Sixth Grade Classical Columns and Amphorae

We began this lesson by learning about the the three most common column orders. Doric, Ionic, and Corinthian. Also delved into Tuscan and composite. We viewed and discussed many of the buildings that they can be found on in history and today (including our local Smith's grocery store which sports Tuscan style columns).
The students were given an 18"x24" piece of sulphite paper and they drew their own capital and column.
 
After drawing their entire column they were given the choice of brown or gray marker to trace over their pencil lines. They simultaneously traced with the marker and then wet those lines with a paint brush to distress and add interest to their columns.

When they were finished with the columns they had a lesson on the history and use of ancient Greek amphorae. Red Figure and Black Figure were also discussed.
They began by creating half of an amphora shape on folded newsprint. They cut that out and traced it onto watercolor paper. Next they created designs on their amphorae using orange, red or yellow crayons. When they were finished with their designs they used watered down black tempera cake to paint over their entire pot. The final step was to cut out their pots and columns.

They were mounted in the upper school hall.

Upper School Fixer Upper-Painted Chair Backs

I'm not sure why this was so, but we teach at a newer charter school that exists in portable building and somehow these are the chairs that the art room ended up with. The backs were made of particle wood and as they were sat in the screws began to disintegrate the wood and they just fell apart. That left our room with ridiculously unusable chairs. You should have seen our tiny kindergarteners trying to sit in these things. After quite a bit of brainstorming, Kim and I decided that instead of spending $1000.00 of our grant money on chairs or stools we would enlist our upper school students (7-12) to help us recreate masterpieces on chair backs.
 
First, Travis measured and then cut to size 24 pieces of 1/2" plywood. It took two sheets and cost $80.00.
Second, I primed each piece of wood.
Third, the students needed to chose a classic work of art to recreate.
Some of the students were paired together for this assignment...that sometimes created a challenge but in the end it worked out well enough.
Most of these students have never painted in their lives so the end results of these chair backs are quite astonishing. They have really transformed our room. The elementary students LOVE it too.
When they were finished painting we sealed them with a matte acrylic spray.
I spent a good while pre-drilling holes and screwing these things together, but I'm so happy with the results. We painted the table side of the chairs a "table color" while the artwork faces out.

Upper School Graphic Trees Watercolor Wash-Balance

The upper school students were to create a design of three graphic trees that was balanced and well thought out. They could either do a watercolor wash and thne draw their trees on top or they could create a resist with crayon and do their wash on top. They had the choice to use salt or no salt, to use black prisma or white prisma.
The main idea in this quick, one class project was to create balance within their design. Keeping in mind to fill your page and create an aesthetically pleasing design.

I love that even our students who have some pretty serious limitations were able to participate in this lesson on a pretty even level.

First Grade Ancient Egypt Lesson

So, it's been some time since I posted and that's because I've been teaching!! I seriously adore my job.
I team teach with one of my favorite people. I teach students K-12 on Tue/Thur/Every other Friday and it's pure heaven (most days :)).
I just happen to have both first grade classes this year and they are learning about Ancient Egypt in their studies. Our school uses the Core Knowledge books as a standard for our elementary ed. Not to be confused with Common Core. I thought it would be great to teach the kids about tinting paint...they LOVE mixing paint, even if there's nothing to mix!!
Below is the lesson plan I created to present this idea to our first graders.

The students will learn about making tints by adding white to a solid color. They will use this new knowledge to create a tinted sky landscape for their pyramid silhouettes, or you could do sphinxes.
Have students watch this short video on the Sphinx for a fun intro to the unit.
Sphinx Video

Put a small amount of liquid tempera into a condiment cup-just enough to fill the bottom. Put a good squirt of white liquid tempera into another cup.

1. Have the students paint their first stripe with the solid COLOR first.
2. They will then scoop up a dollop of white paint, add it to their color cup and stir until it is well mixed.
3. Have them paint their second stripe of color.
Repeat step #2 and so on until there are five or six stripes of tinted color.

Leave room at the bottom of the paper for "sand"


Week 2
Teach students how to draw a pyramid by first drawing a triangle and then drawing a short line going up from that triangle. Lastly, connecting the top of the pyramid with the back of the short upward line. Have students shade one side of their pyramids. Students will draw three pyramids of varying sizes.

Students will then cut out their pyramids and glue them in the sand of their paintings.



I printed a CARTOUCHE of each child's name using Virtual Egypt's hieroglyphic translator.
Teach children about what a cartouche is and where they were seen. Talk about the HIEROGLYPHICS and how they were a PICTORIAL alphabet used by ancient Egyptians.
Have the students make a colorful background strip for their cartouch using construction paper and construction paper crayons.
Mount on a black piece of construction paper.

 They children did amazing work.

Portraiture

Trying to improve my pencil work.