February 8, 2010 2:49 PM

ART AT HOME IDEA FOR FEBUARY

Love Bug Art Project Idea from http://www.crayola.com

Create a cute Love Bug with a big heart. It makes a great gift or a darling Valentine's Day decoration.

1. Find pictures of bugs or read a book about insects. Then use your imagination to create your own unique Love Bug.

2. Draw a large heart on red paper with colored pencils and cut it out with scissors. Decorate the heart with gel markers, crayons, markers, etc.

Write loving messages if you like.

3. On dark construction paper draw a big bug with the head and body attached, but the legs separate. Decorate the bug parts with gel markers, glitter glue, or colored pencils. Let dry.

4. Cut out a small strip of construction paper, about 1 inch by 3 inches. Fold the strip accordion-style so it looks like three mountains with valleys between them. (There should be 5 folds.) Press down on the folds to crease them. This will be a spring that makes the heart bounce on the bug's belly.

5. Cut out the bug and its legs. Glue one of the spring's end flaps to the center of the bug's body. Glue the heart onto the other end flap, so the spring stands on end between the bug's body and the heart.

6. Before attaching the legs, fold them in half. Glue one end of each leg to the bug and the other end to the heart, so it looks like the bug is holding onto the heart. Dry. The hugging heart will bounce once the bug is put together and the glue dries.

0 comments

February 6, 2010 9:43 PM

by Rachel Kekstadt

Riley's Art Show

Riley's art show was a great success! I enjoyed meeting many parents and seeing the children so excited about their artwork being in an exhibit. Here are a few pictures of the show if you missed it. If you are a Frost parent and wondering about an art show, we will be hosting an art night there next year.

0 comments

January 5, 2010 9:35 PM

by Rachel Kekstadt

Happenings at Riley

Here is a few teasers! More to come soon!

2nd graders learn about Aboriginal dot painting.

Mrs Pio's Class explores texture while making a Poinsettia collage.

Ms. Mendoza's class created a penguin landscape with chalk. Then they used penguin stencils and filled in the tummy area with mini marshmallows! YUM!

0 comments

January 5, 2010 2:22 PM

by Rachel Kekstadt

Riley's Special Visitor

The other day I received a note from a parent here at Riley. She is an art teacher in Chicago Public Schools and the mother of Hawk Reichart. She was enthusiastic about wanting to come in and help in anyway she could. After discussing my options she choose to co-teach and help plan an art project on native american jewelry. Her dedication was much appreciated and the kids loved having her in. She went above and beyond by bringing in teaching aids to show the students. I just wanted to take a minute to thank her publicly. Thank you again Mrs. Reichart!

Since I began teaching here two years ago, it has been my goal to build awareness of the importance and quality of the art program. I try to make connections with parents in multiple ways. One way I have tried to achieve this is by opening up my classroom to parent volunteers. It is always nice to see parents embrace the arts as a way of showing their children that they believe that art is just another important subject area in school. I have also used art tickets and the newsletter to reach parents. Now this blog will serve the same purpose as the newsletter. I think that it is important to showcase student work so that is what the main purpose of this blog is.

Keep your eyes peeled for pics of the native american jewelry!

0 comments

January 5, 2010 2:25 PM

by Rachel Kekstadt

What we are up to at Frost!

First grade students learned about Andy Warhol and Pop Art. They used bright colored paper and traced their hands to make their project personal. Then they learned about printmaking and made prints of their hands on top of each paper hand print. They loved getting their hands messy! I loved seeing the kids so excited about their projects!

2nd graders learned about Vincent van Gogh for this project. We discussed how van Gogh used line to show movement. We also discussed the vocabulary word horizon line. Student sketched out their interpretation of Starry Night and used oil pastel and watercolor paint to complete their vision. I think they look absolutely stunning! Great job second graders!

4th grade students just completed a self portrait project in the style of Matisse. We looked at some of Matisse's artwork and found that he used a lot of pattern in his paintings. After students learned about proportion and how to sketch out their features in a realistic way, they used sharpie or black glue to outline their sketch. Then they filled in all the space with chalk pastels. I love the bright colors and how I am able to see each child and their personality in their project. Awesome work 4th graders!

5th grade students just completed what I think is their most challenging project of the year. We studied Greek and Roman architecture and talked about the classical orders of architecture. Students were taught step by step how to do a drawing in one point perspective to show depth. Students had to use their math knowledge as well as their ability to use a ruler as a drawing tool. After sketching out their Greek ruin they completed their vision by adding a landscape in the background using chalk pastel. This project took skill, patience, and commitment. These are masterpieces!