1st Grade Skeletons (Dia de los Muertos)

El Dia de los Muertos is a tradition that is celebrated in Mexico for over 500 years.  It is celebrated on November 1^st and 2^nd.  This is a time to remember and honor loved ones who have passed away.  It is not supposed to be sad or scary; it’s a time to celebrate life itself.  In Mexico on these two days people create altars that are filled with food, photographs, candles, skulls, flowers, etc. to remember all the great memories from those who have passed away.  Some Mexicans decorate and set up altars at the grave sites as well.  The calavera, or skeleton is an important symbol during Dia del los Muertos.  On these two special days there are many types of toys, food, masks and miniatures made to look like skulls or skeletons.  

4th Grade Haunted Victorian House Sculptures

After students studied Victorian Architecture and landscapes using 2-Dimensions, they then got to experiment with creating a 3-Dimensional house sculpture.  We discussed different parts of Architecture that they could use.  We also talked about recycled art and how you can create a piece of art out of just about anything.  Everything used for their sculpture was from recycle materials (mostly cardboard).  When their sculptures were complete I took them outside and spray painted them all black to create UNITY throughout their art.   Finally students were able to had metallic accents to them.

2nd Grade Jellyfish Sculptures

Whenever there is a music concert I always collaborate with the music teacher at our school and create artwork that goes along with the theme of the concert to hang in the commons for their performance.  The K/1 Concert this year was about underwater songs so all the students created and an art project revolving around the great barrier reef which tied into our Aboriginal Art Unit we just did!  The 2nd graders created these amazing jellyfish sculptures.  We talked about all sort of interesting facts about jellyfish.  Students had to choose two analogous colors for the body for their jelly fish that they formed over a balloon.  Once it was dry we popped the balloon and they were left with the body.  Then they chose colored streamers and ribbon that matched with their jellyfish that I hot glued into the center.  They looked great hanging from the ceiling for the concert!

1st Grade Underwater Art

Whenever there is a music concert I always collaborate with the music teacher at our school and create artwork that goes along with the theme of the concert to hang in the commons for their performance.  The K/1 Concert this year was about underwater songs so all the students created and an art project revolving around the great barrier reef which tied into our Aboriginal Art Unit we just did!  

5th Grade Aboriginal Art

Aboriginal art originated in Australia over 30,000 years ago.  Many of the aborigines traveled long distances and recorded their travels by using symbols.  The symbols they created using only lines and dots in a repeated pattern. Aboriginal art has many of the earth tone colors because they used to make their paint from materials in nature.  UNITY and REPETITION are seen throughout the aboriginal art we looked at because of the repeated dots used to create symbols.  The students were able to create their own piece of aboriginal art using dots and aboriginal symbols and earth tone colors!

4th Grade Aboriginal Portraits

Aboriginal art originated in Australia over 30,000 years ago.  Many of the aborigines traveled long distances and recorded their travels by using symbols.  The symbols they created using only lines and dots in a repeated pattern. Aboriginal art has many of the earth tone colors because they used to make their paint from materials in nature.  UNITY and REPETITION are seen throughout the aboriginal art we looked at because of the repeated dots used to create symbols.  The students were able to create their own piece of aboriginal art using dots. Students discussed what a portrait is and how it doesn't have to look realistic.  We also talked about how different cultures use different face paints for celebrations and ceremonies.  We also discussed symmetry and students had to us lines, dots and color to create symmetry in their portrait. 

3rd Grade Aboriginal Art

 Aboriginal art originated in Australia over 30,000 years ago.  Many of the aborigines traveled long distances and recorded their travels by using symbols.  The symbols they created using only lines and dots in a repeated pattern. Aboriginal art has many of the earth tone colors because they used to make their paint from materials in nature.  UNITY and REPETITION are seen throughout the aboriginal art we looked at because of the repeated dots used to create symbols.  The students were able to create their own piece of aboriginal art using dots and aboriginal symbols and earth tone colors!