WAC Holiday Party

Proud of my displays for the WAC company holiday party (good job Sanford & team). Helped Laura run the craft station...shrinky dinks were a hit as always (loved the Justin Bieber ornaments) and the sparkly peppermint playdoh dazzled all. Not to mention holiday cards, snowflakes and more. On an epicurean note, I especially enjoyed the corndogs & rootbeer float at the carnival themed party.

Ugandan Art Ideas

Soap Carved Mask:
Just finished my first ever soap carving- how did I escape childhood without doing this? This is a possible craft for our school's Cultural Arts Day on Uganda in 2012. With 30-45 minutes, the kids may need to finish at home if they are perfectionists like their art teacher.
*Tools: plastic knife, chopstick, toothpick and popsicle sticks.
Remember to look at all sides while carving. Be prepared- soap dust everywhere! At the end, kids will need to wash hands with water only.

2D African Mask:
The 4th & 5th graders are drawing African masks with oil pastel & pastel right now in art class (see above sample and directions below). We will watch a video of a mask dance/rite from Western Africa http://www.sorosoro.org/en/the-mukuji-rite-with-the-punu-from-gabon

**ADDENDUM ON MASKS: we learned during our African studies that masks are more Western African than Eastern. Thank you to Francis, Ed, Elizabeth and company for all your great work on Cultural Arts Day!

Batik with spray bottle:  Another idea for a craft rotation.
*Tools: white crayon or candle, paper, diluted paint in spray bottle (I used tempera), paper towels
Kids draw designs, adult teaches proper "spray bottle techniques" (quick, open & close motion~ not slow and incomplete pull). Each kid gets up to 4 sprays, then wipes off extra "dye" with a paper towel. A new, double-folded school paper towel is placed around batik like a folder to get home safely.

Beaded Necklaces:  
Tools: recycled glossy mailings (campaign mailings, Bed Bath & Beyond Coupons, etc), scissors, glue, old pencils, string, pony beads
Kids will make necklaces in art class before CAD, to be worn the day of.
http://www.beadforlife.org/video/4DVDRoll.html

Love this Drawing Book!

My good friend Barbara gave me this book and we love it in the art room! So many kids have found inspiration from it when they don't know what to draw or need help drawing a tree. What a gem!

Art Room goes Digital

 

We've had a SMARTboard & webpage for a few years, but now I have a QR Code for my School Webpage! I've been frustrated that my webpage is buried on the school's website, but now it's easy to advertise it and find it. I've placed the little barcode outside both my classroom doors and on my parent volunteer board. I like qrcode.kaywa.com

The website easily generates code for any text or URL. Even if parents don't have a smartphone with an App that reads codes, this should generate discussion amongst parents and students that yes, there is an Art Webpage.

 

8/4-8/10/11 Beautiful, free Native American Design images from Dover

I love Dover illustrations to inspire kids in art! Do you subscribe by email to Dover's free samples of their coloring book pages, art, resources, and literature? This week's Native American Vector Motifs are stunning and a real leaping off point for an art lesson. Print/save the samples this week and/or buy their books. Check this site weekly for other motivational resources for kids' art.
http://www.doverpublications.com/samplerkids/0804/index.html