Bug Prints

On the continue quest to integrate classroom content. The last project I did with  my 2nd was about bugs! Now because bugs come in multiples a lot, went with printmaking!

Now part of this has changed from year to year to make it easier. It will change again next year. But what I do is show them some pictures of bugs/insects and have them tell me what they notice about the body. The goal being them notice the symmetry of the bugs body. So what I have them do is take their foam piece and trace it onto their paper. Then fold the paper in half and draw along the fold with only half the body. Then trace it with sharpie and let it bleed through. This year I introduced tracing paper and doing it that way. But once traced I have them draw it one more time onto the foam with the foam underneath and pushing it through the paper. 

Next the fun part. PRINTING! We do proofing first to make sure it looks good and they made their lines deep enough. Plus this gives them practice of how to use the bayers and ink. Problem this year was my 2nd was kind of a full class so bayers got mixed up and such. 

Once practiced and proof, we do color and I demonstrate to them that they can double print or triple print if they would like to. 

I like doing this project for many reasons. One being my joy of printmaking and it really is the only time I did it this year. Darn time. But I will be changing the method of how to get their design onto the plate and design it in general. 

Recycled Kindness Monsters

"We are doing research into recycling, is there anything you would want to do with them for that in art class?"

Yep, that is how the recycled kindness monsters started. I wanted to start by having it be 3D to prepare my 2nd graders for next years as 3rd graders. 

So to start, had students bring in a box. Not a super big box but not super tiny. Then using small snack bags filled with kitty litter. (my go to for weighing anything down) Students had to figure out how many they might of needed to keep their box from falling over. Then we gessoed! I had them gesso so painting over those bright colors of some boxes would be easier. 

For painting, I let them go at it with whatever colors they wanted. This gave them an opportunity to experience getting their own paint and taking responsibility for my paint bottles themselves. Plus getting to mix paints however they wanted. 

Now at this point I introduced the book I used "My Friend the Monster" a little book about a family that moves into a house and the son finds a monster. The monster is kind and just wants to be friends. I used this to base the "what are we doing with these??" question.

Last the fun part. I have been saving supplies for them to build their monsters with for awhile. We used yarn, fabric, and paper scraps along with cardboard tubes and spools. My one design requirement for these monsters was the mouth. It had to be saying something kind that they would want to hear every day. A motivational saying to get them going. Some really got it and had great ideas. A few, not so much. 

Note: to get the tubes and spools to stick I did have to get out the hot glue gun. I manned it and gave students a limit of visits. 

I would like to do this project again but might put more parameters on the size of the box and requirement of the mouth. See if I can get the classroom teacher to come up with some good phrases. Otherwise I feel successful in this integration and sort of diving into maker space. 

Ringgold Community Collage

A big focus for my 2nd graders is community. They study it all year round and I used this to inspire me to do a community project. And who better to base that project on then Faith Ringgold?

So started by reading them Tar Beach. One of her books about where she lived and what was around her community. (can you feel the connections?) Next we looked at starting our background because we learned that Ringgold starts with doing her background first. 

So I took this as a way to talk about science and how the moon reflects light in the night sky. We had a great discussion about why this happens and what colors we see in the night sky. To recreate this appearance. We explored tint and tone in a sky painting of the full moon. The students had a lot of fun seeing the transition of colors with just a little black. 

Another part we did was we planned what to include in our community. They got out their sketchbooks and drew and discussed. But part of this day was also creating our own scratch art paper to use for the boarder later on. We used oil pastel on heavy paper then covered with black acrylic  paint. (I normally use tempera with my students and a few actually noticed this paint was different.)

They had a hoot with it when I told them "just cover that paper with oil pastel. Does not matter color or design, just COVER!"

So the fun part that I am changing for next year. The community part collage part. I don't know if I over reached or the students didn't quiet get it but my goal was to have them create 8 buildings with overlapping with scrap paper. Now, the mistake falls in the overlapping of the buildings and number. I would say about 50% of them got the overlapping while others had buildings flying in the sky. So learned to either go over more or less buildings and just do a front simple few. 

BUT the collage board part was fun. We used wall paper, fabric and then those pieces of scratch art paper to create the border. I think for next year I will just make smaller pieces of the wall paper and fabric because a few fell off. Also good glue is really important here. 

Overall I feel this was still a successful project that I learned from to improve on next year. Their classroom teacher loved it so that is good for me. 

Gargoyles

                                          

One of my favorite 2nd grade projects is gargoyles that I do every year. The students have fun looking at talking about gargoyles and get to use clay to actually build something.
                                                                            

I start by having the students look at pictures of gargoyles and guess from what they look at like what they do. Then I show them a quick video from youtube (couldn't find many good ones so I switch every year)

Once fired, we paint! I just use just watercolor paints because it allows for the students to really play with color. And then I have them use pipe cleaners and beads for the arms/legs, if they made the holes. If not, then no arms and legs. Love these little guys. 

Weather Booklets

For the past three years, myself and the 2nd grade have collaborated on a project about weather. I personally love collaborating with my classroom teachers and joining forces to help the students learn. And with the weather it is a great chance to discuss landscape and how to create them with details.

In the past I have done a pop-up card and an abstract work of art. Both, I feel were not the best to display the students learning. THIS YEAR THOUGH. Oh snap.

 I luckily enough had these dense cardboard pieces saved for me over the summer. With the help of prep time, an electric three-hole punch, and just having enough time in class. My students created these awesome little stand up booklets (I choose booklets because it is one page).

Like many projects I do, we sketch! I discussed the horizon line and size changes with them but also what details might help tell the viewer what weather it is. This is one part I wish we had more time on but I wanted to get it done quick. Why? You'll find out.  

        

After just a class of sketching, we created the final cover and a facts writing sheet. The writing, I even demonstrate in my example video, that spelling is not important to me BUT important to their classroom teacher. I mainly cared about the cover. Due to the size of the booklets, the cover paper had to be a bit smaller. 

Next class was putting it all together. This is where the electric hole punch came in. I have about 60 students between my two 2nd grade groups, each needed two. THEN hole punching those writing sheets. I made a set of 5 holes and told them to make a sandwich of their board, facts sheet, and board. Luckily a good number of my students know how to tie knots. I told them to triple tie each one and then glue on their cover. 

End result, a little booklet that stands on its own. 

AND they needed to be done quickly because there is an event at my school called Grand

friends day before Thanksgiving. So we wanted to have the kiddos share them with their grand friends.

Split Emotion Self-portrait

2nd grade finished their self-portraits and overall great work. 

                 

To start this project, I read my students the book. The Way I Feel. I ask them questions about what they think each emotion is based on the colors, the appearance of the person and colors used. I mainly point out 5 emotions; happy, sad, angry, silly, and scared. Common emotions I think we all can relate too. I also have them explain what shapes they feel work best for parts of the body and for the face before they start drawing.

I have them sketch out all these emotions with background and features of the face that show that emotion. REALLY point out that they can not just write "happy" on there. Have to see it to believe it, not read it. 

Once sketched, we create the final. Now this is were it can get tricky. I have them do two in one. I first have them fold the paper hot dog style( long side to long side) next they unfold the paper and draw the basic parts of them. Head shape, shoulders, and nose. The rest they add depending on the emotion. I tell them their goal is to have the viewer know the emotion on each side just by looking. 

I really push for craftsmanship understanding at this stage too. 

Finished product. 

O'Keeffe Warm/Cool Flowers

One of the benchmarks my district has is students must demonstrate control over their brushstrokes. To do this, I created a project based off of Georgia O'Keeffe. (An artist I will be honestly, I dislike but is from Wisconsin so feel I should mention her once.)
                                                              

I start by reading this book to them. We talk about her life and how she was always different and was passionate about her artwork. 

Next we look at her artwork. I simple ask them "what do you see?" and students point out colors and shapes and I ask about the pellets and do they go all the way off or stop? 

This leads to the first set which is creating the flower part. I have students draw a large circle in a corner then draw the pellets going off the page. REALLY pushing them to be big and go off the page. Using their WHOLE arm to make the line. Once drawn, I have students use black glue I made (white glue with black ink) to trace the lines. This helps protect the lines during painting and lets them develop that fine motor control with squeezing the bottle.  (sorry no picture)

NEXT we paint! Now this is were I challenge them. I tell them they get to choose one of two color groups. Warm OR cool. We discuss what each is and why they are called this. And I challenge them further by telling them that O'Keeffe got great details but controlling the way she painted. She painted with the pellet, not against. 

End results! I like doing this project near the beginning of the year. To add some color into the halls right away.