Lesson 8: Portfolio and Crepe Paper Line Composition Lesson Plan

Line Crepe Paper Bleeding Composition LESSON TEMPLATE

Subject Concepts		Art Concepts
Content Covered:       Understand careers and how delve into a real-life application of an art career		Content Covered:       Fine motor skills, value, painting control, variation of lines
State Standards & Objectives      (USOE/UEN): Social Studies Objective 1c: Recognize and demonstrate respect for the differences within one's community (e.g. play, associations, activities, friendships)		State Standards & Objectives (USOE/UEN): Integrated Core Objective 2c: Develop manipulative skills (e.g., cut, glue, throw, catch, kick, strike).
Learning Outcomes:     The student will be able to…         Get a glimpse of art take into the future and understand the career of an artist		Learning Outcomes:     The student will be able to… Create a variety of lines and define their main characteristics. These lines will then be used in a colorful composition that represents their art as a whole (portfolio).
Lesson Plan
1.     Display portfolio and discuss art career 2.     Discuss lines and line movement in various pieces 3.     Show varied crepe paper and instruct each child to take a handful 4.     instruct as children create asymmetrical compositions 5.     Let children paint thickly with water to solidify crepe onto paper 6.     When dried, instruct students to take of crepe paper to see their marvelous work!		Materials Needed: ·       Watercolor art construction paper ·       Strips of varying sized crepe paper (enough for a handful for each child) ·       pencils ·       art portfolio to present ·       water cups for each table ·       paintbrushes for each child ·       Lysol wipes for messy clean up

Lesson 8: Artists' Portfolios and Line Crepe Paper Piece

For this lesson, I tried to shoot two birds with one stone. And to be honest.. sometimes this is a great thing, but for first graders, it leaves a lot of room for them to miss the point a bit. If I could do it over again, I would make my emphasis a bit more! However, as the kids got into the activity, they had a lot of fun and I think they learned a lot about value and lines as well!
Basically, Mrs. Olsen and I had talked about how we wanted the kids to get a look at what an artist's portfolio looks like, and to introduce them to their own portfolios as they are young budding artists. I brought in my art portfolio and showed the kids 4 of my original pieces that I have created (mainly from this semester). Each piece was specifically chosen to be shown because it had or was composed of "lines." This led to us defining what a line really is and me giving them a visual quiz of sorts on different pieces and what pats of the composition could be counted as lines. I explained the purpose and wonder of "your very own" portfolio and then showed them the portfolios I have made for each child (thick black construction paper, halved, stapled, and labeled). I love seeing their excitement levels when they receive things! It makes my job even more enjoyable! :)
After our line discussion, I started pulling out pre-cut strips of crepe paper from a box that I had on a  table. They described these strips to me (jagged, short, long, smooth, flowy, etc,.) I then told them that they would use their best "painting skills" and paint a variety of lines to create a solid composition on their own piece of watercolor paper. This paper would eventually be used to decorate the cover of their portfolio! They each grabbed a handful of strips and began arranging them on paper. They then took paintbrushes dipped in water and patted down the strips. Once the strips had dried, the crepe paper left a beautiful bleeding! This led us to talk about value as well.

It really was a lot to cover in 45 minutes, but at the end of the day, I would do it again!

The crepe paper bled more than expected.. which was more to clean up!

I absolutely love how this one turned out!

I love the bleeding of the colors that mixed!

Lesson 7: Symmetrical Self Portraits Lesson Plan

Symmetrical Self Portrait LESSON TEMPLATE

Subject Concepts		Art Concepts
Content Covered:       Defining characteristics in “artistic” text		Content Covered:       Fine motor skills
State Standards & Objectives      (USOE/UEN): Reading Informational Text Standard 1: Ask and answer questions about key details in a text.		State Standards & Objectives (USOE/UEN): Objective 1a: Students will develop a sense of self.
Learning Outcomes:     The student will be able to…         Observe the similarities and differences amongst facial comparison and composition.		Learning Outcomes:     The student will be able to… Define physical characteristics on themselves and understand the “mirroring” effect and symmetry used in art to create realistic facial proportions.
Lesson Plan
1.     Gather children at desks to marvel over their super cool “chopped in half” faces! 2.     Identify key parts of the face and composition 3.     Display example on overhead of symmetry and practice “folding our papers with our eyes” 4.     Instruct kids in figuring outline of face and let them begin mapping their faces with crayons 5.     Discuss use of symmetry and answer questions about key elements as you walk around classroom		Materials Needed: ·       Art construction paper ·       8 by 11 inch pictures of each child’s portrait, sliced in half ·       pencils and crayons for each child ·       laminator ·       over head for display

Lesson 7: Symmetrical Self Portraits

I thought the kids would be excited when I gave them a sneak peek of our symmetry project last week when I visited.. but I had no idea absolutely HOW excited they would be until I came Tuesday to a group of bubbly kids who could hardly contain the fact that they were "cut their faces in half," and bring it home to show their parents. Oh man, I love these kids.
I had taken a picture of each child the week before after our symmetry paintings. I got their head shots printed in color at Cougar Creations and cut each face in half and pasted them onto 8"11" paper. To save time, I wrote out their names underneath the portrait. I began the class by showing them portraits of both Vincent Van Gogh (done by himself) and Frida Kahlo (same). We discussed symmetry, reflections, and how to mirror when we draw or compose. And then..
I let the kids go LOOSE! Well, not completely. We drew out our face shapes with crayon and then I let them take it away! It was awesome to see so many kids raising hands to ask about methods for mirroring the nose or alligning the eye. I loved this assignment because it really got the kids thinking and they were so proud of the work they accomplished! I had been having a few students who would go too crazy or goofy with my art assignments. But for this one, I can't think of one kid who didn't put honest effort and concentration in perfecting his/her own self portrait! I would recommend this project for first graders one hundred times over! The fact that it was of themselves definitely gave it a personal connection!

 Blake did an amazing job!

 I love that first graders love to proudly show their work!

Sweet Kate and her self portrait

Lesson 6: Symmetrical Design Paintings

This lesson was so much fun! I began by showing a small powerpoint with examples of symmetry. The children made very acute descriptions about the "reflections" and symmetry f the pieces. After this short introduction,  I continued instructing the kids with multiple ideas about various shapes and designs. I then gave them a large allowance for creativity and instructed them to paint one side of their folded paper with various design (emphasizing thickness of paint and its effects). My Mentor Elicia Gray was there to help and observe and gave me the idea, mid-teaching, to make one design then fold/imprint to the other side quickly so it wouldn't dry. The activity was a lot of fun and was  a great prep for our next lesson this Tuesday! It was so nice to have the advice from Elicia and to see the kids proudly show their work!

Lesson 6: Symmetry Examples for Clearer Teaching

Here are some examples in the powerpoint I am using to get the first graders to understand the relevance of symmetry and it's value in everyday life.

This last example will be an awesome segway into their next project! I will be taking pictures on Tuesday for our lesson on Thursday!

Lesson Plan 6: Symmetry with Paint

Symmetry Lesson Plan (Painting with Reflections)

Subject Concepts		Art Concepts
Content Covered:       Use of balance, straight, zig-zag, and differentiating lines		Content Covered:       Fine motor skills, color effects, use of imaginative thinking, use of pressure and composition
State Standards & Objectives      (USOE/UEN): a.      Standard 1 Communicating science Objective 2c: Connecting ideas with reasons (evidence).  b.     Standard 3 Objective 1a: Describe, classify, and communicate observations about the motion of objects, e.g., straight, zigzag, circular, curved, back‐and‐forth, and fast or slow		State Standards & Objectives (USOE/UEN): Integrated Core Objective 2c: Develop manipulative skills (e.g., cut, glue, throw, catch, kick, strike).
Learning Outcomes:     The student will be able to…        Identify varying shapes and lines and their effect on art as a whole. They will also be able to identify differences between varying pressures with hand movement in creating art.		Learning Outcomes:     The student will be able to… Develop their fine motor skills and be able to identify symmetry and symmetrical balance through an artistic exercise that emphasizes composition and hand movement.
Lesson Plan
1.     Set out cups of water and trays of paint at each table before class. 2.     Get symmetrical powerpoint working to display images on common symmetry the kids are probably already familiar with. 3.     Go over powerpoint and explain symmetry, reflections, mirroring, etc,. 4.     Have each child fold paper in half. 5.     Display on overhead and example of you creating a composition using the paint dots. 6.     Instruct children on importance of thickness of dots, lines, squigglys, etc,. 7.     Have the kids drop shapes and dots. 8.     Demonstrate folding over paper and “smashing” so that the paint is transferred easily. 9.     Display work to dry and clean up. 10.  Take pictures of kid’s faces and explain next art project coming up!		Materials Needed: ·       Art construction paper ·       over head for display ·       pencils for each child ·       Paint in various colors at each tables ·       Paint brushes for each child ·       Water cups