New School Year...New Theme. Any Ideas?

Well I've come to face the reality that school is just around the corner.  Although I'll be sad to give up my lazy days and naps, I'll be glad to get back into a routine again once school is actually here.  For now, I'm slowly starting to think about lesson plans and other ideas.  I'm excited to be starting my 3rd year!  I feel more and more comfortable with what I am doing, but am continuing to strive to change things up and make things better! 

I've found it to be easier to do bulletin boards and projects for my K-6 students if I have some kind of theme.  I've done Wild About Art and Around the World/Into Outerspace.  Any ideas for this year?

I enjoy the theme because it makes things a little more exciting and helps me keep a little more focused through out the year.  Not everything I do throughout the year has to relate to the theme, but it is always nice to fall back on it.

My previous themes have also linked into my Spring Art show, but it could be something totally different and just be for the classroom.

If you have any ideas, I would take them!

High School Final Projects

My high school students spent the last 4-5 weeks of the school year focusing on their last project.  This last project was a themed unit that actually consisted of 3 smaller projects.  Students chose their theme, planned out each project under that theme, and then started production after they received teacher approval of ideas and use of materials.  By this time of the school year some of my supplies were pretty limited, especially in particular colors of paint.  Because of this I stressed that each student plan out what they needed and make sure that I know prior to beginning.  Students were also encouraged to bring in any found materials/extra supplies of their own...however, I don't believe anyone did this.
This was the first time I tried something like this and I found that there was great success in it!  The theme allowed students to choose something they were interested in and apply the art knowledge they had gained throughout the year.  This project had much weight in the semester grade and I looked for such things as time management, use of theme idea, application of art knowledge, etc.  I believe the most difficult thing for my students was the time management part.  I stressed that managing time was important in order for all projects to be done in time, and if 3 projects were finished before time was out that they all better be darn good and then they must add a 4th idea to their same theme. I had many who were scrambling the last 3 days or so to get everything finished.  I also had a few that had 4 or even 5 projects for their theme.
Overall I enjoyed this project very much because it allowed me to see the growth and talent of my students in a different way.  This project was very open and it allowed each student to tap into their personalities and let them shine!

I am incredibly excited to try this again and might try doing this 2 times a year, once in November until Christmas Break, and then again near the end of the year.

 

This student loves horses and actually has a few and a lot of other animals too.
She was great to have in class and I will miss her talent since she graduated this year.

This student I only had for 1 year and he also graduated this spring.  He has a great eye for detail
and I am glad that he is planning on pursuing art through some form in college.

The smallest cross is made from clay and is able to hang.  I like the simplicity of
this theme, but that it could become intricate and varied through
a variety of mediums and design.

This student did a golf theme and I did not get a chance to photograph his
other projects before the year was over.  This is some of his best work
of the year which is exciting!

 

This student did a hunting/fishing theme because she love the outdoors.  I wish
she would have spent more time on a few pieces and had less pieces overall,
but she doesn't take critique well and usually does what she wants.  She
has a lot of talent but can be pushed much farther if she would listen to some
advice.  Sadly, this student is moving away.

This student did a fairytale/medieval theme.  I love the dragon on the castle
made from clay.  It looks much better than in this photograph.  He spent so much time
on itand was rushed to finish the other pieces in time and although
they are good, they could be much better.

This student created a forest theme.  The tree is made with acrylic and melted
crayon.  The top left animal is done in acrylic and the bottom piece in
watercolor.  She was a foreign exchange student from Thailand, so she will not
return next year and I will miss her very much.  She had such great talent!

Paper Mache Aliens - 2nd Grade

I had never done paper mache with such young students before, but I was pretty pleased with the results.  I can't take credit for this idea because I saw this project on a blog somewhere, but I can't remember where and the lesson plan I printed is at school.
To begin this project, I gave my 2nd graders an assignment of bringing in a plastic pop or juice bottle or something similar.  This became our form to cover with paper mache.  When they brought them to my room they were excited to figure out what we were going to do with them. 
For paper mache, I use newspaper and watered-down glue...it's cheap!  Most of my 2nd graders got the hang of it pretty fast, while others struggled a little.  Overall they loved getting a little bit messy! 

This project lasted 3, 30 minute class periods.  The first class we applied the paper mache.  During the 2nd class we painted, and the last class we added all of the fine details to make our aliens extra special and unique!  I got out my google eyes, pipe cleaners, yarn, pom poms, etc. which made the project fun to go a little wild with ideas!

These creatures are quite interesting and fun! :)

4th Grade Astronaut Portraits

My 4th graders spent many weeks this spring working on astronauts that became self-portraits.  They had a great time working on these large projects and the end results were pretty fun!  These were also on display for our spring art show: Around the World and Into Outer Space.

Summer Vacay Adventure :)

 I just got back from my 16 day summer vacation about a week ago.  It was an adventure and experience of a lifetime!  I ventured to Ireland, North Wales, Scotland, and England with a tour group that consisted of some teachers, students, and parents from my school along with several other small groups from the US just like ours.  The 50-some of us traveled together with a tour guide and many scheduled events.  It was a blast!  Although I cannot upload the 900 photos I took, I shall try my best to pick/choose a few of my favorite highlights of the trip!  Sweet summertime! :)

The Cliffs of Moher, near Kilarney - County Clare, Ireland

View on the Ring of Kerry- Ireland

Blarney Castle - Ireland

At the Rock of Cashel - Ireland

St. Patrick's Cathedral - Dublin, Ireland

Conwy, North Wales

Conwy Castle, North Wales

Poppies with a buzzing bee - At William Wordsworth's Cottage, Rydal Mount

On our way to Edinburgh, Scotland, we stopped in a small town,
Earlston to see the Olympic Torch - awesome experience!

York Minister - York, England

Anne Hathaway's Cottage (Shakespeare's wife)

Roman Bath's - Bath, England

Stonehenge

London Eye - London, England

Big Ben & British Parliament - London, England

Origami Flowers with 1st Grade

I found this idea on Pinterest...yay for Pinterest!!! :)

I was a little nervous to try this with my 1st graders, but loved the idea of a fun spring project.  Origami can be very involved and complicated, but these folds weren't too tricky.  However, I was unsure how I would be able to get this project done with 15 1st graders in 30 minutes.  But the challenge was a success!

My 1st graders are quite a challenging group.  Many have low motor skills and behavior issues.  They are difficult to work with on most days.  I have 2 classes of 1st graders, both with about 15 students in each class.  Projects are either done in 30 minutes or last 1-2 weeks for my K-3rd graders.  My older elementary students usually work 2-4 weeks or so on projects.  Anyway I have 1st grade right away on Monday mornings...definitely not the most ideal time but I make it work.  One class comes and then I have a fast and furious 5 minute clean-up/prep time before the next 1st grade group comes in.  It gets a little crazy at times!!!

For this origami project I focused with small groups of 4-5 at a time.  By doing this I was able to work with each student and give them the help they needed on 1 or 2 of the trickier folds.  While I was working with 1 group, the other 2 groups were working on a free draw activity.  After their flower bud was folded, they got into my scrap paper and cut a stem and leaves for their flower.  Working with a small group was the only way this project was successful in 30 minutes.  This was a good idea but by the time I got to the 3rd group there was about 5 minutes of class left!  It was a little hectic and by the time I finished with 2 classes of 1st grade I was a bit frazzled.  But...the outcome was awesome and the compliments I received were wonderful!  Many couldn't believe that my 1st graders made these! :)

High School Paintings

My high school students spent about 4-5 weeks this semester working on large paintings.  They painted on 18X24 inch canvas board.  I had very few requirements for this assignment that included a grid drawing of a photograph.  The photograph had to be a photograph found on the computer of something that was real...meaning no graphic design/cartoons, etc.  As they painted, they were matching the colors in the photo, so color was a factor on their photograph search.  I approved all photos before drawing and painting began, and although these "rules" I gave above were the parameters of the assignment I allowed for some interpretation/bending of the requirements for creative purposes.

Each of the photographs my students chose to work from seemed to fit their personalities and that was cool to watch them choose and execute their idea!  Here are a few of my favorites.  I chose these not because of who did them or the subject matter, but the quality of work done by my students.  It was hard to choose just some of them because they were all very good!

Some students chose to add a gloss medium after they finished
and this affected the flash in some photographs I took.

Love the idea of this one!

 

This student said each bird represented each of her friends
and I believe she was the green one :)

Yummy!

One of my students is obsessed with golf and I have seen
a lot of golfing inspired art produced by him