shape – art room artifacts

Since we meet for just a handful of times during the year, I like to make sure each lesson is jam-packed with different techniques and media. One of my favorite lessons to teach to Kindergarten is on robots. We discuss robots and their purposes and function in society. This project is great for exploring collage, texture, printmaking, and splatter painting.

When creating their robots, students first use metallic paint to imitate the texture of metal. They organize and lay out their pieces to form their robot. On the second day, students assemble and glue their robot to a brightly colored pieced of construction paper. Then they add more texture, using splattered paint. Then, they use small pieces of cardboard, wood, and marker lids to add details like they eyes, buttons, mouth, and other details.

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.