The following are some examples of art projects/ lessons that I designed and executed with the students at Summit Montessori for the school year 2024-25, starting with Kindergarten then continuing in ascending order.
Kindergarten
Organic Shape, Texture and Line Studies
In this unit, Kindergarteners learned about the difference between organic and geometric shapes. We looked at many artists, like Henri Matisse, who used organic shapes in their abstract art. It was also a great way to get them more comfortable with handling paint and tools to create texture, as well as tracing, cutting, arranging a balanced composition, and gluing.
Symmetry Owls Mixed Media Collages
Students learned about Symmetry, and how to create symmetry in an artwork using cutting and folding. They used tempera paint, watercolor techniques (wet-on-wet and salt) as well as paint stamping and oil pastels. This project tied in with our school-wide Inuit exploration; they learned about artist Kenojuak Ashevak, and her Enchanted Owls, and many of her works where she chose symmetry and balance.
Artwork above by Kenojuak Ashevak
Color Wheels!
Kindergarteners love learning about and creating a color wheel, which is a great foundation for color theory, and gives them the basics of ROYGBIV (the order of the colors on the wheel), Primary and Secondary Colors, Color Mixing, Complementary Colors (opposites) and even Tertiary Colors.
Lower Elementary (grades 1-3)
The Wonders of Space Paintings
Images from the Hubble Space Telescope
Students in Lower Elementary were learning about space and the the universe in their classroom, so I created this lesson where they looked at various images from the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as art by people who specialize in rendering space and the night sky. We learned about and looked at images of planets and stars, galaxies, supernovas, and nebulae. They learned about the concept of light and shadow, and about silhouettes, and how they are backlit forms completely in shadow. We looked at examples and then they created these acrylic paintings that feature a wondrous sky and silhouettes of trees that are both close (bigger) and farther away (smaller).
Papier Mache Animal Masks
Lower Elementary students learned all about Papier Mache, specifically from the country of Haiti, where their yearly festival of Carnival inspires incredible papier mache art. They started with paper plates, then shaped them with scissors, tape and crumpled newspaper. Then they covered them with a layer of glue-dipped paper, and finally, when they were dry, they carefully painted them with great colors, textures and other details. Students were instructed that just like in Carnival, the animals can be fantastical and non-realistic. They definitely made a festive addition to our art show!
Textile Weaving
In this relaxing unit, Lower Elementary students learned about the loom, warp and weft, and how to weave a basic textile. They enjoyed experimenting with color blocks, patterns, and “rya”, or Scandinavian hanging fringe. They looked at examples of woven textiles from all over the world, and marveled at how much weaving connects us, since it has a tradition in so many cultures.
Alebrijes
For our clay unit, Lower Elementary students learned all about this fascinating art form that has become emblematic of Mexican folk art. They learned of its origin, and how it has come to define the aesthetic of the Oaxaca region. They loved crafting their own Alebrijes out of air-dry clay, then coloring them with bright festive colors and patterns, and a protective coat of modge podge.
Underwater Worlds!
This was a Lower Elementary lesson in wet-on-wet liquid watercolor/ crayon resist technique, as well as embossing lines and patterns on metal. It was also a great way to practice drawing various sea creatures, and to discuss the ocean and its biodiversity.
Geometric Shape Abstract Paintings
Sonia Delaunay
Lower Elementary students were studying Geometry in their classroom, so I decided to introduce them to some artists who used Geometric shapes to create abstract compositions. We saw examples of how artists, when using simplified abstract forms, can truly experiment with color, composition and sometimes pattern in such a way that the bare elements become their own beautiful thing. We talked about what abstract art is and why, at the end of the 1800’s, so many artists were excited to make this new kind of “modern” art.
Clean-up time! I try to make it fun and important to contribute to clean-up by assigning jobs.
Watercolor/ Crayon Resist Castles- inspired by the artwork of Paul Klee and Disney illustrator Mary Blair
This was an intro to architecture, and an opportunity for students to learn to use rulers and stencil shapes to create an imaginary castle and fill it with color, patterns and shapes. Students loved using rulers in their art and being architects!
Full-body self portraits in a space
Students learned all about the proportions of the human figure! They traced, watched demos, sketched from observation and practiced, then created these full figure self portraits. They were instructed to add a horizon line in the background (they knew what that was from landscapes) and create a “space” wherein the figure exists.
The 7 Elements of Art-Mixed Media Artworks
As a beginning of the year fun intro unit for every grade, I invented this project where students start with a thick cardstock square, then one by one, we go over the 7 Elements of Art as we add them. It was an opportunity to go over each element and have them truly understand its application, but also for students to get comfortable with the materials and just explore and have fun. We started with Texture, Shape and Form by discussing and looking at artists’ examples of each one, then gluing on various textured materials, 3D components and shapes. Then they moved on to color, more shape and line. They adjusted values (light and dark), and learned about space, and how you can make something overlap, or big and small to look close or far away, to give the art a sense of space. It was such an interesting experiment, and it set the tone for students loving art class for the rest of the year!
Inuit Mixed Media Prints- Lower and Upper Elementary
Children looked at the following inspirational Inuit art, among others, and learned about the geography, culture and art in the Cape Dorset region of Canada, specifically the printmaking at Kinngait Studios, where artists create and sell their works to support their community. They learned key terms and processes as they drew and engraved their own Arctic animals and used mono-printing and mixed media painting techniques to create these dreamlike animal scenes. Early finishers took it a step further to create beautiful multi color prints with washable markers and dampened paper.
Cee Pootoogook
Kenojuak Ashevak
Early finishers used their same foam plates to make multi color prints with washable markers (below).
Our Inuit mixed-media prints made a beautiful holiday card that went out to the entire school community, as is done each year. Students are always proud to see their art on a beautiful card that arrives in the mail!
Upper Elementary (grades 4-6)
Charcoal Value Still Life Drawings
In this value unit students learned about value, form, and light and shadow, and looked at many examples from art history. After making a value scale using black and white charcoal, they created these charcoal still-life drawings from observation.
2 Point Perspective Watercolor Paintings
Upper Elementary students were introduce to 2 Point Perspective. I was so incredibly proud of how they persevered when they were confused at first, but with lots of guided drawing and practice sketching, they finally got it, and felt so empowered, even in creating a building up on a hill! We even went a little further by adding to the lesson the basics of light source, form shadow and cast shadow, which they demonstrated beautifully in their paint mixing, and moon and shadow placement. We looked at art by Edward Hopper, Maxfield Parrish, and Charlotte Joan Sternberg, who all used 2-point perspective to create buildings in landscapes, and light and shadow.
Papier Mache Animals- Upper Elementary
In continuing the exploration of Papier Mache in Haiti, particularly in the town of Jacmal, students looked at and learned about this country’s mastery of Papier Mache as a traditional art form and how it relates to the festival of Carnival and other religious traditions. Students learned a bit about the country and its geography, and we even learned some words in Creole. Students loved smashing up newspaper, using tape to shape the animal, adding and subtracting parts, covering it all with glue/water paper, then the final painting. Students loved the sculptural versatility of this medium.
Students loved painting these, especially since they did not need to be realistic!
Recycled Paper Collage Birds
In this last project to the school year, students were asked to help me recycle the build-up of “oops” materials in the bin! They practiced drawing various birds from observation, then used the available materials, cutting, tearing and gluing to create birds in habitats. They really enjoyed this, and did such a beautiful job!
A fun conclusion to the school year:
For Author’s Day, Kindergarteners wrote stories and read them aloud to their peers, families and teachers. This story was entitled “The Art Show” and I was thrilled to receive a dedication by its author. I had a great year in art class, and I’m so glad she did too.:)
