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:

Carolyn Braden: Received VSA Award

I wrote a proposal to have a local artist come to school and work with my 3rd graders on an art project. My proposal was approved and I received $1,200.00 to make my idea happen. The artist is Michelle Amos who is a local fiber artist. She is working with the students on a Peruvian Embroidery piece. So far, students have learned a little about Michelle, how to thread a needle and create a running stitch. Students will next draw an animal onto burlap and use stitches learned to fill in the animal with bright colors. Peruvian children create embroidery pieces of things they are familiar with. With this project, I hope for my students to understand that other children in the world create art just like them and build confidence in their new art skills learned. I am also thrilled they get to work with a real working artist. Every week I discuss types of jobs students could get with a degree in art. By working with Michelle, they understand you truly can be a full time artist.

Here is my media news release about the project:

LOCAL SCHOOL RECEIVES AWARD: VSA KENTUCKY ARTS INCLUSION

LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, JANUARY 2013---Schaffner Traditional Elementary will be working with local artist Michelle Amos due to receiving the VSA Kentucky Arts Inclusion award. The school received the award from the non-profit organization which provides opportunities in the arts for children and adults with disabilities.

Under the guidance of Michelle Amos and Carolyn Braden, the Visual Art Instructor at the school, the third grade classes will work on Peruvian Embroidery pieces. This project has been organized in conjunction with the art curriculum, and is an integral part of the school’s efforts to promote the exploration of self-expression in young students.

Pinterest Idea Come To Life: 1st Grade Landscapes

After seeing this oil pastel landscape on Pinterest, I adapted it to fit my students learning needs. The students were able to create geometric or organic mountains. They drew them today and will paint during the next class. They will be making their own tints and shades, mixing primary colors to get secondary colors and creating texture like Vincent Van Gogh.
My 1st graders are such talented students!

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.

Learn about your student's upcoming projects!

This week our Art of the Day slides are dedicated to learning all about William Wegman.  He's a wonderful photographer that is mostly famous for taking photos of his very well trained Weimaraners.  Interested in learning more about William Wegman?  Check out his website at http://www.wegmanworld.com/home.html


How Art of the Day works: 
We discuss a particular artist work at the beginning of every class.  Through this we learn how to talk about art.  I am teaching my students to voice their opinion about various works of art while using art vocabulary.  Next week, we will be learning all about Pop Artist Alex Katz.  Want to learn about Katz before your student?  Check out his website:  http://www.alexkatz.com/


Some of last year's Art of the Day artists:  Andy Warhol, Pablo Picasso, Annie Leibovitz, Claude Monet, Georgia O'Keefe, Chuck Close, Wassily Kandinsky, and Vincent Van Gogh.




Here's what your students are working on now and what's in the works for their next projects:


Classes I currently have are working on the River Sweep Poster Contest.  With this project we are learning about the vocabulary line, shape, color, space, foreground, middleground, background, and media.  We are also learning how to keep our rivers clean through not littering.  Some students works will be selected to represent Byck in the contest.  If chosen as a Grand Prize winner by contest officials, students win a $500.00 U.S. Savings Bond plus state-wide recognition.  There will also be 12 runner-ups selected by contest officials.  The prize for runner-up is a $50.00 U.S. Savings Bond plus state-wide recognition.




Upcoming projects after the River Sweep Posters:


5th:  Graffiti Arts:  A portrait of all about me! 


4th:  2 Sided Self-Portraits 


3rd:  Georgia O'Keefe Flowers


2nd:  Pigasso and Mootisse Portraits


1st:  The Rainbow Fish Portraits.  


K:  I do not currently have a kindergarten class.  However, when I have my first group we will start by working on projects like The Dot (shape project), See If You Can Draw, and Paper Mosaic Shapes, Pink! A Penguin Project.


Thanks for checking out this week's blog!  


Sincerely, 


Carolyn Braden