4th Grade Stained Glass Windows

Our school has a courtyard in the middle of the 4th, 5th and 6th grade hallways and we felt like the windows to the courtyard could use a little bit of color.  So here we went.  This was a great lesson to talk about the difference between geometric and organic shapes.  To make a window, trace a border with the width of a ruler on black paper, then draw some large geometric shapes in the middle.  Next, break up the rest of the space with organic lines that will make organic shapes.

Then, we cut out the shapes, making sure to leave a black border about 1/2" thick between the shapes to make a black frame.  Last, fill the shapes with colored tissue paper. 

We felt like these windows mad a de-LIGHT-ful addition to our art show.  Cheesy, I know, but I have to be, it's elementary school, right?

A day outside with Andy Goldsworthy

Last week we had perfect weather for earth art.  Second grade was finishing a unit on rocks so rather than do the typical-glue-rocks-together-project, we got outside and did something with nature that real artists like Andy Goldsworthy do.  First we looked at some of his work and talked about what makes his designs successful like simple shapes and color, like in these:

 

We split the class into groups of 4-5 and set them loose for about 15-20 min.   This project could not have come with better timing.  The weather was great, the dandilions were all in full bloom, and the students are taking so many end-of-year tests that they needed to get their wiggles out.  Enjoy:

Edgmont 5k Poster Contest

Last week, we had our school 5K, which is amazing in and of itself--1st through 6th grade student ALL complete it--and we had a great poster contest to advertise the race as well as help get kids excited to run.  All in all, I think we had over 30 individual entries.  The theme was "I think I can..."  Students were to complete the phrase however they wanted.  They we so wonderful, I thought I would show you some of the winners:

 

This one is great because our school mascot is an eagle.

May 2-May 12

Come one, come all to the 

Edgemont Elementary 

Art Show!

On display now, until May 12th in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade hallways, as well as in the library.

More Taco Fish!

 

Leave it to my 5th graders to come up with something crazy like this!  Taco fish are the greatest thing since sliced-bread, I decided.  So easy and so fun.  I am a big fan of simple projects that make kids feel successful.  And this is definitely one of those projects.  

We gave each student a small ball of clay and had them roll it out into a 1/4" thick pancake with rolling pins.  Then, they placed a wad of newspaper in the middle and folded the sides around it like a taco.  They squished the top together to make the fin and flattened one side for the tail.  Next, we added eyes, fins and other things as well as texture. 

Kindergarten Farm Rabbits

Last week, the kindergarten students went to visit a farm, so we talked about different animals that they would see there and learned how to draw a few.  This is the first of the bunch: rabbits.  Drawn in pencil and then chalk pastel.  I love how much character each one has! 

Apollonian Gaskets

 

This was a project that my substitute started with my students right before I got back.  It was so much fun.  She introduced the lesson by showing them the video on this link, (TOTALLY worth watching!!) and then set them loose.   When I got back, we fine tuned the  drawings and then learned how to shade spheres to add a little more interest to their drawings.  They we so great at shading the spheres.  I never remember being able to do it this well when I was that old.  Way to go kids!

 

 This is the example I showed them to make sure they understood that each sphere needed to be shaded using the same light source.