Art Making from Kindergarten to Graduation
I have taught molas fora few years now and find it an interesting subject for my students for we discuss 2 things when making them; Only the kuna people are allowed to sell molas Only kuna women make molas and are he breadwinners of their family These two facts allow for some great discussions on… Continue reading Molas Multiple Ways
This project is one of my all time favorites as an art teacher. It is inspired by David Hockney's Pearblossom Highway. This artwork is made up of hundreds of photo prints of one scene, collaged together to make one image. Before, actual photographs would have to be used, however, with new technologies, replicating this type… Continue reading Hockney Inspired Photos
When teaching art, it is important to go over the elements of art early and one of my favorite is the element of space. Space in art is the area within a composition while positive space is the subject or areas of interest in a piece making anything in the background or surrounding the subject… Continue reading Positive/Negative Silhouettes
One of my kids favorite books to read is Yayoi Kusama Covered Everything in Dots and Wasn’t Sorry. The book, written by Fatsu Gilberti, gives a great background on the artist with fun cartoon illustrations making this book a resource for elementary age kids. While reading, the author discusses Yayoi’s love of pumpkins. While I… Continue reading Yayoi Kusama Inspired Pumpkins
Around second grade, I begin to introduce symmetry to my students. I begin with bilateral symmetry (mirror symmetry that is right down the middle) and as they get older, add other aspects of the topic such as radial and asymmetry. I like to begin this project by first asking for examples of symmetry they see… Continue reading Symmetrical Hearts
A good way to begin the year with a Kindergarten art class is to give them an assessment disguised as a project. This allows you, as a teacher, to see their skill level, creativity, ingenuity, and level of independence your new students have. Doing this will help you plan future lessons and differentiate instruction. In… Continue reading Robot Assessments
Introducing Kindergarten to printmaking is a fun and creative process by using legos. This project lets you give your students creative freedom while also making the process relevant to them (since many kids have been introduced to legos by this grade). With these easy steps, lego print robots can become a favorite project among your… Continue reading Lego Print Robots
Students are introduced to the elements of art early on during art class. I tend to introduce the elements in kindergarten and then revisit them every year adding to the concept and the difficulty of the lesson. After I teach the primary colors, I like to continue our elements journey with lines. Introduction I like… Continue reading Watercolor Lines
I’ve been teaching art for over 15 years and have taught every grade, K-12. In those years I have made resources and handouts helpful for the art room, contained classrooms, or homeschool parents. Check out my Etsy shop above. First Steps When I started teaching art, I had never curated an art show and the… Continue reading Curating an Art Show
Once students have learned about primary colors, the next step is to introduce them to secondary colors. I like to do this by introducing Vincent Van Gogh and using one of his famous pieces as an inspiration for the students. Introduction The first thing I always like to do is revisit previous concepts they have… Continue reading Secondary Colors and Van Gogh
In the Art Room with Mrs. D 