Ms. Opsahl and Ms. Vetch- Egg Print Making

During this project, Laura and Allison taught us how to do print making using foam meat trays, paint, carving tools, and paper. To start out we were to draw an egg and design it however we’d like. Once finished, we were then to carve this design onto a foam meat tray. When that was done we were then instructed to put paint evenly over the meat tray design and stamp it onto a sheet of white paper. We were told to do 4 different colors, and we could choose from red, blue, yellow, silver, and black. I chose to do all except black and then framed mine onto a large piece of black construction paper. When framing them, we were to space them evenly and also cut off any excess white paper around each egg.

Extension Project: For an extension project, I would work with teaching students about primary and secondary colors. I would have them mix the colors themselves so that they could understand the colors that work together to make a new color. 

Ms. Bruemmer and Mr. Kiefer- Scratch Art

This art activity was presented on the technique of scratch art. To start with, Nicole and Justin had us draw some type of animal on a piece of paper using a cardboard shape that they gave us. Each one of us had a different shape so none of the animals looked the same. My shape looked to me like a bunny head with ears, so I drew that along with a rabbit whole in the side of a grassy hill. After we drew this on our paper, we were then taught different techniques of scratching with a wooden utensil and a small piece of scratch film paper. We were to practice the different types of scratching that they taught us, along with the examples on the handout. Once we were ready we were then to scratch our picture onto the larger piece of scratch film paper. We were told to use a few different types of scratching on our picture as well. When we were all finished, we had to frame them on a pre-cut piece of construction paper.

Extension Project: For an extension project into research science, I would have students find some interesting information of the animal that they drew on their sketch. They would then present this information to the class. If two people happened to draw the same animal, I would have them work together to find information. 

Ms. Katzenberger and Ms. Mammenga- Pop Art

This project was based around the famous artist Andy Warhol and his unique creation and display of pop art. Andy Warhol was known for the the different colors he used based around the same picture, but with different color schemes. He also displayed his work in four-point picture collage. The different color schemes we worked with were monochromatic, analogous, warm, and cool colors. We were put into groups of 3 and were told first to sketch an item that they had set out for us. Everyone in the group had to sketch the same item, and then choose a different color scheme for their picture. I chose the monochromatic color scheme in different tints and shades of purple (as shown above). My other two group members, Nicole and Kim, did cool and warm colors respectively (shown below). We were then told to mat our pictures on a black sheet of construction paper leaving a 1" frame around each side. My picture, I thought, was more difficult because there was only one color of purple, so I had to blend black and white in with the purple to get lighter and darker shades and tints.

Extension Project: I would have my students research other artists that were known for a specific type of art (such as Andy with Pop Art) and then present to their classmates on what they are known for. I would then have the students do a project based on that artists famous work of art. This project would be integrated into Art and History.

Ms. Anderson and Ms. Deslauries-Rainbow Fish Collage

For this project, we were instructed to make a collage fish inspired by the book " The Rainbow Fish," by Marcus Pfister. We were to free-hand draw a pattern of a fish that they gave us, but we were not aloud to trace it. We were also able to draw another type of fish if we wanted. I decorated my fish with pieces of blue, green, pink, and yellow construction paper, and then added the tin foil scales to make it resemble the "Rainbow Fish" more. To add more uniqueness and sparkle, I added sequins and glitter, which I had in my own art kit.

Extension Project: To add to this project and incorporate it into another area of the curriculum, I would have students write a story involving their unique fish. "The Rainbow Fish" story focuses of the concept of sharing and building friendship, I would have them pick an important value to them, such as family or love. This project falls under the Language Arts category.

Ms. Trautner and Ms. Weikamp-Pebble Painting

The second lesson plan, presented by Pam and Kim, was on pebble painting. We were instructed to put a piece of paper inside a shoebox and choose any size pebble we would like and dump it in a cup of paint. We were then to dump the pebble into the corner of the box and roll the pebble around on the paper to create designs. We were instructed with a few guidelines as well. First we were to use each of the primary colors with a different size pebble in each. Secondly we were to make a secondary color using 2 of the primary colors. Finally, we were to cut out four different shapes from the sheets we made, and then paste them to a piece of construction paper. 

Extended Project: I would have students create these paintings and cut them out into different shapes. However, instead of pasting them to a piece of construction paper, we would paste them to the bulletin board creating a collage. 

Ms. Jundt and Ms. Thorne- Weaving

The first art lesson was presented by Anne and Tiffany on the art of weaving. To start out this project, we were introduced to some new terms: twisting, weaving, tint, and shade. The first step was to tape 4 strips of cut newspaper to the back of one side of our template. We were then told to tape 4 pieces to the back of the adjacent side. Next we were to weave the pieces together and twist them, putting a piece of tape on the back to hold it. Then we were to choose either warm or cool colors, I chose warm, and paint our craft using either a shade or a tint in the project. I chose to use a a tint creating coral and pink. To finish my craft, I used gold and red glitter to add another dimension to it. 

Extended Project: After practicing this simple project with my students, I would move to a more difficult task of weaving by creating a basket with the techniques they just used. We would make these from a white material so that we could paint them using warm or cool colors when we're finished. 

Hidden Safari

For this project, we were instructed to draw an animal upside down. We did this to help us better focus on the lines and curves rather than the animal itself. At first I found this task difficult because I kept looking for my animal instead of focusing on the lines, but after a while I started to get the hang of it and it became more natural. The animal I drew was an elephant surrounded by trees and brush. We were instructed to draw the animal in a cool color and cover it with designs made by warm colors. Because we made our pictures in this order, we had to make the glasses with a red sheet of see-through paper so that we could pick out the blue color when we looked through them. At the bottom of my picture I listed 3 clues to help others guess my animal before looking at it through the glasses. Clue #1 My nose looks and acts like a hose. #2 I am large and gray. #3 I have large ears.

Extended Project: I would have my students draw an animal in red on a bulletin board covered with white paper including backgrounds. These animals would have to be in some type of order or look like what you would see on a safari. After everyone has done that, we would create designs overtop with warm colors. We would then create blue glasses to see our class safari picture.