Blazing Banyan Tree

My grade 5's loved the challenge of this project. Every tree was individual and unique. Yes, it did take 4 sessions to complete though the final results were amazing. 

Kandinsky Colour Study

Collaborative Painting

This project was a fantastic way to create positive working relationships amongst my Grade 3 students'. During session 1 we focused on line & shape making. The kids worked as teams to create as many different shapes and line styles as they could in 10 minutes on scrap paper. These shapes and lines were then transferred onto large group drawings with black paint. Students' were encouraged to rotate around the table groups and to add whatever they felt like to each drawing. (shapes were drawn first then the connecting lines were added after). During session 2 the kids got to add colour to their group painting. My only instruction was that the same colour could not be touching. Again the students' got to rove table to table and work with various classmates. (this was a great teaching moment to talk about Artroom safety & moving around with paint brushes)

 

 The finish product as you can see is AMAZING!!!! Hands down my favourite lesson so far this year.

Colour Theory & Optical illusions

 This project was great to teach tinting/shading and the art of optical illusions.

 Students worked through a set of drawing instructions as guides by me on the whiteboard.
1. Draw 1 horizontal line across the paper
2. Starting at the horizon line, create small bumps (arc's) across the line. Vary the size of each arc.
3. Starting at the same starting point jump over the bump, finishing at the same point for each.
4. Continue creating jumps over each bump until you reach the end of the page.
5.Repeat the same action working your way toward the top of the page.
6. Repeat steps 2-5 below the horizon line.
7. Colour using 2-3 different colours for each column.
8. Students should shade heavier the outer edge of each column and apply the colour lighter (tinting) towards to middle of each column.

Constrasting colours

This lesson was a last minute addition to my planner this term. Because of some Public holidays I found that some of my grade 1 classes would be out of sync with the rest, so the solution was a fill in activity to reinforce some colour theory. 

Surprisingly some of the kids had never made paper snowflakes before which blew my mind (this was one of my all time favourite things to make as a kid)

 This activity was great for talking about shapes, colour, symmetry and fractions.