2-D Paper Project

In this art project we got to make our own Lorax. We learned about different types of pollution that our Lorax could help protect against. First we sketched out what we wanted our Lorax to look like and what environment we wanted him to be in. We then cut out our designs with construction paper. My Lorax's name is Sid and he is trying to stop air pollution.

For an extension activity you could take the students to the water treatment plant. They would be able to see everything that goes into the water that they get straight from the tap, and shower. They could even see how much trash they have to filter out just in the waters that they live by.

Biome Landscapes

In this project we learned about the different biomes and about fore, middle, and background. We then choose what type of background we would like to paint with watercolors. Before we dove right in we learned about some different techniques for watercolors that we could use on our landscape. I chose to the desert biome. Our landscape had to have fore, middle, and background and we had to use watercolor.

For an extension activity we could assign each biome a color and color the globe according to each biome. This way you can see the patterns in biomes and where they are at around the globe. I think that this would be a very good visualization for students.

Totem Pole Project

In this project we got to make our very own totem poles. We learned about the history of Native American totem poles the meaning they hold, and what the colors represent. We got to pick what animal best represents us. We sketched out what we wanted our animal to look like and then got to pick out the colors that we wanted to represent us. Then we started to cut out our designs and glued them to our construction paper to our liking.

For an extension activity would be to learn more about the history of Native Americans. What was happening before we got here and then what happened when we got here. I think that as educators we don't tell our classes the full truth of what we did when we got here and I think that needs to change based on the correct age of the students.

Clay Hand

In this project we got to make a clay bowl in the shape of our hand. We learned about the history of clay and how it can be used. We got to make two hands one for our own bowls and one for a class bowl. We learned how to score and slipping to add designs to our hand. At the beginning of the lesson we put down three thing that we knew about clay and then at the end we wrote down three things that we learned about clay.

An Extension Activity that we could do is have each student pick a different country and make their hand and decorate it to represent that country and then we can make a big bowl with all these different hand that from all these different cultures from around the world. Showing that we are all linked together.

3D Hot Air Balloon

In this art project we learned how to make a 3D portrayal  of a hot air balloon. To begin we got to choose partners for this project and then we started with painting the back of six paper plates blue, green, red, yellow, purple, and orange. When the backs were dry we got to paint the fronts two different colors. After everything was dry we learned how to fold our plates to how it looks in the picture, and we papercliped  our folded plates to each other till it made a complete circle. We then wrote three things we found interesting during the lesson and that was going to be the basket on our hot air balloon.

For an extension activity we could learn about hot air balloons and how they work. They could then make a brochure selling their hot air balloon tour.

Weaving Art

For this project we learned about the craft of weaving. We got to choose a piece of construction paper which we folded in half and cut into strips from the folded end to the non folded end leaving one inch of space. Then we got to choose two different colors of pre-cut strips that we will weave in our construction paper. The designs on my weaving are to represent me. The moon is because my sister calls me the moon of her life, and the stars are because I call her my sun and my stars.

For an extension activity you could have students write letters on their construction paper and their pieces of paper they are going to weave and when they weave them together they make vocabulary words.

Printmaking

This is my project where we got to experiment with printmaking. We learned about the Japanese printmaker Hokusai and what printmaking is. I had my classmates use gelli plates, stencils, and paint to make their prints. They would use stencils and stamps to create the designs. They had to make a least four different prints and display them on their choice of construction paper.

For an extension activity you could have students make their own stencils that express their personalities and interests. This way you could get to know your class better and still have fun doing printmaking. 

WaterColor Planet

In this project we learned different watercolor techniques to make our own planets. The techniques that we could use were wet-on-wet, splatter, dry brush, salt, crayon resistant, and the gradient technique. We had to use a least three of these different techniques on our own planet. We then got to make our own background for our planet. On the notecard we made some facts about our planet.

For an extension activity for this project we could do the planets in our solar system. They would each get a planet and have to paint that planet and put the facts about that planet on the notecard. We could then hang them up around the class room in order.    

Oil Pastel City

In this art project we made started out with learning about a famous architect who did very unique building designs. We then got to make three of our own building designs templates. Then we would trace our buildings with oil pastels on black construction paper, and to make the buildings seem like they are glowing we would use our fingers and push the oil pastels away from the buildings. We got to use multiple colors for our buildings.

For an extension activity you could have students make a landscape based off a book they have read. This way we can show off different books that they are ready and how they pictured the world of that book.