More rockets.

One of my second grade classes worked on these oversized rocket paintings for their musical the other day.  They had to work in groups and cooperate and communicate in order to complete this task.  These are out of this world:)

Space Travel.

Second grade used foam and ink to make these wonderful space traveling prints.  Each student made their own series of prints that was inspired by their very own space traveling machine they designed.  This was a fun experience for them....messy....but fun:)

Printmaking.

Second graders learned about the process of printmaking and what it means to create a series of prints.  The theme we used was space travel since they are using outer space as the theme for their musical coming up.  Working with music.

Today’s WOW art.

Food and art DO go together:)

Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh.

Kindergarten went through the book Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh.  I like to use this super simple story to teach primary and secondary colors.  The students got the primary color paint puddles and had to prove to me they could mix them to create the secondary colors just like in the story.  This was a great way to make the story come to life!

Today’s WOW art.

I am going to start posting random pieces of artwork throughout the rest of the school year that I think are WOW to me.  These works of art by multiple age levels are created and stand out to me for various reasons....they speak to me:)  I will snap the pic in real time and post it.  Students love this idea. 

Kinder-space.

Kindergarten learned about the use of space and outer space at the same time.  I also threw in a little lesson about what it means to use balance.  I love construction paper crayons!  So fun.....so little clean up:)

Cards.

Fifth graders brought it on this one!  The only requirement I had was that there had to be a cardinal in the painting somewhere.  The students came up with their own composition.  I am lucky because I get to stare at these paintings all day....at least until I have to hand them back:)

More Alma paintings.

Here are some more Alma Thomas inspired paintings for "Black History Month".  It has truly been a great month here at Westside Elementary School.

Alma Thomas Inspiration.

For black history month I taught the students about an artist that I really enjoy named Alma Thomas.  She was an Art Teacher back in the day.  And when she finally retired she became strictly a Painter.  I feel connected to her because I will paint off into the sunset when I retire as well.  We are the same:)

Black History Month.

For Black History Month the students at Westside have been learning about all kinds of people that have made a difference in our world.  In my classes we did several collaboration murals.  The main lesson besides just history is that working together makes us stronger.  Each student had a part they needed to complete in order for the mural to work....every single person was important.  Everyone makes a difference. 

The back yard of Monet.

Most of the students at Westside observed and studied the Japanese Bridge Painting by Claude Monet.  To study it I had them get out the paints and paint their own version in the impressionistic style.  These are wonderful.

Monet lilies.

Kindergarten did these fairly large group murals of Monet's water lilies.  We concentrated on using brushstrokes of paint with out washing our brushes off.  The students created their own colors by color mixing.  This was fun, and of course, messy. 

Monet week.

This week is Claude Monet week in my art room.  All students are learning about Monet and the Impressionism movement he helped begin.  The main point to me is that you can put your feelings into your artwork.  You are you and not someone else.  Monet is my favorite.