In this project, I believe the teacher had the students develop pattern and line through their skin designs on the snakes. Perhaps they studied venomous snakes and some of their bright colors. Here are two student examples.

I think it is a good idea to introduce still life at a young age. Here is a fun still life created by a student.

Students could work to create observations of dragons.

I found these drawings and figure that the students were observing photos of actual gargoyles. I wonder if the students are to learn shading and cross-hatching through this project. I would say that 5th graders could do this project, but it might be good for 6-7 as well. Could be a cool way to get some architecture into the curriculum.

Using Florescent paint students can create a self-portrait in the style of Cubism!

Matisse can be a a fun artist for students to discover. He uses such bright colors and is great at painting his surroundings. I did not create this lesson, but I assume that it was based on Matisse. I also assume that the teacher taught the students how light is cast to create shadows. I notice that the plants in both of the vases are created using printmaking and I wonder if the students created eraser stamps for their prints. The grapes, vases, coffee cups, and such are all cut out of paper, so I wonder if the teacher discussed Matisse's collage phase as well. The texture created by crayon rubbings suggests a look of different paper as well.  Check out Matisse making a cut out here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GN0okOq8Hyc   Matisse vase painting here  http://www.henri-matisse.net/paintings/bac.html

Here is another example of a wild mask that I found in a pile of old projects. It looks like it was created from a brown paper sack, crayon, and tempera paint.

This clay project was done with second graders to create cathedral windows. We talked about the architecture of a cathedral and the artistry of stained glass windows. First take a ball of clay, a rolling pin, and two thin boards. Roll the clay out until it is the thickness of the board. Then take a circular template (old cd's work great) have students cut around the template using a popsicle stick. Now they can take various found objects and tools to cut away designs into their cathedral window. Once fired, paint black and add a piece of colorful paper to the backs. Hang in a window for decoration.

I used to do a China unit in 1st grade and the students always enjoyed our clay Chinese dragons.  On the first day of this lesson, we would start out watching an illustrated story about the dragon myth  https://vimeo.com/26274519  not necessarily Chinese. Then we would go on to view Chinese dragons from Art History. The students really would get excited. The students then would watch me create a Chinese dragon step by step. Since working with clay is pretty new to first graders. I like to take the whole class time to introduce clay rules and what we are making.  On the second day of the lesson, the students each got a ball of clay and had to create their coil for their dragon. We took a popsicle stick and created a line for the mouth, then poked holes for nostrils above the mouth. We made two small balls of clay for eyes and poked holes to squish them onto the coil body. Then we took or fingers and pinched scales all the way down the dragon. Before we were don...

I always struggle with writing rules, because rules can be very vague and as a child, I remember seeing a lot of posters with the rules on them but not ever really knowing "the rules." My first few years of teaching I used this as my classroom rules. What are your rules for your classroom?

Elementary students need clear expectations and constant reminders of those expectations! What better way to remind students than with a poster? Our classroom sinks have simple expectations, 1 squirt of soap and 1 paper towel. Students are to stay in line, behind the person in front of them, to wait to wash, however, it's helpful in my room, to soap up hands while waiting in line. Here is a poster that I used in my room.

I HATE making seating charts for the school year and then adjusting them when they aren't working. So, I created this method to work around the seating chart dilemma. When students enter the room, there is a full chart of numbered and colored cards, each card represents a table spot. As a reward, students may choose their card, however, sometimes I would stand by the door and pass them out as needed. Below is what my chart looked like. After the students grab a card, they search the tables for their number and color.                       As you can see, the cards have Velcro to make sure cards don't slide around while students are working.  Below is a picture of how my tables were arranged so you can see the numbers on each table spot. The chair between the two tables is for the teacher to help students. My room was used for Professional Development, so this was an easy way of using the extra seating in t...

Ever attempt to make your students write artist statements?  I did! It was both rewarding and great for my English Language Learners and pretty much every student! As you know, we need more writing in the school setting! If you are going to start artist statements, I highly suggest an "Art Word Wall" this will allow you to create a reference for students as they write, rather than coming up to you while you are working with the late finishers. As the year progresses, add more and more words to the word wall. Be sure to point them out to your students as you introduce the vocabulary of the lesson. Students who love to be helpers and leaders will be able to point out words to the other students! My Art Word Wall was created with poster board, before and sometimes during a lesson, I used index cards to write the vocabulary word and a visual for my students. Once the word was full, I laminated it to preserve it for next year! If you have a word wall in your room, post it be...

An Egyptian Unit can be really fun for students! Here are a few examples of an Art projects that was left behind by a retired educator from one of my old schools. I believe she did an Egyptian Unit each year. Kids love weaving and sewing because it is so tangible! I love the idea behind this 16"x8" project because it includes several sewing stitches along with some Egyptian background. Also, notice how the teacher glues tagboard to add stability to the back of the project which ends up being a great place for the student's name! We can tell that the project is done by a fourth grader because of the organizational method of the "4V" on the back of the project. Egyptian Canopic jars using stamping and form. Egyptian Cartouche                                        Egyptian Money Designs Egyptians Egyptian Sarcophagi ...

In my 8 years of teaching, I worked at 6 different schools, three with art on a cart, and moved 3 art classrooms because of school closings or renovations. WOW! This is important to know because teachers leave really cool art projects before they transfer to knew schools, and this is one of them. So, I have no idea of the background of these mask examples, but I can assume they have to do with Art History (Native American Art or African Art.) If you can tell the inspiration of these masks, please let us know in the comments below!) I assume the teacher did this with 4th grade. Some vocabulary ideas for this lesson would be: symmetry, assemblage (foil, paper), printmaking/stamping, emotions           

I always struggle with substitute lessons. However, this one is a fun lesson for your 3rd-5th graders. Each student needs a sheet of copy paper (free from the office...wink, wink) and whatever media you would like them to use ex: pencil, crayons, colored pencils, markers (I always avoid potential messes during subs, so NO PAINT!!!!). Then use this prompt: Your teacher is missing today! Where could they be? Draw a picture of what happened to your beloved Art teacher!  The students will surprise you with some funny illustrations when you return! This 3rd grader made me laugh! What an imaginative and graphic way to take this one-day illustration!