Art Fundraiser Projects Underway

All classes started their Art to Remember fundraiser projects this week.  They started out a little bumpy...my Monday classes will be re-doing a step next week, but by the end of the week I think we worked out all the hiccups.  This is the first time I've attempted this kind of project.  There are quite a few factors to consider when planning the actual art project aspect.  I have already learned a lot and know exactly what I would do next time--assuming I do this again...

1. Consider timing.  I chose to do the Fall fundraiser so that orders would be ready in time for the holidays.  This means we had to start the project very early on in the school year.  On the plus side, we get it out of the way right away, and it also guarantees a simple beginning-of-the-year project.  On the downside, this is obviously a more product-based lesson than most.  Early in the school year, this is a little tricky to achieve especially for kindergarteners. 

2. Keep it Simple!  I often have to remind myself of this at the K-2 level, but it is especially important for a project of this nature.  My Monday classes will be restarting their projects as a result of my failure to remember this!!  Live and learn...

3. Allow some room for student choice.  In the future I hope to put more fore-thought into the student-choice aspect.  Since this is a personal project that students and their families will likely be giving as  gifts it would be nice to involve some level of student choice that the result is more personal to them.  Bottom line, I think families will enjoy the result no matter what. 

For some great info on other art fundraisers check out this post from the Art of Education...http://www.theartofed.com/2012/06/08/the-ultimate-guide-to-art-fundraisers/

Dots, Ish, and Magic

School is back in full swing and we are loving our art rooms!!











Here is what we've been up to in art class these first few weeks...

 
Kindergarten artists started their year in art by creating Magic Carpets, (photos coming soon!) an idea I borrowed from Hope at Mrs. Knight's Smartest Artists, a blog I discovered over the summer that has many wonderful project ideas. We started out by focusing on drawing lines of all sorts on our papers. Next, students added cut paper shapes to their magic carpets for another layer of line, color, and shape.  The overall goals of this project were to start refining drawing skills and to practice cutting and gluing.  Additionally, this simple project allowed space in those kindergarten brains for yet another set of new  routines.  Those first few weeks of school are so exciting, but can also be really overwhelming. We will be moving on to a watercolor and crayon resist project next...also fairly magical.



First grade artists are just wrapping up projects centered on the book The Dot, by Peter H. Reynolds. We read the book, then students were asked to create their own dots just like the girl in the story.  The message of the story is that one should never be afraid to make their mark.  First graders had a blast making their mark...





Second grade artists also enjoyed a book by Peter H. Reynolds.  We read the story Ish and discussed what it means if something is "ish."  It's not quite one thing, and not quite another...it's "ish."  We applied this concept to our drawings.  Setting out to draw something can often be a challenge and a frustration if it doesn't turn out looking the way it should.  Well, the story Ish is meant to remind artists of all ages that thinking and drawing "ish-fully," is quite a wonderful thing.









Much more to come next week as we get started on our Art to Remember fundraiser projects.  To coincide with this project students at all levels will be thinking about and discussing the idea of giving and receiving gifts--an art in itself!  Stay tuned...