Color
Wheel Mixing
Students created an abstract painting that has a color wheel hidden inside of it. They were given only red, yellow, blue, and black paint to complete this assignment. Since they were given the three primary colors they were able to mix all of the other colors. Once their color wheel was done they disguised it by surrounding it with lots of colors, lines and patterns. Can you find the color wheel in each picture?
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.5, 3.2, 5.1
Circle
Patterns ~
Rotational Symmetry
4th grade students learn the term "rotational
symmetry" in their math class, so for a cross curriculum connection
we do a series of projects involving rotational symmetry. In
this project students used a compass to draw perfect concentric
circles in which they drew small pictures or patterns that
rotated around the circle. They colored in their drawings with
markers and did their best to be consistent with their coloring.
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 3.2, 4.3, 5.1,
10.1
Clay
Trivets ~
Rotational Symmetry
This project is a follow-up to the Circle Pattern drawing. The
students dive deeper into rotational symmetry and this time
create a clay trivet or wall hanging. They use impression or
stamping techniques to make patterns into the clay, then they
use under glazes or glazes to add color to their piece.
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 3.2, 4.3,
5.1, 10.1
Circle Weaving ~
Rotational Symmetry
This project is a follow-up to the Circle Pattern drawing and
the clay trivets. The
students dive deeper into rotational symmetry and this time
create yarn weaving or wall hanging. Students took sturdy paper
plates and measured every 19 slits completely around the plate.
They then connected one side to another all the way around
the plate to create the warp. They they spiral-weaved out from
the center of the plate. Students were encouraged to use a
variety of colors.
Rotational Name Design ~
Rotational Symmetry
Students explored the idea of rotational symmetry even
further with this challenging but fun name design project. This
project gave students a chance to practice drawing block letters
and other types of script. They also had to think about rotational name
design.
Magazine Weaving
Weaving is an important skill and also a challenging one. For this project we start off
with an image from a magazine, We draw lines going one way on
the magazine, and the other way on a piece of black paper. One
by one we cut strips off the magazine and weave it into the
black paper. If we get all the strips lined up correctly our
image will show up in our weaving.
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.2, 2.5, 3.2
Looper Looms
Another weaving project! This time using those Looper Looms
from the 80's! It is a fun way for kids to create a pot
holder, something they can keep or give as a gift, while also
practicing the important skill of weaving! Great exercise for
those finger muscles too!
Andy Warhol ~ Pop Art Logos
Students reviewed the artwork of the American artist Andy Warhol.
They chose a logo from popular culture and made their own carbon
paper to draw the logo four times. They used different color
combinations to color in their logo: Real Colors, Complimentary
Colors, Primary Colors, and Wacky Colors. This is reminiscent of
many of Warhol's screenprints, such as the famous print titled
"Marilyn Monroe". Students noticed Warhol's vibrant
use of color in his images, and they used bright markers to
color in their own pictures.
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 3.2, 5.1, 8.3,
10.1
Contour
Line Partner Portraits
This is a very challenging lesson for fourth grade students, but
they always amaze me at how well they do. Contour line
drawings are pictures where you are not allowed to lift your
pencil at all. The picture is made with one continuous
line. For this lesson the students paired up and drew
their partner two times. They took their favorite of the two
drawings and finished the look by going over their line with
sharpie marker and adding color with tempera cake paint.
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 3.1, 3.2,
5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4
Tessellations
Students create their own tessellation by first making a shape
tracer that can be repeated over and over and over again. It
technically could go on forever. This is harder than it
looks to get started. Once they get going students are amazed
how their drawing falls into place. They can choose a
color scheme if they want, but they are encouraged to make sure
no two shapes of the same color are touching.
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.2,
5.1
Shrinky Dink Caricatures
Students practiced creating a fun self portrait in the
caricature style. They created many sketches and experiment with
different poses and facial expressions before selecting their
favorite. They traced their favorite onto 'shrinky dink' paper,
which was then shrunk down for them to take home.
Hand
Henna
Students discussed the ceremonial traditions of the Indian
Culture and learned about hand henna. They then created drawings
by tracing their hand numerous times and filling in the shapes
with patterns. Though traditional hand henna does not use
colors, some students chose to use limited colors in their
drawings.
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.2, 1.3, 2.5, 3.2, 5.1, 5.2,
6.2, 7.1, 8.3
Egyptian
Sarcophagus and Cartouche
Students learned the importance of the Egyptian sarcophagus and
cartouche. The Egyptians felt that mummification was important because they believed that the dead would need their body in the afterlife. They believed that everlasting life could be ensured by being pious to the gods, and mummifying the dead. Pharaohs were rich and important Egyptian Kings and their sarcophaguses were often embellished with intricate designs and hieroglyphics. Students imagined that they were once an Egyptian Pharaoh and they designed their own sarcophagus that showed and understanding of symmetry and balance.
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.5, 2.6, 3.3, 5.1, 6.2, 8.3, 10.1
Stained
Glass Tissue Paper
Student made their own double sided stained glass using black
construction paper and colored tissue paper. This is a
very challenging project because it requires the students to
make very small cuts with no entry point into the paper.... not
to mention the fact that they have to do it twice, once for each
side of black paper. But, in the end their efforts are all
worthwhile because the stained glass looks stunning when hung in
a window.
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.6, 3.2, 3.3,
4.2, 5.1, 5.2, 6.2
Modern Mona Lisa
For this project students studied the composition of the
famous "Mona Lisa" painting by Leonardo DaVinci. They
created their own version of the Mona Lisa by posing her in a
similar style but changing elements of the image to make it
their own. It was amazing how many creative solutions the
students were able to come up with!
Mardi
Gras Masks
One of the students' favorite projects in fourth grade is the
Mardi Gras Masks. We discuss the history of the
celebration before we begin constructing our masks. They
take almost a month to complete. We start by using plaster craft
to form the shape of the mask using a mold. Then we paint the
mask a solid color before going back and painting patterns and
details. The third class involves adding extra embellishments to
get the mask really ready for Mardi Gras. We try to time this
project so it coincides with the Mardi Gras celebration.
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 3.3, 4.2,
5.1, 5.2, 6.2, 8.3
Coil Portraits
Students learned about coils and coil pots when they were in
third grade. For this project they had to take coils to a new
level. They were challenged to create a portrait using coils
made out of model magic. They were also able to use Elmer's glue
to help hold it together. When they portraits were dry and
hardened they painted them with tempera cakes.
Stained Glass Flower (lesson from Mr. E)
This lesson is inspired by the story of "Beauty and
Beast". Students use pencils, Sharpie markers, and
watercolor paint to create a stained glass image with a flower
as the centerpiece. During this lesson students are given the
opportunity to practice their straight line skills with a ruler,
and also their painting skills. Salt is added to some sections
of watercolor to create a textured look.
Pointillism
Landscape
Students have experiment with pointillism since the first
grade, but now it is time to try something a little more
challenging. They will create a simple landscape drawing
using pencil, very lightly, and then fill in their picture using
the pointillism techniquqe. The challenge to
their project is that the entire thing must be done only using
"dots", much like the artist George Seurat. From
a distance the colors come together to form the patterns, lines
and shapes. It is a time consuming project that helps teach
students patience and discipline. When they are complete
the students are always very proud of the work they did!
MACF: 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 2.1, 2.3, 2.5, 2.6, 3.2, 5.1,
5.2
