A winter wonderland

2nd grade Student Work

Pinterest recently led me over to a post on Kitchentableclassroom.com demonstrating how to do evergreen trees with markers and water.  I was drawn to the originality and knew immediately I would switch up my next lesson on the Element, Space and incorporate the trees into the project.  We began with a directed draw for the trees and discussed size and placement to demonstrate the illusion of Space.  Students followed along on day one to draw the trees, a few lines to show hills and the horizon using sharpie markers.  Day two concentrated on diagonal lines to denote the needles of the evergreens using water based markers.  They also added a little blue along the hills and horizon to represent snow shadows.  Those that had time painted with water in the areas of the watercolor markers.  For day three, students personalized their compositions with a emphasis on overlap and size to further demonstrate understanding of space.  I was thrilled with how creative my students became as they planned their compositions. 

Student Work

Student Work

PEZ

PEZ dispensers are a favorite of mine.  I've been collecting them for entirely too long and am in a constant battle with myself not to purchase yet another one.  I think it came out of a need to validate my purchases that I started bringing PEZ to school for my students to draw.  The first experience was in a Warhol lesson so many years ago that I don't even remember.  Students selected a dispenser and drew it large from four different angles.  I wish I had work to share with you but that was in the days prior to this blog and also prior to Artsonia where most images are now stored.  The latest number of years, the dispensers have made their way into my lessons to demonstrate Space in art.  Students have total freedom to select which PEZ they wish to draw with the vision of demonstrating space.  The focus is on overlap, size, placement and linear perspective.  Fourth graders have previously exposed to Space in earlier grades but with this project they take the reins to plan the composition.  Let me just say, it is a home run every year.  Something about those PEZ dispensers that they can hold in their hands and play with as they draw makes this an instant success in popularity.  I'm still working on getting them to see and understand shadow so forgive any striking errors you might note.  It is a work in progress.  What do you love that you can bring into your classroom for an engaging lesson???  Think about it, telling your students you love something seems to really spark interest.  Oh, and the other positive was all the PEZ gifts I received after the fact!

Student Work 2019

Illusion of Space with 2nd graders

This lesson has been a yearly project for too many years to remember.  This year the 2nd graders seem to have knocked it out of the park.  The focus is on creating the illusion of space in a composition.  I used the wonderful "Snowmen at Night" series of books by Caralyn Buehner to kick off the project.  Her husband, Mark is responsible for the wonderful illustrations.  I chose a few of his illustrations for students to examine and determine what methods are being used to create Space.  They identify the use of linear perspective, overlap, placement, and size in the images.  Then they are off to create their own work emphasizing the four ways to show space.  I keep this poster visible to assist them with their planning.

Instructional poster for reference

They are task with comparing their work to the poster and determining whether they have included all four methods.  Because these are created in early winter, snowmen is the subject of the composition.  I am really impressed with the imagination and craftsmanship exhibited by these young artist.

Student works from 2017