Carolyn Braden's 4th Grade: Shoe Design

We often discuss art related careers during class. I want students to have a purpose for creating art. Students learned how shoes are designed by shoe designers and if they love shoes, they could grow up to do just that. Students love their shoes, so we painted them. Some designed their own and some used their shoes as inspiration. 

Carolyn Braden: 3rd Grade Embroidery

After studying Peruvian art and viewing their beautiful embroidery, my 3rd grade created their own inspired pieces. These shown are works in progress.

This is a finished piece being critiqued. 

Carolyn Braden's 5th Grade: Quilling

Students completed this quilling project a little while ago. They got super creative with it! After creating the art, we did a gallery walk and my 2 Stars and a Wish critique. 

2 Stars and a Wish: Art Gallery Walk for Elementary Students

I am starting 2 Stars and a Wish Gallery Walk critiques with my elementary students. We've done formal, all class critiques before but I thought they may like a chance to move about our classroom "gallery" like people do in real galleries. I created slides with art vocabulary to post during the walk with directions to help guide them. This will also help them with spelling.

I will have students walk the room for a few minutes and then stop at one work of art. (One student per art piece so everyone gets feedback). They will then get my 2 Stars and a Wish paper (I made them small enough to save on paper but large enough to write sentences) and critique the art they are standing in front of. If they don't have a wish for improvement, they don't have to provide one.

Elementary students love showing off their art to their peers so this is a quick way to do critiques when you don't have time for presentations. I plan to do this with grades K-5, with plenty of guidance for K and 1st grade. 

See my example below:

2nd Grade: When Pigasso Met Mootisse Watercolor Portraits

I've taught this lesson for several years but changed it up a bit this year. Students used watercolors instead of crayons. I also differentiated the lesson by encouraging my "out of the box" thinkers to combine both characters to make a new abstract portrait. I did a guided drawing using my computer and projector and the students met every learning target. The students that combined both characters followed my drawing to an extent but had to figure out how to combine them on their own.

Square 1 Art Fundraiser: 5th Grade Haring Figures

After learning about Haring and seeing his art, my 5th graders were hooked. I think sharing himself would have been impressed with my students. 

They had to show movement using Harings "motion lines." Each student will tell a short story about their works upon completion. 

Square 1 Art Fundraiser: 4th Grade "Picasotec" Suns

Inspired by a project I saw on Pinterest, I introduced the Aztec Sun Stone and compared it to some Picasso portraits. Fourth grade students viewed a PowerPoint I created and set to work. They learned about contrast, shades, tints, geometric and organic shapes and more. This student showed her creativity by using gradiated color. 

Kinder Square 1 Art: Rainbow Fish Sketches

My Kinders show great talent in this Rainbow Fish inspired project. And these are just their sketches! I gave them a tracer for the body and they followed a guided drawing (I drew and they copied me via Microsoft Paint and a document camera) for the rest. Each is a little different and very well done.