Hello blogging world art teacher friends!!! For some of you, the summer is coming to the close and the fresh smell of empty rooms and blank planners is near!!! I am in need of some great beginning of school activities. I have posted below my all time favorite first week of school activity for you!!! It was easy to set up, mess free, and made a BEAUTIFUL display (great way to start out the year) I would LOVE now, for you to post YOUR beginning of the year activities for inspiration!!! I love reading all of your blogs and use so many of your fabulous ideas!!!
If your blog is not on my blog roll PLEASE comment or e-mail it to me so I can add you!! Ok, the lesson below is the one i was talking about. It didn’t publish earlier so here it is. I posted this last year but here it is again!
This was my first day of school project this year. It was a great way to learn their names and talk about how special and different everyone is! I did this with grades kinder through fifth and they ALL loved it! Since the students are learning the color wheel I thought it would introduce color relationships in a fun way. Each table had a different color . One color. Red table had red, blue tables had blue, yellow had yellow, and so on. Since they had markers, pencils, and crayons, it allowed for various shades and hues of the same color. The 4th and fifth graders could use 2 colors; one color and one analogus color to make the intermediate color transitions in the mural from one color to the next. For the border I put butcher paper on each table and let kinder and first draw and paint different kinds of lines with their lines and color lesson, then cut it into strips to use for border. I glued all the index cardstogether on a looooooong piece of butcher paper in color order to create the mural.
We talked first about drawing your face. Oval head, then ears in the middle, then hairline from one ear to the next, line for the part of the hair if its a girl, eyes where the ears are in the middle, then nose half way b/w eyes and chin, and lips half way b/w nose and chin. We looked at many different hairstyles and how to draw them from the hair line.
Very cool mural! I especially like the fact that the 4-5 kids could use 2 colors that were analogous-brilliant!I have used so many different things for the first project of the year, but one of my favorites was a template of the US from outerspace that each student decorated individually. I normally don't use templates but it is a quick way to get some awesome artwork up quickly the first week of school. I'm sorry I don't have any photo's to share!
ReplyDeletePortrait projects are such a neat way to kick off the new year and your colorful little friends are spectacular. Love em.
ReplyDeletebarb
What a great way to launch the school year--and just think of the growth they will see the next time they do a portrait! It ties in so many concepts, thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSamantha
http://thefineartsstudio.blogspot.com
This is awesome! I really want to do this at the beginning of the year...If I do, I will link back! I am enjoying your blog!
ReplyDeletewww.jacksonsartroom.blogspot.com
This is such a fun idea!! I love the bright colors. It looks awesome in the hallways I bet :)
ReplyDeleteNatalie, I came across this this last year when you posted it. I didn't even realize it was your blog. I loved this activity, and did it with my students at the beginning of the year. It was fun and educational for us all, and I was amazed at how well it flowed!
ReplyDeleteOn another note, I have to say you are an amazing person, that I didn't know I knew. lol Or I should say am looking forward to getting to know better. I love love love your ideas, and creativity. You are 'truly' gifted.
This makes a striking display!
ReplyDeleteLaurie Dyer
k-6 art teacher
www.tabroom.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for all of your sweet comments! If you have emailed me for a lesson plan i promise i will get it to you by next week. Jonette, thank you for the sweet note! I also look forward to getting to know you better! Hope to see you soon! We should meet up for a lesson swap!
ReplyDeleteHey, Natalie! Hope you had a great summer! Can't wait to catch up at our meeting next week. I have posted a back to school project on my blog, that I did a few years ago. This was a school-wide project (PK-5). When we were finished, I hung all of them up to create a life-sized mural. They were gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteSee you soon!
http://marysartspot.blogspot.com/
I loved this the first time you posted it! I did the project with my students at the end of the year, just before our spring Fine Arts Gala, to create a whole-school work as people entered the space. (Plus, then each student had TWO works on display.) I didn't do any transition colors, just the six standard, because my grades are already color-coded like a rainbow. Each grade used the color that has represented them all year (in folders, portfolios, sketchbook covers).
ReplyDeletehttp://artabroad.blogspot.com/2011/05/were-colorful-bunch.html
Love this! I'm going to do something similar. The first week is always so crazy in my school district. Classes and schedules get changed as students register late. I was looking for something to do across k-5 as we get settled in for the year. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteTheresa
http://splatsscrapsandglueblobs.blogspot.com/
I follow your blog religiously! Thanks for the ideas and inspiration.
ReplyDeletewww.sfcart.blogspot.com
I am going to try this with my 1-5 grades! I have a loooonnng hallway that really needs a mural and I think this is perfect. I will link back for sure!
ReplyDeletehttp://mrswhite-hearts-art.blogspot.com/
My first zip through and I love what you've got goin' on here!!!
ReplyDeleteI have kept a blog for the last couple of years, vaccuum sealed in a cave.... but am attempting to learn how to get it 'out' and connected to a wider world.
I taught Art K-6th in an early phase of my happy life. I am now on the professional speaking tour, on the importance of THE Arts to children, particularly young children, kids w special needs. Long story short, I am now an author/illustrator of picture books -- that I create from fabric as quilts.
My newest just won a national INDIE award, (which sounds so west-coast)which is a big thrill. The book is my tribute to 9-11 and would be a perfect resource in an Art teachers hands for the observation of 9-11 next month. Currently having a big blog hop & linkie party in an effort to bring it some visibility. Please come and enter to win!
Just posted a video last night showing the actual quilts & comparing to the book's illustrations.
Glad to see your work. Eager to get further acquainted.
Debbie
www.rainbowswithinreach.blogspot.com
***In addition to my own creative process & travels I also chronicle art projects when ever I'm invited into elementary schools to speak.
This is a great site; I want in. What a beautiful wall. I am a first year elementary art teacher. I have what I think is a pretty good plan for my schools and situation and for being a first year teacher. I could not figure out where to email you at so here is my email schroeder.art@gmail.com my name is Joel Schroeder. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHow did I miss this post? Awesome back-to-school idea! Think I'll pin it!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Will definitely have to try!
ReplyDeletehttp://art.paper.scissors.blogspot.com
This is so fabulous! It could stay up all year and is such an eye-catching display! Great job!!! I so want to do this at my school.
ReplyDeleteThat is a really cool idea!
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! I am past the first day of art class, but there is still a first day of next week. I am going to give it a try. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI just referenced your WONDERFUL idea that we tried on my blog: http://suffieldart.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this great year starter!
love this
ReplyDeleteThis is so fabulous it was our first project this year!!! THANKS! I'm still putting it together with some kids (takes a long time doesn't it!) So maybe by October??? Thanks again.
ReplyDeletei LOVE LOVE LOVE this!! what an amazing idea. it's going on my project bucket list, for sure. thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis is THE MORE BEAUTIFUL thing I have seen in a long time.
ReplyDeleteI am SO going to do this for Fine Arts Night! LOVE.
http://drawthelineat.blogspot.com/
Love this! I'm am also searching for new 1st day projects. Last year I created on paper these huge bubble letter outlines that spelled out 'Let's get Art Smart' and then I cut the paper letters into a bunch of small squares (numbering them before hand). Each student (k-5) decorated one square and assisted in putting the 'puzzle' back together. I called the project my Secret Message Mosaic. It was a lot of organizing, but really fun!
ReplyDeletehttp://artrageousness.blogspot.com
Love this idea and I think I may borrow it for this year! Take a look at what collaborative first day project I did with my students last year. It took a bit of work on my part but it really was successful and the students LOVED it!! Thank you for sharing ;) I must follow you!
ReplyDeletehere is my NEW blog :) http://peaceloveartclass.blogspot.com/
Thank you for posting the photos and the step-by-step. I knew I wanted to do a self-portrait to kick off the art class and this lesson is encompasses so much of what I was hoping to accomplish. I love the school-wide approach and public work that was created. Well done. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am doing this right now as a back to school project and it is turning out great. I will share picks on my blog and link credit for idea to you!
ReplyDeleteHi! I am in my first year teaching and love this idea! Did you do it on index cards? Could you send the lesson plan?
ReplyDeleteThank you! I am wondering if you have the kids put their names on the back of the work and hand them out at some point or what you do with the work later.
ReplyDeleteI am also in my first year teaching art and I am planning on doing this next week. Could you send me the lesson plan please? :)
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