Crazy Sock Patterns

Crazy Sock Patterns

4th Grade

The idea for this art lesson came from Pinterest. Introduces/reviews the idea of lines (and pattern).

Step 1.  Pass out a worksheet to introduce/review different types of lines. Straight, curved, wavy, zig-zag, bumpy, horizontal, vertical, spiral/swirled, etc. I have the students first work on it individually for a couple of minutes, and then we go over it as a class (small groups would work if you were able to easily facilitate and rotate around the room making sure each group was on the right track). This time would also be good to review pattern (repeating order of an element).

Step 2.  Google "How to draw a shoe?" video and pick the one that will suit your students best.  -or- You could hand out a step-by-step sheet.  I like the video because it quickly shows steps before the students actually start on the project.

Step 3.  Hand out paper (I used a 9" x 12" paper) and pencils.

Step 4.  On the board, illustrate each step of the process, giving the students time to complete each step before moving on.

Step 5.  Using the various types of lines, create a fun, original sock pattern in pencil.

Step 6.  Color in project with markers.

Step 7.  Cut out shoe and sock.

Step 8.  Paste on colored sheet of construction paper.

Step 9.  Cut out around the sock and shoe giving it a bit of a colored border around the whole thing.

Email me/comment below for a full lesson plan (including standards, list of supplies, assessment, etc.).

Dhurrie Rug

Dhurrie Rug

Kindergarten

This is another one of the line project I did with my kindergarten kids.  I had a powerpoint about the background/history of dhurrie rugs.  Now, this last year, the project didn't go that well for me. The kids were more excited about cutting the colored paper into pieces and shapes instead of lines to paste onto their black piece of paper.  However,  I think as long as I scissors with fun blades I'll be okay.  I also need to find a better way to do the yearn tassels without me having to make all of them.  I might even move this lesson up to a different grade.

Step 1.  Cut black sheets of construction paper to 9" x 6".

Step 2.  Have various colors of construction paper to cut up with scissors that have different designed blades.

Step 3.  Paste the colored stripes of cut paper to the black sheet.

Step 4.  Paper punch each of the short ends 4 times.

Step 5.  Attach strings of yearn as tassels.

Email me/comment below for a full lesson plan (including standards, list of supplies, assessment, etc.).

Line Lions

Line Lions

Kindergarten

I started out my year with the concept of line.  This was one of the kindergarten line projects I did.  We first brainstormed and thought of different lines we knew.  Next, I had the students practice drawing them on the tables with dry eraser markers (works out great by the way).  Finally it was time to paint.  I added one color of paint at a time for the students to use.  I find this easier because I do not have students using red to paint the face.

Step 1.  With a paintbrush and yellow paint, draw a big circle in the middle of your paper.  Paint in the entire circle.

Step 2.  Paint 5-6 different types of lines around the head using yellow paint.

Step 3.  Paint 5-6 different types of lines around the head using red paint.

Step 4.  Paint 5-6 different types of lines around the head using orange paint.

Step 5.  Allow for dry time.

Step 6.  When dry, draw a triangle for the nose.

Step 7.  Draw 1 line on each side of the triangle going up.

Step 8.  Draw 2 circles just underneath the nose (this is the mouth).

Step 9.  Draw 2 circles above the nose and mouth for the eyes.

Step 10.  Add eyebrows and the like if desired.

Email me/comment below for a full lesson plan (including standards, list of supplies, assessment, etc.).

Leaf Movement

Leaf Movement

3rd Grade

I did this lesson after I had already taught my students about lines, shapes, and color. Before I had them stay drawing, we talked about movement.  I would walk around the room and ask students if they thought I was movement.  "How do you know I'm moving?" I would ask.  I would stand as still as I could.  "Am I moving now?"  "How do you know?" Next,  the students were asked to show movement of the leaf by creating lines in their paper.  For this lesson,  I brought in fallen leaves for students to look at well their were working.  This lesson was also a good review on not only line but color.  They had to color their leaves with the warm colors and was cool colors on the lines.  One more thing I think about this lesson would be using watercolor and crayons together.  I like how the students discover how the two materials react to one another.

Step 1.  With pencil, draw a leaf in one of the corners of the paper.

Step 2.  Draw the lines to show the movement of how the leaf was to have traveled throughout the paper.

Step 3.  With crayons, color in the leaf with warm colors.

Step 4.  Still with crayons, color the lines with cool colors.

Step 5.  Paint background with watercolor.

Email me/comment below for a full lesson plan (including standards, list of supplies, assessment, etc.).

Plant Outlines

Plant Outlines

3rd Grade

Randomly thought of this one when I had to think of another project for lines.  Some of the students seemed to struggle with painting inside the different lines.  (I like rainbow patterns if you haven't noticed already).  I had students brainstorm different types of plants as I wrote them down on the board.  Yes, it may take more time at the beginning of class, but it helps give students different options if they can't think of anything or the plant they were thinking of drawing doesn't work out.

Step 1.  Pick a plant and draw it.

Step 2.  Outline the plant until the entire page is full. 

Step 3.  Color in plant with oil pastels.

Step 4.  Color in each of the lines around it.

Email me/comment below for a full lesson plan (including standards, list of supplies, assessment, etc.).

Crazy Hair Portraits

Crazy Hair Portraits

3rd Grade

Another idea I found on Pinterest.  I made this during student teaching.  Not going to lie.  I really enjoyed this project.  I feel like the kids do, too.  They only time they seem to complain too much is when I tell them that besides the eyes I should see absolutely no white on their paper.

Step 1.  Draw oval for head at the bottom half of paper.

Step 2.  Draw eyes in the middle of the head.  

Step 3.  Draw nose half way between the eyes and chin.

Step 4.  Draw mouth half way between the nose and chin.  

Step 5.  Draw different types of lines and shapes to cover the rest of the paper.

Step 6.  Color with marker.

Email me/comment below for a full lesson plan (including standards, list of supplies, assessment, etc.).

Kandinsky Weaving

Kandinsky Weaving

1st Grade

I found this on another art teacher blog. This was a great lesson for the beginning of the year.  Since I started the year off with lines, Kandinsky works gave me great examples to share with my kiddos.  We went through a powerpoint I put together and talked about the different lines and colors he used.  His works also gave the students a great chance to look at abstract and decide their own meanings.

Step 1.  Discuss the different types of lines (zig-zag, curved, etc.)

Step 2.  Draw the different lines on the paper in ALL different directions.

Step 3.  Grab some different pieces from around the room that have a lot of texture.

Step 4.  Put the textured piece under the paper and grab some crayons.  

Step 5.  Crayon Rubbings!  Use the side of the crayon to rub across the paper to get the textured pattern from the underneath.

Step 6.  Watercolor time.  Fill the whole paper with different colors of watercolor. (Be sure not to a. have the kids mix it too much because then it will all turn brown and b. let the kids get the paper too wet or it will start ripping.

Step 7.  Allow dry time.  

Step 8.  Fold the paper in half hamburger style.

Step 9.  Cut 5 slits on the folded side of the paper (NOT the side with the edges... that will NOT work weaving).

Step 10.  Grab strips of colored paper. Weave them in and out of the slots. Alternate starting over or under the paper.

Step 11.  Glue on a sheet of black paper for a border.

Step 12.  With a white colored-pencil, draw different types of lines along the borders.

Email me/comment below for a full lesson plan (including standards, list of supplies, assessment, etc.).