3rd Grade
Wired
Drawing with wire is simply a fun project to extend the teaching of drawing. Working with one 20’ long piece of baling wire and a pair of plyers (most bring from home) students are challenged to make a recognizable object. Whether it’s an action person or a flower I have them first draw the object and then using a marker trace over it several times, planning the path they might manipulate the wire without taking the marker off the paper. In addition to planning their moves, students get experience at manipulating a different material.
Texture Trade
Textures define objects by feel. This lesson connects writing to drawing in a fun way. After an introductory slide show students fill out a practice sheet of 20 textures led by Art Coach. We discuss the type of strokes needed for each texture. They are then asked to fill a couple of blank spots with textures of their own. Next, students create a simple drawing on 6x9 paper filling in their shapes with selected textures. Drawing detailed texture takes time so that’s why the paper is smaller. The results are fun. A grassy bowl of ice cream with scoops of brick, metal and twigs!
Pam’s Homes
This 3D drawing project extends a math lesson and creates an opportunity for extended descriptive writing. The classroom teacher has students create simple floor plan for a home where they figure out overall and single room square footage. Through this process they become familiar with space. When those drawing are finished we convert them to a front view, 3D version as they learn how to draw walls, windows, doorways etc. We then introduce texture via the building materials used to complete the home. Brick, wood panels, stone, stucco, glass doors, grass, flower beds, concrete driveways, stone pathways, etc, etc are viewed and practiced before being applied to the drawing. The final work is to fill out the sentence “I live in a __________ house.” The kids are challenge to beat my example of about 17 words “I live in a light tan stucco, blue roofed, 7-room, one story ranch style……….etc. house.” This engages students to find details in their drawing or to add to their drawing to write about. The current record is 42 words. This lesson connects lines to words in a fun and personal way.
Mondrian Math
Fractions are tricky to fathom. This lesson uses the work of Piet Mondrian as a vehicle for understanding fractions while it also introduces kids to certain art concepts the precision painting.
We start with an array of paper pieces that are cut pieces of 9x12 construction paper. Each student get on full-size background paper and then enough other pieces to create 2 full-sized sheets. They choose from bins of pre-cut 9x12 construction paper in a variety of colors cut to ½, ¼, 1/8, and 1/16 sizes. They are asked to arrange ALL of them in a pleasing composition on their paper. They are then asked to REMOVE a number of parts that EQUAL ½, ¼ and other fractions. They cannot change the composition of remaining pieces. We then play with a variety of ADDITIONS or SUBTRACTIONS including – taking one piece AWAY from or ADDING a piece to your neighbors composition. The last change is to REMOVE all pieces that do not add to your piece being a strong composition. The removed and remaining pieces are then counted and compared.
With a sense of the strength of fractions the students are then challenged to create an a la’ Mondrian piece of art. First drawn, traced in black marker and then painted with his classic primary colors. Some classes made classic pieces while others were challenge to make them spider webs, houses, or animals giving us Mondri-web, Monri-home and Mondri-mal.
Personal & Painted Values
The art of Alexandra Nechita is wonderful vehicle for introducing children to writing about what they value. The matching power point I created on this site introduces the young artist in a way that stimulates class conversation. As the work is discussed (visuals and her accompanying writing) her gender and age ARE NOT REVEALED. Kids talk about, list and sketch items they value in MY VALUE BOOK. Once her age and gender are revealed (to lots of awes) we discuss how to put together a painting where our personal values are expressed in color values and abstract figures.
When the painting is finished students also write a la’ Nechita.
