Navaho Rug Paintings in First Grade

 

Now that Dot Day is long past, my first grade artists have been learning about line and pattern. We're using the same materials, oil pastels and pan tempera, but with a new set of learning objectives. I am fortunate that my parents were collectors of Native American art, so I have a treasure trove of resources to use for my autumn lessons. For this lesson on line and pattern, I brought a Navaho rug for the students to study up close.

We observed lines, patterns, and colors and touched the rug to feel it's texture.

The students also learned how the rug was made and
how the fringe was the warp on the loom.

Once everyone had a chance to study the Navaho rug, they returned to their tables to create their own lines and patterns with oil pastel on 90# paper. Pan tempera was used to add more color to the patterns. The final touch was the addition of some very simple fringe, made from precut strips of colored construction paper.

 

 My sample

 



A few students decided to make a double layer of fringe...love that!

 

 

This was a successful introduction to line and pattern. During the coming weeks, the students will be using these same concepts for printmaking and simple weaving.

 

 



It's Not Halloween Without Pumpkins!

My third graders had a blast creating their clay jack-o'-lanterns the past few weeks! I originally saw the idea in either Arts and Activities or School Arts about seven or eight years ago and have been doing variations on the project ever since. I skip the glazes and instead we use tempera and Mod Podge. Quicker and a lot less expensive!

I love the little Mini-Me in this Jack's hand!

Cute little bows on this Jack...or is it Jackie?

Look closely to see the teeth in Dracu-Jack!

Not to be outdone, my sixth, seventh, and eighth grade Muse Club students came up with some creative interpretations of old Jack at our club's Halloween Breakfast Club Meeting during Halloween week. I put out foam pumpkins from JoAnn Fabrics, pieces of foam, colored permanent markers, yarn, glue, and glitter and let the creative juices flow along with the fruit juice and doughnuts!

 

Yes, those are Elvis-style sideburns!

I love it when a student applies something learned in class...
in this case, Zentangles!

Love this artistic interpretation!

Brings to mind Phantom of the Opera for me!

Of course, the kitty cats are always crowd-pleasers!

Look closely for this Jack's face...it's there!

My second, third, and fourth grade students voted for their favorite pumpkins and of course, prizes were awarded.

 



Abstract Jacks...Same idea, Different Grade Levels

Sometimes the best projects are the result of a last-minute unanticipated change in plans. This lesson turned out to be a good example of this for me!

Abstract Jacks is my fourth grade October project. The idea for using jack-o'-lanterns to teach an oil pastel lesson about abstraction was originally submitted to Incredible @rt Department by Stephanie Corder. This year my students drew their jack-o'-lanterns, then they used one of our homemade viewfinders to choose the most interesting composition. After drawing the enlargement on 90# paper, the students chose a 3-color combination from our color wheel review (primary, secondary, warm, or cool colors) and painted their Abstract Jacks with tempera paints.

 

 

About mid-way though the fourth grade project, my eighth graders were getting close to completing a drawing project using one-point perspective. I knew they needed something more relaxing for the next lesson, but still wanted to stay on target with the curriculum. That's when I had that "A-ha!" moment...color theory review, blending colors, altering images...perfectly suited for an up-scaled version of Abstract Jacks!

 

 

 

This is a project that will definitely be done again next year!

 

 

 

 

Up, Up, and Away!

Last Monday, I got to cross off an "I didn't know it was on my bucket list" item...a hot air balloon ride! My school recently was selected as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School award winner and our principal and PTO decided to celebrate in grand style. At first, when I was asked if I would like to be one of the ten staff members to ride, I hesitated due to my stomach-churning fear of heights. In my opinion, the best place for my feet is firmly planted on the ground! But, I said yes, knowing that if I didn't, I would forever regret the lost opportunity. And I am so, so glad I did!

Time to fly!

Prepping for the launch

Bye, kids! See you later!

 

 

Fabulous views from every angle!

Our pilot was also a great tour guide. Not only did we get information about where we were, we also learned a lot about the history of hot air ballooning and the business of operating balloons today.



I-75 to Dayton

Our chase team

We landed near a daycare center...saw some very excited kids!

All good thing must come to an end

Bella Balloons...awesome pilots and crew!

 

Our flight ended with a celebratory toast in our souvenir champagne flute...filled with sparkling peach juice since we had to return to our classes!