2008-09: Grade 3
Learning how to apply the expressive qualities of shape is a 3rd grade curriculum goal. We combined cut-paper shapes, both positive and negative, with chalk rubbings. Students cut positive shapes out of scrap construction paper, lined the outer edges with chalk and rubbed with a tissue-wrapped finger off the edge. On the negative shapes they lined the inner edge with chalk and rubbed to the center. It was great fun.
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In 3rd grade this year we created a clay loom which was then used for weaving. The students cut a shape from a slab of clay. They then cut a large hole in the center of the shape. Using a plastic straw, small holes were punched around the center shape. The clay was allowed to dry and then it was fired in the kiln. The "clay loom" was decorated with an acrylic paint and the weaving began. The center holes were warped in one direction with colorful yarn and then woven in the opposite direction. Students were asked to add colorful buttons or beads as they were weaving.
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Contour drawing and textures were the focus of our owl drawings. We practiced how to draw simple contour lines while drawing our hands in different positions. Then we looked at photos of owls and drew an outline of the basic shapes in the owl’s body. Next the students created a texture dictionary of 16 different “illusions” of texture. They used metallic pencils on black paper to place some of their designs into the shapes. The results shimmered!
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The 3rd graders used the inspiration of quilt blocks for their scratch art design. We discussed the tradition of quilts as an early American craft and learned that some quilting, along with other fiber arts, have now crossed the lines into fine art expression. The students picked a quilt block they liked, recreated it on a 1” grid, transferred it using graphic paper onto scratch art paper and finally made their design appear by scratching away the white covering and revealing the color underneath.
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Inspired by M.C. Escher and helped along by the computer program, Tessellation Exploration, the 3rd graders learned a lot about art history, tessellation techniques and terms and even applied their new found knowledge to the math section of the MCA tests. The assessment below was a culmination of learning how to create three different kinds of shapes that can tessellate. Then they applied that knowledge to create 3 pages of tessellated shapes, one of each: slide, flip and turn. We then used those printed paged to create a spider book (below) and a flag book. Great fun!
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2008-09 Art Projects