2nd grade

Expressions

Expressions is an interdisciplinary/language arts unit where students will explore the elements of art and gain knowledge on famous artists and their artistic styles. The second grade students will identify and practice using the elements of art and principles of design to generate artwork. The students will research and explore famous artists and how they used their gifts and talents to create artwork. Finally, students will write a biography of an artist and create a self-portrait in the style of given artist. Students will integrate fine arts, social studies, math, and English to create their final projects.

STEM challenge: Paper Chain

Our first day of QUEST was all about planning, problem solving, creativity, and most of all practicing our Habit of Mind on persisting (not giving up!). The challenge was to create the longest chain using only 3 materials, paper, scissors and glue.

Introduction to Art and the Elements of Art

We started the Expressions Unit by creating our first artwork. We learned how to draw a great self-portrait which we will compare to our other artwork at the end of the year art gallery. We will be practicing different techniques this school year, so our artwork is as good as the art masters of the past and present.

This year we are developing as artists. We are learning about the Elements of Art and practicing the technique. We are also being introduced to several art masters like Albrecht Durer, Henri Matisse, Wassily Kankinsky, Georgia O'Keeffe, Vincent van Gogh, Dale Chihuly, among others. We are learning about these artists lives and critiquing their artwork. Finally, we create our own artwork, taking inspiration from the masters, and writing our own artist's statements and artist critiques.

line & Albrecht Dürer

First, they drew their line artwork and began block printing by "carving" the styrofoam.

Then, they used the brayer to add the paint to their styrofoam "carving".

SHAPE & HENRI MATISSE

Shape Search: We started our lesson by looking for geometric and organic shapes all around us.

Cutting out geometric and organic shapes.

Positive and negative shapes.

Henri Matisse was a french artist best known for his use of color and form.

QUEST students studied this artist and created artwork inspired by his use of positive and negative shapes.

COLOR & WASSILY KANDINSKY

The Color Wheel:

Learning primary and creating secondary colors

Wassily Kandinsky pioneered abstract painting in the early 20th century. He believed that geometric forms, lines, and colors could express emotion.

QUEST students studied this artist and created artwork inspired by his use of shape and color.

Value & Goergia O'Keefe

Practicing tint and shade by creating our own value scale:

Georgia Totto O'Keeffe was an American modernist artist. She was known for her paintings of enlarged flowers, New York skyscrapers, and New Mexico landscapes.

QUEST students studied this artist and created artwork inspired by her use of value in her paintings of enlarged flowers.

TExture & Vincent van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh was a Dutch artist who used color to express his emotions and brushstrokes influenced many art movement.

QUEST students studied this artist and created artwork inspired by his use of texture to create movement.

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