2nd Grade: Observational drawing/Intro to Landscape

For this lesson, I started with a introduction to various lines. For Second Grade this is just a refresher to the element. They began with a collage with horizon line in their art journals. We reviewed a chart of lines that they cut out of black construction paper and assembled into a fall tree.
Next we ventured outside to a great tree in our backyard for observational drawing. Again the emphasis of this lesson was on line work and using shading to show volume in the trunk and limbs.
We ended this unit with a intro to landscape. We again used a horizon line to separate land from sky. Then the students used pencil to sketch a tree as we had done previously outside. They were also shown how to create space by making the trees appear smaller as they ascended up the landscape composition. Phewwww, that was a mouthful. Enjoy all and good luck with your students or children!!

Representational Art: Line and Shape to create Cityscapes with Space!

For these two class periods, the First Grade students were introduced to Cityscape. We began by reading the book Tar Beach and discussing how the city is depicted with shapes. The students were shown that buildings close to us appeared to have the largest windows. We then noticed that buildings that were overlapped appeared further away with smaller windows. The buildings that were behind all others were the farthest distance requiring nothing more than dots or slashes. This is an introductory lesson to space and use of shape! The students have now been introduced to Abstract and Representational art, and are able to recognize that the artist is arranging shapes and lines in a thoughtful and intentional way!

Manipulate This...Paper Sculpture 1st Gra

Once the dust settled on this past month of Sept, the 1st Graders dove head first into Line and Shape. Often I have started with drawing or painting, but this year I went the old dependable and always exciting project...Paper Sculpture!
The students began with a demo on how to manipulate the strips into straight, zigzag, curved and wavy lines. Next came folding and attaching shapes such as circles, squares and triangles. These were all shapes and lines that we worked with last year, so just a good refresher.
They began by working in small groups collabortively, the ones that struggled had additional help from other stronger students. Next period they colored to create patterns on individual oaktag. They did have pattern examples on their tables that I provided.
Finally the students attacked their own sculptures after a quick smart board lesson on Day 3. Honestly I just googled 'Line and Shape Sculptures' and we had discussion of similarities and differences with their own attempts.
The ones who finished early had the time to apply torn pieces on top of the paper strips to create a bit more detail. Sure made them feel accomplished out the gate for the school year!!
*The attached picture is a handout I recieved at a Blueprints for the Arts workshop I attended with NYCDOE (these workshops are great, and freeeee!!!). It shows how this and many other activities in the Visual Arts align with the Standards for Mathematical Practice (COMMON CORE, yikes).These are our ammunition when asked why the Arts are relevant in kids school days...another words why they should  pay you to teach it.