It has been so long since I have added anything to this blog because we have been so busy with the art fair. Now that the fair is over I have uploaded some of the pictures that go along with projects you saw at the art fair like the Kindergarten pinch pots and the 4th grade rose windows among others.

2nd Grade Weaving

This is a fun hands on art activity for the 2nd grade. Weaving is a great tool for practicing hand eye coordination. We start this unit by dying the yarn ourselves. We use wool yarn and kool aid. The kids love to see the yarn in a new bright color.

In case you want to try this at home here is what you need:

wool yarn or any animal hair yarn

kool aid packets (do not use the big containers that already have sugar mixed in!)

procedure:

1. Separate yarn into smaller loose skeins

2. Wash the yarn gently in a mild soap and then let the yarn soak in water. (Use room temperature water so yarn doesn't felt)

3. Using approximately one envelope of kool aid to 8 oz. of yarn dissolve the kool aid in a pot of water. Add the yarn.

4. Bring the liquid in the pot almost to a boil then put a lid on it and remove from the heat. Allow the pot to sit there for until the water cools. The water should be clear now and the color soaked into the yarn.

5. Rinse the yarn in water that is the same temperature as the yarn, again so it doesn't felt.

6. Hang to Dry.

This yarn is not necessarily color fast so be careful when washing!!!

Andrew Goldsworthy

The 5th grade class spent several weeks before Christmas learning about the artist Andrew Goldsworthy. Goldsworthy is an artist and environmentalist from our time. He creates his artwork from the items he finds available in the outdoors. As the 5th graders are learning about earth science this project fits in well with their classroom curriculum. The kids really enjoyed this project as they got to be outside a lot and really use their imaginations. I had so much fun watching them create and get excited about what they were learning. They had to use materials that they found on the school grounds. The weather changed a lot in the weeks we worked and by the time they installed their artwork there was snow on the ground and it was really, really cold.

Kandinsky

To prepare for "Picture the Music" I had the 1st and 2nd grade look at the artist Kandinsky. We talked about his theory that color can express emotion just like music expresses emotion. We discussed how different colors can stand for different emotions ex. red for anger. They then each made their own color study with concentric circles like Kandinsky's famous work. I was thrilled with how engaged the kids were in this project. They really enjoyed learning about the artist and talking about color.

Finished Canopic Jars

I let the kids use more colors with their paints this year compared to last and I really like the result. They look great.

Canopic Jars

In 3rd grade we have started making a set of canopic jars. They are learning about ancient Egyptian history in their classroom. Part of their curriculum involves mummifying a chicken! They will use these canopic jars to store some of the chicken's mummified organs just like the Egyptians used to do.

Bug Jars Finished

The 4th grade projects are finished and in the halls I am behind posting them here. They turned out very nice. Some of the kids even had time to add a 3D bug to the outside of the jar.