Form, Fish and Inspiring Mistakes in Kindergarten

This outcome of this project was inspired by running
out of white paper and forgetting to use stickers!

Did you know I take my kindergarten students through the elements of art?  It's really the only place you'll ever see me focus on them in my curriculum.  I just like that I can teach so many procedures and materials by playing and experimenting with the elements and recognizing them in other artworks.  My first through fifth grade curriculum is all big idea based.  It works well having this materials/elements/play foundation and in first grade we are ready to roll with storytelling, heroes, nature, celebration, and all the other big ideas we explore.  At the end of the day though, how do you save an art program based on line and shape and color?  You don't, which is why we create meaning and the elements become what use to create that meaning. 

So when it came time to talk about form we make cubes and cylinders and even try a pyramid all made out of play-dough. Students then make a pinch pot and are introduced to the ceramic process. While the pinch pots are drying I wanted students to see how forms are used in drawings and paintings.  (I'm already thinking I need to add a 3D pen to this lesson and draw!  Have you seen them?  I want one! I'm hoping they'll be at NAEA 2015 convention!)

Copied and in my binder! 

My first year teaching kindergarten was TOUGH.  I came from a high school and middle school background so I was really lost.  School Arts was my paper blog and it was perfect timing that Darcy M. Swope came out with Matisse + a Math Connection in the February edition, exactly when we’re learning about forms. Inspired by the idea, I’ve been having kindergarten recreate Matisse's Goldfish ever since and this year the lesson evolved from some art teacher mistakes! 

First mistake: I ran out of white paper! Seriously!  I’ve been going into reserves and those dusty packs in the back of the closet.  (It's actually been a very decluttering experience!) I had this gray card stock paper donated and after looking at Matisse’s Goldfish painting I realized the gray actually works well as a background color.  It was a happy mistake I ran out of white because the paints (Crayola Florescent Premier) dried beautifully over the dark paper.  I also had these fish eye stickers that I’ve got for Gyotaku printing, and then forgot to use! Another mistake…but a happy one because it made the kindergarten fish come alive and have these cute personalities, just like my kindergartners who I now love teaching!

I love how some students painted the reflection they saw in Matisse's painting! 

I printed the cylinder on the paper ahead of time.  I just used Publisher to create it. 

The fish eyes stickers really brought personalities to all the fish!
I think I have to buy them now every year for this project!

Displayed with Matisse's Goldfish

From Lines to Laughs: Kindergarten Bed Head

The Original Lesson

One of the first lessons in kindergarten is learning about horizontal and vertical lines. We use our hands and do the "horizontal hulu" which I stole from Janine Campbell's session at NAEA.  (Thanks Janine, the kids love it!). This lesson also teaches kids how to use brushes without paint. We use starch and tissue paper, so it's a great intro the the materials and how to put wet brushes away, before they are covered with paint!  Procedure, procedure, procedure makes everything easier! I've been doing this lesson for three years, and the finished product was beautiful.  Besides lines and pretty, that's all we got from it.  This lesson, "Tuck Me In" by Sheryl Depp in School Arts magazine, inspired me to use these pretty horizontal and vertical lines as quilts.  

 

The inspiration that gave a project new meaning.

Last year, the kids made themselves tucked into bed, and just glued in crazy hair. Straight lines going in different directions. After I hung them in the hallway with a sign that read 'Kindergarten Bedhead', a second grade teacher gave me a book called Bedhead.  I love this collaboration because the grade level teachers are the experts on children's books!  I added the book this year and the kids loved listening to it. They laughed so much! When it was time to make their own bed head, we used zig-zag and curvy lines to make it. Students wrapped paper around crayons for curvy and folded paper back and forth to make zig-zag lines that turned into their crazy bed head.

Mrs. W gave me her book from Scholastic 

This lesson has evolved over the years from just tissue paper lines to a project with a narrative and a laugh.  The inspiration from the School Arts lesson that turned my horizontal and vertical project into a quilt quickly snowballed into a new and more meaningful lesson where the kids get to create a story and learn about materials, lines, and procedures all at the same time!   

How to Use Kindergarten Scribbles

The INSPIRATION

See more on artsonia!

The inspiration for this kindergarten project was pinned three years ago as you can see.  I followed the example for using masking tape....and it took FOREVER!  And it took FOREVER to take all the masking tape off.  After lots of tears almost tears and a massive ball of masking tape, I decided there had to be an easier way and I'm happy to report, there is!  I (or an awesome volunteer!) uses the Ellis machine to punch out all the letters!  I love asking the kids which letter they get.  They proudly announce their first initial!  During the demo we talk about blending and overlapping and trying to use all 24 crayons.   I just love kindergarten brains.  The response to having 24 colors to use was, "Holy Chicken!"  Don't you just love them!