Grade 3: Leaves and Lines Resist

Third grade is finishing up resist paintings of leaves. We discussed warm/cool colors, line, repetition, contour lines and fall leaf colors for this project that couples oil pastel and watercolor. Originally, the cool colors were to be in the background and the leaves were to be painted in fall/warm colors. I have to say, I was quite impressed that my students asked to use their artistic license and deviate away from this plan. I had a boy walk up to me with a straight face and say "Mrs. Johnson, I feel that I need to use just a touch of warm colors in my background. I think that it will make the painting look better..." I love discussing art with children in a way where it's a consultation and they know that their opinion about their art matters the most. So, taking risks, and use of artistic license is what they did and I am quite pleased with the results. 

5th grade Name Pyramids

Kolter E.

Franki B.

5th graders are finishing up the Name Pyramids project that reviewed the Elements of Design: line, shape and color that I blogged about earlier this month.

5th grade Name Pyramids

Ah, a clean(er) project! I timed this one perfectly considering we are in the middle of painting in grades 1, 2, and 3. Grade 4 is using pastels. We also have a ton of clay projects drying in the room right now and in November the clay continues among lots of other supplies.


The name pyramid project is a fun design project for 5th graders. They are working with their name to create a pyramid design which will rely on multiple Art Elements of Design/Elements of Art. 
After discussing the elements and how every single piece of art ever created has at least ONE element, we explore lines, shapes and color mostly. Some students will accidentally utilize additional elements in their designs! This lesson I saw browsing the Internet a while back. I will link to the source as soon as I uncover it again.


Here are students working DAY 1. 

Elements of Art Video