What’s a great way to merge science connections into art? Plant life. In the early spring, my second grade students explore the characteristics of plants and flowers and the importance of photosynthesis. Students refine their manipulative skills as they create petals using brightly colored paper to create the petals. To kick it up a notch, students use gel markers to invent patterns onto their petals. I encourage the students to used analogous colors. Students then glue their petals in a radial fashion to the center of another piece of brightly colored construction paper. Next, student use orange or yellow paper to tear or cut and implement basic quilling techniques to curl and create the part of the flower integral for pollination. Students also add leaves by created a football shape and creasing the center. They glue three under the flower. Finally, student quill and curl the ends of the petals to create depth.
Tag Archives: curriculum and instruction
1st Grade Starry Cityscapes
This project is a great way to introduce the principle of design, movement, to First Grade students. The students first observed and explored the art of Vincent van Gogh. A great resource is BrainPOP, Jr. I use it as motivation to engage and introduce van Gogh and his style of art. Next, it’s time to create! They then increased their manipulative skills using tempera paint for the stars combining circles and short, curved lines. The students created shades and tints of blue to build up the sky background. After finishing and letting the painting dry, students used a continuous line that employed vertical, horizontal, and diagonal straight lines to create the silhouette of the city onto a black piece of construction paper and then collage it onto their painting.
Here are some student examples from my fabulous first graders.
Board Objectives in the Art Room.
Board Objectives
When students first walk into the art room, I always have the lesson objectives on the board. Since I have grades K-5 every day, I have all grade level objectives posted. Some of the information is also mirrored on the projection screen as a non-verbal cue as well as an aid for students who may not as easily see the board.
Over the period of a lesson, I have several items that are posted to remind the students (and me!) what we will be covering that day – especially since a project can last several days. Each lesson plan has a title, vocabulary terms, assessment targets/benchmarks, a finished project example, and the content standard associated with the highest level of Bloom’s Taxonomy that will be covered that day.
Bloom’s Taxonomy in Art
Sometimes, students will be expected to create graphic organizers that highlight important information about a specific artist, style of art, or art media.
At our school we employ the Daily 5 as one of many literacy strategies. My students are expected to document their Word Work
Knowledge Rating Chart
onto their Knowledge Rating Charts, which are located on the front of their portfolios. This activity gets them to self-assess and prepare for the new project, as well as ignite any prior knowledge of the project they are about to explore. Occasionally, students will also
Read to Self from the Art text and have a small group discussion. This information is documented on the board as well.
Some more detailing the board objective organization I used in the art room are highlighted here.
Happy art-making!
art room artifacts 
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