Break out the sketchbooks!

My team teacher and I decided to have the students use sketchbooks this year and we are really excited about them. We ordered basic two pocket paper folders with tabs (1 for each 7th and 8th grader) because we felt this was a good option. Using folders is inexpensive and flexible--we were able to use the stacks of newsprint, copy paper, lined paper and graph paper that were in the room already and the folders also have a place for handouts to be three-hole punched and inserted.

We started the first day having students hand letter their names and draw at least three things into the design that told us something about them. I showed them illuminated manuscripts and graffiti for inspiration. I had them use 4x6 index cards and ink and colored pencil. They worked on these for a couple of days and then affixed them to their sketchbooks with glue stick.

We also gave them handouts to keep in their sketchbooks. So far, they have the copy of the art contract we have the students bring home for the parents to sign as well as the "What Will I Learn in 7th (or 8th) Grade?" handout inspired by the Art of Education. See their version here.

We also wanted to have them jump right into drawing in these sketchbooks, so I thought this would be a great time to do Danny Gregory's AWESOME sketchbook activity I learned about during the Art of Education's Summer 2016 Online Conference. Basically, students grab a Sharpie (I know! How permanent!!) and move about the room drawing different things for two minutes a drawing. It was awesome and a very good way to get them to loosen up! Here are some of their pages from the day:

Students were asked to star their most successful piece and explain
in the margin why they thought it was the best.

This was a great activity to break in the sketchbooks. This week students are working on a graphic design piece, so they are adding notes to their sketchbooks, but more sketchbook activities will be coming soon! ENJOY!

Multi-Grade 1-Day Goodbye Project

I just finished 6 1/2 weeks as a long-term substitute art teacher at Fairgrounds Elementary School in Nashua, NH. I had a blast sharing my own art with the children (printmaking, collage, and graphic design and illustration) and creating some winter/spring- and artist-inpired projects that related to the type of art I create. It was a whirlwind, but hopefully I will be able to post more about all of those fun projects soon!

I wanted to share this wonderful goodbye project I did with my kiddos on the last day. I had multiple classes who were done their work and had one class left with me. This project was a nice one since it allowed me to prep once for 5 classes or so and all the students from Kindergarten through grade 5 were able to contribute to it. For the youngins, I read the book "The Dot" by Peter Reynolds afterwards and told them that today (and for the last 6 weeks) they've made their mark all over Fairgrounds (I'm big into collaborative art which is evident in the bulletin board displays I left up all over the school) and in my life as an art teacher.

This project idea came from Jennifer Boral over at The Art of Education (check it out over at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXkqpmGZe88). Loved it and knew I had to try it. While I would have LOVED to do this project with all 500+ students, it just wasn't going to happen due to time constraints, etc. The finished piece is quirky and colorful and adds a bright pop of color as students go to music class and outside to recess.

ENJOY!

Looking for a last-minute project for antsy students? Masking Tape Graffiti!

Not that this post comes at the proper time of the year up here in New Hampshire, but Pin It for later...

Ahhhh, the last day of the semester. Art projects done, self-assessments done, art room clean (ha!), and antsy 7th graders with nothing to do. Uh-oh! Not on my watch! I did this project last year with the 7th grade students on the last day of art class (and almost the last day of school, so they were on summer vacation in their minds already!). I saw this fabulous post by Ian Sands at the Art of Ed entitled Five (Almost Legal) Street Art Projects and knew it was just the thing for my students!

How clever was this to use the manhole covers as eyes?!

So, I grabbed a roll of masking tape per student, some scrap paper and pencils for planning, and some print-outs of masking tape murals from the Interweb and led them outside for some sunshine and art!

Students could work alone or in teams and they had one 50 minute art class to create their masterpieces. Here's some of what they come up with:

How do you know when your abstract composition is done?
When someone writes "DONE" next to it!

Get it?! The Wall! Seriously, middle school students are awesome!

I had one of the guidance counselors come by and "judge" the compositions and first and second place winners had bragging rights and received a $5 gift card to the nearby convenience store/art school hangout. Murals stayed up for the rest of the day and were taken down after school, sadly, by me (I say "sadly" because I wished they could have stayed up longer!).

This project is a great one--try it out!