1st Grade Squeegee Prints

 This is a project that I dreamed up a few years ago - it requires a modified squeegee, which I bought at a dollar store and notched to create a drawing tool. I also have plastic versions of this tool, but kids love the squeegee version, and just love saying the word "squeegee"!  They first created a marker design on paper, being careful to use light, bright colors.  Next, we used black printing ink and a metal tray to create a surface for students to scrape a design on, using the squeegee.  The last step is to place the colorful design on the ink design, press lightly, and pull off a beautiful, one of a kind print!

2nd Grade Artistic Chairs

 This is a student (and art teacher) favorite that I have been presenting to kids since 1999 - artistic chairs in the style of Wendell Castle.  I share a book of Castle's artistic furniture, and then we dive in with hundreds of recycled tubes,cardboard, paint, oak tag paper, and various craft materials.  Students are required to develop a theme for their chairs, and choose art elements that reflect that theme.  Their ideas always amaze me!

Creative color wheels

 3rd graders have been exploring color relationships by mixing primary colors to create secondary colors, and arranging all the colors in "Roy G. Biv" order.  They were required to draw, paint, and cut out an interesting shape for each color.  The resulting color wheels are very imaginative!

Radial Symmetry Records

 My 4th graders had a great time drawing on these records; it's a perfect object to demonstrate concentric circles and radial symmetry to students.  They also really enjoyed the retro nature of this lesson, and had an interesting discussion about how technology keeps changing over time.  We used colored pencils to create patterns on the vinyl, and patterned paper in the center, which served as inspiration for the design.  Parents, if you have any records you are willing to part with, I will be glad to take them off of your hands, so that my 4th graders will have the same fun opportunity next year!

5th Grade Gyotaku

 This fun printing process is achieved with rubber sea creatures, printing ink, and cotton cloth painted with watercolors. Gyotaku is Japanese for fish print, and is the inspiration for this project.  I have heard that an art teacher attempted this process with a real fish... no thank you!  The prints created with the rubber stamps are very life like, and are reusable, year after year.

3rd Grade Symmetry Creatures

Students had a blast with this project, which actually contains the name of each student in the image.  The paper was folded in hotdog fashion, and names were drawn on the fold.  After outlining around the name, students cut the outline, unfolded the paper, and began brainstorming possibilities for their symmetrical shape.  The results are very imaginative!

5th Grade Name Designs

 This is one of my favorite 5th grade projects, because everyone can achieve great success, no matter the ability level.  Students create radial symmetry by drawing and transferring their name to all 8 sections of the paper.  Carbon paper is used in the transfer process; I have fun explaining what carbon paper was used for, way back when I was in elementary school!  We use warm and cool colors to hide the letters, and the results are intricate, and just beautiful!