Embedded Files
First Trimester
First Trimester
Romare Bearden Collage City Blocks
Romare Bearden Collage City Blocks
Click here or on the student art at left to view a gallery of all student work.
Romare Bearden was an African-American best known for his collage artwork reflecting the everyday lives of people in his community. His famous work "The Block" celebrates the Harlem neighborhood in New York City.
Using a combination of crayon rubbings and sponge painting, first grade students created their own textured paper. Using a combination of that paper and regular construction paper, they created their own buildings and put them together to make a unique city block.
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Develop Craft: I can use a variety of materials to create texture by rubbing. I can dab paint with a sponge to create a uniform texture. I can cut precisely with scissors.
Envision: I can use shapes to create unique buildings.
Express: I choose color combinations that are appealing to me.
Understand the Art World: I can describe the collage art style of Romare Bearden. I work diligently without distracting my classmates.
Second Trimester
Second Trimester
With this project, students were introduced to the concept of a LANDSCAPE: artwork that captures nature and land features. They painted a background with a sky and horizon line, using watercolor techniques like painting with water to create a swirling winter sky. On another piece of paper, students used different hues of green to create a mottled texture to use for their trees. Finally, students cut out their trees and glued them to their paper, following the perspective rule: trees that are far away are smaller and closer to the horizon line, while trees that are close are bigger!
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Develop Craft: I can control the brush while I paint carefully. I rinse out my brush in between colors. I use scissors safely to cut triangles.
Envision: I think about where to place different sized trees before I glue them on.
Express: I choose ornament colors and placement that appeal to me.
Stretch & Explore: I try new watercolor techniques!
Understand the Art World: I can describe a landscape.
Georgia O'Keeffe Stained Glass Flowers
Georgia O'Keeffe Stained Glass Flowers
Click here or on the student art at left to view a gallery of all student work.
"I decided that if I could paint that flower on a huge scale, you could not ignore its beauty."
Georgia O'Keeffe is most famous for her large paintings of flowers, but she also painted the striking skyscrapers of New York City and the mountains of New Mexico. She even travelled the world and painted the sights that inspired her, like Japan’s Mount Fuji.
At the end of her life, Georgia lost her sight. She didn't let this stop her from making art! She had assistants help her set up her studio so that she could continue to paint, and she began to sculpt in clay on her own.
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
To create this stained glass effect, we painted on clear acetate with watercolor mixed with Mod Podge.
Develop Craft: I can trace lines precisely using black glue. I can use my brush to create "puddles" of color.
Engage & Persist: I work through problems to find solutions.
Envision: I choose colors that match my chosen photograph.
Observe: I pay close attention to lines and color variation in my photo and paint to match.
Understand the Art World: I work diligently without distracting others. I can tell stories from Georgia O'Keeffe's life. I can name multiple subjects that she painted.
Third Trimester
Third Trimester
Amy Sherald, A clear unspoken granted magic
Amy Sherald, The Make Believer (Monet's Garden)
Amy Sherald-style Self-Portraits
Amy Sherald-style Self-Portraits
Click here or on the student art at left to view a gallery of all student work.
Amy Sherald is an artist who is best known for her portrait of Michelle Obama. Originally an art history student, she was struck by the lack of representation of people of color throughout the history of Western portrait painting. Once she began making her own art, she intentionally sought out ordinary people as subjects for her paintings. Her large works of art are characterized by simple backgrounds and brightly-colored clothes.
Students learned about portraiture and Amy Sherald's work, and created their own self-portrait in her style.
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Develop Craft: I can make a pattern using shapes and colors. I can use scissors to cut slowly and precisely on a line.
Envision: I practice patterns before choosing one to use for my final project.
Observe: I can find similarities in different works of art that share a common theme.
Stretch & Explore: I challenge myself to create more complicated, interesting patterns.
Express: I use preferred colors for my background and patterns. I choose a photograph of myself in clothing that I like.
Understand the Art World: I work diligently without distracting others. I can identify Amy Sherald's art style.
Leo Lionni is best known as the author and illustrator of beloved children's books such as Frederick. But did you know that he didn't begin writing children's books until he was a grandpa? He spent most of his life working in advertising. It wasn't until he was on a long train ride trying to entertain his grandchildren that he discovered his passion for storytelling.
Like Eric Carle, Leo Lionni made his illustrations with pieces of textured paper. By combining simple shapes, he was able to make detailed, beautiful pictures.
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Using the Studio Habits of Mind
Develop Craft: I can use a paintbrush and paint to create textures on paper. I can use scissors to cut precisely on my lines.
Engage & Persist: I can find creative solutions to mistakes. I ask for help when I get stuck.
Envision: I make multiple sketches before settling on a final idea.
Express: I choose colors that I like. I can take a drawing "formula" for making a bird and change it to create a unique bird.
Understand the Art World: I can recognize the art of Leo Lionni. I work diligently without distracting others.
About Your Child's Artistic Development
About Your Child's Artistic Development
First grade children are in a phase of artistic development that Art Educator Viktor Lowenfeld termed the "Pre-Schematic" stage. They are actively developing their artistic vocabulary: the symbols that they use to represent different objects. You may notice that the way they draw an object evolves over time based on what they see other children drawing or observe in the world around them.
People are an important artistic subject for children of this age. In the beginning, the human figure is very simple - a combined head/torso with a face and possibly arms and/or legs. As your child grows in their awareness of the people around them and their own body, the complexity of their drawings increases to match.
Color is exciting! Children learn that they can mix colors to get new colors. They love exploring a rainbow of colors in their artwork, unconcerned with the actual, real-life color of an object.
Children of this age do not need a huge range of artmaking materials to enjoy creating. You may find that they gravitate towards coloring with markers or painting with watercolors. Allow them the freedom to use the material they're comfortable with as they let their imagination take flight.
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