Carolyn Braden's 1st Grade: Completed African Masks

Here are some of my 1st graders completed Magical African Masks. They wrote a little story about their masks after gluing their mask to a "picture frame" they created. Very impressive 1st graders!

Carolyn Braden's 4th Grade: Native American Myth Shields

My 4th graders wrote their own myths after hearing some Native American myth examples. On their shield, they drew the main subject of their myth. They are painting their shields and will later add feathers.

Carolyn Braden's 2nd Grade: Pop Art Fruit Bowl Still Life

My 2nd graders are creating still life paintings. They chose to draw either a geometric abstract still life or a organic realistic still life. They outlined with crayon, making a thick, waxy resist line. They are painting using various watercolor techniques. Some got very creative and added hands reaching for the fruit and creating "tie dyed" backgrounds. They will be writing stories after they create their paintings. See my example below.

Carolyn Braden's Third Graders: African Landscape Silhouettes

Here are my 3rd graders African Landscapes. We tissue paper painted the background to be sunsets, then painted on the horizon lines, hills, animals and trees in shadow. They are turning out beautifully!

Carolyn Braden's 5th Grade Art: The History of the Horse in Art

These works of art are being created to be possible entries in several
local contests. Since you can't just say, "Okay kids, lets make art just for this contest!" you have to get creative. I created a PowerPoint to show the history of folk art and how the horse has been the subject matter in art works for many years. We looked at some Appalachian horse art and related it to some modern horse art by pop artist, Peter Max. No matter which art works are chosen to be contest entries, all the students are creating wonderfully creative art!

Carolyn Braden's 1st Grade Art: African Masks

Here are my 1st graders works of art in progress: Mixed Media African Symmetrical Masks. After drawing half of a mask in oil pastel, we said our magic spell and rubbed it with the handles of scissors. We made a ghost print by rubbing it and then outlined it to make it darker. We are using color sticks and oil pastel to fill in the shapes and backgrounds. The students learn all about African art prior to this project via a Powerpont presentation and after the project, they write a short story to read during show and tell. There's a lot to this project but it is worth it because you can squeeze a lot of art content into it. It also produces some amazing art!
The original idea came from an art teacher in Paducah, KY but the spell, pre-assessment and story are my own. Here's my spell. The teacher says it and the students repeat.
Hokey Pokey,
Smokey Wokey
Boo! (Repeat)
Oh African mask spirits
lend me your ears.
Make my mask
the best mask
you've seen in years!