Live Art, Breathe Art: middle school art lesson

Showing posts with label middle school art lesson. Show all posts

Monday, May 23, 2016

Create-A-Plant

For this assignment, I asked my 6th grade students to pretend they were botanists who had recently discovered a new, never before been seen plant.

The students had to document their findings and include the following key pieces of information:

plant's name

plant's basic needs

how the plant's needs are met

where the plant lives

a colored illustration of the plant in it's natural habitat

an illustration showing the principal parts of the plant's anatomy (text features like labels, captions, maps, bold words, subheading, and more)

Then the student's had to create a paper mache' model of the plant using a plastic bottle, cardboard, and masking tape. Below are the student's examples:

Thursday, April 14, 2016

PInch Pot Animals

6th grade Art I students were asked to model clay with control to create pinch pot animals. They built upon previous knowledge of working with clay in order to craft an original three-dimensional artwork.

The students chose whether they wanted to use glaze for their pinch pot or acrylic paint.

Materials:
sketchbook
pencil
clay
tools for working with clay
glaze

Examples of student work:

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Making Abstract Ceramic Masks

For this project I challenged my grade 6 Art I students to design an abstract mask based on the Kimmy Cantrell's artwork. The student's faced the challenge head on and did an amazing job!

Objective:

To explore the amazing creations of sculptor, Kimmy Cantrell
To look and brainstorm at what features make Cantrell's artwork unique.
To create a colorful mask using clay based on a sketch that the students designed.
Use acrylic paint to finish the mask

Examples of students artwork:

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Animal Silhouettes and Patterns

Objective:
To think about one subject (animal) that will be emphasized by using it's skin to inspire a pattern that will cover the entire background of their painting.

To use the "rule of thirds" to create an interesting composition.

Materials:
Drawing Paper
Pencil
Plastic Toy Animals (to use for observation drawing)
Canvas Panel
Acrylic Paint

Elements of Art & Principles of Design:
Emphasis, Texture, Pattern

Vocabulary:
Silhouette
Pattern
Texture
Rule of Thirds

Art History Connection:
Kara Walker

Examples of Student Work:

© Live Art, Breathe Art 2015

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Exploring Identity Through Art (Part II)

Metamorphic Self-Portrait Mixed Media Collage
Objective: The students will use the questions they answered about who they are as individuals, to design a Metamorphic Bas-Relief Mixed Media Sculpture based on a written theme.
Vocabulary: Metamorphic
Bas-Relief
Medium Mixed Media
Think: Who are you?

Where are you? How are you?

What are you?

What symbols/ actions represent you?

How do you capture the essence of something, rather than being literal or clichéd?

Think of more imaginative and creative ways of addressing topics.

Answer the following questions:
1. How do you fit into school/ society?
2. How do you relate or react to your family/peers?
3. Do you have any traditions your family follows? Do you come from another country or culture? Does religion play a part in your life?
4. What liberates you? What confines you?
5. What represents you: Body, Mind, Spirit, or Society?

Materials:
Pencil
Paper
Written Theme

Acrylic Paint
11x14 in. Card board Panel
Variety of objects (cds, toilet paper rolls, old jewelry, etc.)
Newspaper or Magazines

Examples of Student Work:

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Exploring Identity through Art

Self-Portrait Abstractions Objective:

investigate Real/Surreal, and learn about distinctive qualities of both styles.
create a self-portrait abstraction in a surrealist style using personal dreams to inspire a narrative painting.
give your painting an original title

Art History Connection:

Frida Kahlo - Georgia O'Keefe

Materials:

Pencil

Canvas Board

Acrylic Paints

Think:

How can my portrait reflect emotion?
How can my portrait reflect who I am?
What message do you want your artwork to communicate?
What kind of feelings are you trying to invoke from the viewer?

Examples of Student Work:

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Beyond Borders - Water Life

Objective: To use the "Rule of Thirds" to place the focal point of the subject off-center.
To use watercolor painting and ink techniques reviewed in their previous lessons.

Materials:

pencil

sketchbook
plastic animals to draw from observation
scratch paper
12x18 watercolor paper
permanent markers (black)
liquid watercolors

Examples of Student Work:

Art Grade 6 (Semester Class)

Friday, November 6, 2015

Looking at Insects

Objective: To draw a larger than life insect on 11x14 watercolor paper and create value by adding stippling (pointilism). TSW also watercolor the background of their artwork with a cool color (Blue, Purple, or Green)

Here are some examples of the project created my 6th grade students (semester):

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Larger Than Life Shoes!

I challenged my 7th & 8th grade students to create a larger than life sculpture of a shoe using cardboard, based on the work of Claes Oldenburg. The students created emphasis in their sculptures by placing attention to detail, craftsmanship, and proportion.

Student Work:

Monday, January 26, 2015

Perspective Playtime

Objective: Students will demonstrate their understanding of two-point perspective by drawing a variety of toys in perspective.

JMS 7th grade art students spent three classes learning the basics of perspective drawing.
Then they spent three classes creating an original composition in pencil that demonstrated correct perspective, overlapping forms, and creative use of toys.

The students were assessed on the technical accuracy of their perspective drawing, the creative interpretation of the theme, and level of artistry.

Lesson adapted from Mary Coy, art teacher at Spry Middle School in Webster, New York, and SchoolArts editorial advisory board member.

JMS Student Work:

Fall 2014

Pages

Monday, May 23, 2016

Thursday, April 14, 2016

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Saturday, January 30, 2016

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Friday, November 6, 2015

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Monday, January 26, 2015