decided to focus on a theme for each week. The first week for us was color. Using a choice board with the other specialists in our building we created 5 activities. We were allowed to have some be technology dependent but had to make sure there were paper pencil options. This is what our first week of choice looked like:

Since there are six teachers we each created a sample of a different activity. We made an intro video and one teacher compiled all five together. Our sixth teacher narrated a script that went along with some slides to review the vocabulary words.

So far I think I have about 80 responses. It's amazing how creative the responses are.

This student imagined if ROY G. BIV was a person, what he might look like:

This student made soap using the cool colors:

And this kindergarten student made a found object color wheel that included the tertiary colors:

A digital drawing

A lego rainbow

Origami Color Wheel

A primary color outfit sewn by the student

A tie-dye shirt in progress

Students in K-2 are using the Seesaw app and students in 3-5 are using google classroom. Please share the successes you are having with distance learning in the comments below or drop a link so I can follow you:

Digital Drawing with Procreate

Guess who went 100% digital this week with 3rd - 5th grade?

Hint: This person may also have gotten a haircut and felt the need to update her profile pictures.

So. Third grade is currently working on one point perspective drawing using the procreate app on their ipads. Fourth grade is working on drawing Thiebaud style cakes and fifth grade is making animations. Spoiler alert: So. Many. Layers.

After repeating the introduction to using the basic drawing tools in procreate three times, I used the screen recording feature to make a demo video. This has really freed me up to walk around and see who's struggling, who's goofing around and who should probably be teaching the lesson. It will also be great to show the kids who were absent!

Looking forward to sharing their creations with you. In the meantime, if you're looking to work with procreate in the classroom and have no idea where to start, this is my intro video. This is the cake project. Original post here. This is the new animation project. 

If you're looking for help with all kinds of technology, this post from last year is a behind the scenes look at how I manage 30 apple pencils in the classroom... and this is my technology bundle.  It includes other items like stop motion and forced perspective photography. If you are looking for procreate lessons only, this is my new procreate digital drawing bundle.

What are your biggest challenges / successes with technology in the art room?

Apple Pencil Classroom Kit Set Up

When I posted some of the kids digital drawings online, there were lots of questions about the set up, distribution and handling of the apple pencils. I get it. They are EXPENSIVE and fragile. Two words that make me a little nervous around 9 year olds.

Our district purchased a class set of 30 for the 6 elementary art teachers to share. Our coordinator has us sign them out for a period of time and when the next teacher wants to use them they travel. To accommodate a traveling set we use the following set up:



I know. It looks like a hot mess up in there, but I'm gonna unpack it for you.
So first, there are the boxes that they came in. One idea we had was to number them, match them up to the kid's number and have them set the box on their table to place the pencil back in the box. One teacher test drove that plan and found it wasn't too practical. So most of the time, the boxes just sit empty in the big tub. Like this:




Since students need to take the cap off to pair the device to their tablet, we had to decide what to do about the caps. We envisioned them getting lost. The alternative was not giving the students the caps. That leaves the end exposed. After weighing the pros and cons, we went with that option and store the caps in a smaller container with extra pencil tips and anything else that is tiny. We keep them plugged into the chargers whenever the students aren't using them.



We have a surge protector for charging. It has three plugs for each of the Anker Powerpots. These can charge up to 10 pencils at a time in a very compact space.



We leave the wires all bundled up and out of the way. Leaving them at the full 3' or 6' length would probably mean a huge tangled mess or that they would get knocked onto the floor. Here's what it looks like with 3 units plugged in at once.



When it's time to send them off to the next teacher the pencils go back on the boxes and away they go.

Some other tips for classroom pencil use. With our situation, I told students the pencil had to sit on top of their ipad whenever they got up from the table or weren't using it. Their ipads have a rubber case that sticks up around the edges, so it won't roll off the ipad if it's lying flat. Those pencils are slippery and roll fast so I added a rubber band to each one to act as a pencil grip and to slow down the rolling.

What are your best secrets for managing apple pencils in the elementary art room?