Native American Totem Poles

At the beginning of the year my class of PYP 5 students began by discussing the elements of art and reviewing art terms like "symmetry" while listing them in their classroom sketchbooks. While talking about the importance of the art elements, I intrdoduced the students to Native American totem poles and Native American culture.

The students had many questions about the different figures and symbols they saw on the totem poles that we were viewing, so we took these inquiries and researched them in the library. During our next class session we reviewed their discoveries and discussed how the different figures carved into the totem poles are part of an important story.

After research and review the students drew four different totem designs in their sketchbooks. They chose their favorite design and developed it further by adding more details and color. The students also labeled how they used the elements of art in their final design.

  I love how this student used simple geometric shapes and how giant the teeth are! The students were encouraged to draw LARGE. 

Once their final designs were complete the students began constructing a three dimensional box out of sturdy packing paper. They measured and cut their boxes themselves and then decorated them according to their sketchbook design. 

 Before we stacked our class totem poles together and put them on display, the students wrote a story about their totem pole figure and why it was an important piece to our art class totem pole. The students shared their stories as a group and everyone had come up with something unique!

Here are our finished totem poles on display!

Day of the Dead

I love teaching about cultural arts and I am currently linking my PYP 2 unit with their classroom Unit of Inquiry (UOI). Their UOI is focusing on celebrations with the trans-disciplinary theme of How We Express Ourselves.

What a perfect time of the year to investigate cultural celebrations! We started off the unit mid October, discussing how and why people celebrate. I introduced my students to Day of the Dead with pictures and related videos. I made sure to explain that it is not meant to be a scary holiday, but a celebration for people we love and care about who are no longer with us. The students were fascinated by the decorated altars, costumes, and sugar skulls (calaveras)! We had great discussions with all of their inquiries and stories about people in their own families who had passed away. 

After our story telling and viewing a variety of sugar skull examples, we began reviewing pattern and symmetry. Our first activity began when I passed around A3 size print outs of the students' faces. (I had taken their pictures the week before!) When the students realized they were turning themselves into decorated sugar skulls, they couldn't stop giggling! (to find the original lesson I was inspired by for this activity, click here and scroll to the bottom: https://tinyartroom.wordpress.com/tag/fifth-grade/page/2/)

So much fun!!

Our next class period consisted of review and a further discussion on pattern and symmetry. I demonstrated for the students how to fold their paper in half and cut a skull shape so that when opened, it would be symmetrical. The students practiced this at their seats and began using patterns to create a sugar skull collage.

The finished collages are now in the hallway and have been admired by staff and parents. So proud of my PYP 2 students! 

Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism

 

My MYP 2/3 class just finished up a unit on Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism, and it was a huge hit! Here is what we have been up to...

Line of Inquiry: Global media has become prominent in new visual cultures. 

Inquiry Questions: What types of popular ideas have spread globally? How can pop culture mediums and materials be used in an artwork? Are Andy Warhol's paintings art?

We started off the unit with a class discussion investigating what "Pop Art" is, how it started, and how those ideas are still being used today. The students viewed a variety of pop artists and focused on Andy Warhol. 

They did some individual research about Warhol's background and famous works before discussing and debating if his ideas should be considered art. During discussion, the students also identified the elements of art and principles of design within Warhol's famous soup cans.   

After research and discussion, students made a list of ten items found in the grocery store. Four of those items were chosen and drawn in their process journals. 

After the four items had been sketched, we went backwards in time within the the art history world and began investigating Abstract Expressionism. Why was this art movement happening right before Pop Art started, how is it different? The students examined art works by Willem de Kooning and Mark Rothko, but their favorite was Jackson Pollock.

The students started practicing a variety of mark-making techniques they discovered while looking into Abstract Expressionism in their process journals. We took the mark-making experimenting to the next level by throwing around some paint filled eggs, creating splatters just like Pollock! 

After making a brilliantly colorful mess, the students were ready to begin their final task. They chose one item from their four sketches to develop into a design that was influenced by both Pop Art and Abstract Expressionism. Once finished, the students presented their work during a group critique. They were thrilled with their final results!

Here are a few more examples of student work from their beginning ideas up to their final product:

I'm really proud of their enthusiasm, creativity, and effort! 

Australian Art

PYP 3 students just finished up inquiring into Australian art and culture based on their current theme of "How We Express Ourselves." Their central idea was based on signs and symbols and how they can influence specific audiences.

The students learned about dream-time paintings and how they are used to tell a story. Their final project was to create an animal painting using the symbols observed in Australian dream time examples to tell their own story with a bright color palette.

I absolutely love the results! Lizards, turtles, and snakes were definitely a favorite with this class, can't you tell? Enjoy :)