Step-by-Step on how to Create these:

Koinobori Fish

I decided to do this project with my Art Club because it's very time consuming, requires students to use hot wax and it's just COOL. I wanted them to create something they could have and hang up. Here's the steps I used, but of course it can be altered to fit the needs of your students and classroom.

The background of the Koinobori Fish:

Koinobori Fish are hung outside homes in Japan. They decorate the landscape of Japan from April through early May, in honor of Children's Day on May 5. In Japanese culture, the carp symbolizes courage and strength because of its ability to swim up a waterfall.

Materials:

Thick White Paper 
Newspaper
Iron
Paintbrushes
Metal Eye Dropper 
Batik Wax 

       - Different types that I have used are:

         Jacquard Batik Wax and/or Jacquard Bees Wax and/or Batik Wax

         *NOTE: You can also use: Batik Resist EZ, but I only recommend this on fine detail areas.

Wax Melter Kit - I absolutely love this product and recommend you get one.

Jacquard Dye Pack (variety of colors) 

Muslin Fabric

Steps:

1. Students designed on paper their fish. We used thicker white 18x24 paper folded in half.
- Then outlined it in sharpie so they would be able to see the design through the fabric.
- I also had them mark their color choices before hand. This made it easier for them to choose dye when ready.
*NOTE: I put a limit on colors to 4-5 so it wouldn't get to busy.

2. After design, outlining and color choices were done and approved, batiking started. I had some students using wax and other start with the EZ resist to experience both and how they worked. Because students weren't all doing the same things at the same time, this made it easy to set up areas in the room where certain things took place. It also allowed for me to monitor their progress and medium appropriately.



3. Fabric was cut slightly larger than the paper. I had students attach the fabric with paper clips onto their paper design. This kept the fabric from moving while batiking.

4. We used two methods of applying the batik wax: metal eyedropper and paint brushes. The EZ resist was applied using small containers with metal tips on the end which allowed for ease in control of the liquid since it spreads.

5. After all batiking wax and resist was complete, students began dyeing. I use small disposable cups with lids to pour dye in. This kept it easy to distribute and allow students the chance to use the colors they wanted without having to move around the room. Their paper stayed clipped to the fabric so it helped them remember colors and soaked up excess dye. Dye was applied using paint brushes.

6. Once dyeing was complete and dry, removing the wax was he next step. Using newsprint and and iron, fabric was ironed to remove wax. Paper drawings remained under their art so wax didn't bleed through on the tables. The hot iron also set the dye into the fabric. You'll notice the change in dye color intensity, which is perfectly normal.

7. After wax removed, resist was washed off. Using hot/war water all pieces were washed by hand to remove all EZ resist then hung to dry.

8. After fabric was dry, I ironed them once more to remove wrinkles and any wax that might have been missed.

9. I went the extra step to sew the edges and add a bowl rod for hanging to the top.

I will post all the final pieces soon so check back in a week to see the results:)

December Newslettter!

It's already December, I can't believe the year is going by so fast. I hope you enjoy our December Newsletter! What a great group if artists I get to teach each day.

To view the PDF, just click on the link above and download the PDF to you computer. You do not need dropbox or to install anything, just download the file.

3rd Grade "Cat Art" in the style of Laurel Birch

      

Laurel Birch's Art

If you haven't watched the "30 Minute Interview" with Laurel Birch, I highly recommend you do. It will change your whole perspective about triumph through adversity. Her outlook on life and her story is inspirational to say the least. 
- Just click on the link: Laurel Birch to view.

This lesson is great because it can be done with a variety of different medium. I chose this time to use oil, fluorescent and metallic pastels to really make the colors of their cats pop. You could use almost anything with this design (construction paper, paint, etc...).  

This lesson teaches a variety of things: 
Portraits
Symmetry - Balance
Line, Shape, Color, Space, Texture, etc...

Brain Pop has a great video you can use when teaching/introducing students to portraits. 

I also have a game in my TPT Shoppe on "subject matter" and "purposes of art" that I use with the students (click on the link). I believe it's important to connect these things together when teaching art concepts. 

Art Fundraiser...

Help our school raise money for the ARTS! Purchase custom keepsakes with your child's art through Goshen's Online "Artsonia" Art Gallery. 

If you need your child's private username and password, please email me and I'll send it right to you. 

HOLIDAY SPECIAL!

Get 25% OFF ANY ONE ITEM. 

Christmas Cards are also on SALE!

November Newslettter!

Happy November!  I hope you have a fabulous Thanksgiving holiday. I'm excited to share our next newsletter - November Newsletter, check it out! 

To view the PDF, just click on the link above and download the PDF to you computer. You do not need dropbox or to install anything, just download the file.

Clay in the Classroom...

Here's a few more tips/tricks that I use when setting up clay in the art room. Clay is so much fun, but it's a lot of work for any art teacher. I'm hoping this will make it a little easier on someone, lol.

Table Set-Up Ideas:

What table set-up looks like.

1. Clay Mats, Bags, Boards, etc...

- I was fortunate enough to have these canvas bags to use for students under their clay. It makes clean-up, set-up, working so much easier. The handles are perfect for the students to carry them and put them away when we are done at the end of the day. 

NOTE: Make sure you have something under your clay so it doesn't stick and make a huge mess. 

2. Trays for Tools

Sharp Tools (separate)

- I use medium sized styrofoam trays to keep their clay tools in. One per table and they put the whole tray away at the end of the day. It keeps things organized and in a designated spot instead of everywhere.  NOTE: I keep the sharp tools separate because I don't use those much with the younger students. 

3. Slip

- I just use a plastic cup with a lid to keep slip in, but really anything with a lid will work. These get messy anyway so I don't use anything nice. 

4. Water

- I just keep a water bowl with 2 sponges in it for clean-up on the tables at all times. This makes things faster. I recycle the water/clay at the end of the day.   

5. Carts

- If you have a cart, use it to move clay around, store things you might need fast, etc... I keep a bag of clay on it so it's accessible to me in case I've made a mistake or someone needs clay. This has been a life saver. 

6. Table Trays

- I have some larger trays that I use for students to put their unfinished clay projects on. I used construction paper so I could organize them by their table color. This makes it so easy to pass out their projects. The trays have also helped students carry things, so we don't have any accidents. 

7. Storing Clay - individual student work. 

Designated Class Storage Area

Clay on trays, wrapped according to table color.

- I had a ton of plastic bags so I have students write their name (in sharpie) on masking tape and tape it to the bag. This way I can re-use them over and over. By adding a new piece of tape over the old one so the bags won't tear, I can keep these for a long time.

NOTE: In a previous post I mentioned clay set-up, check it out for more tips. 

Sneak Peek...

Our Clay Projects!

I'm so excited to finally get to share with you what we are doing with clay. I don't have photos of all the projects but here's a "sneak peek" and some of them. I can't wait till they get all the way finished with these. They are going to be so awesome!

2nd Grade "Hand Bowls"

I think these are turning out so cute! The ideas that these 2nd grader's came up with for the designs of their hand prints was amazing. 

Adding detail to their masks

3rd Grade "African Masks"

These were a challenge, but I knew that the 3rd graders could handle it. 
- They each had to sketch out their mask 2-Dimensionally in their sketchbooks.
- Then I discussed and demonstrated how to create them 3-Dimensionally. But, they had to do a lot of independent work to create their mask like their sketches. 

I have a couple of West African power points that I shared with the students. Just click on the links to see them: West African Art and Masks.

I can't wait till these have been completed. The detail they added is really going to make them amazing. Add we have some other surprises in store for these masks when they are complete. 

Clay Set Up - Prep Work

This is my first year teaching clay because, I never had a kiln before. So like any good art teacher, I researched it to death but, figured out that I needed to create my own game plan. So over the next few weeks, I'll be posting some of my own tips, tricks, etc... I don't have it all figured out but, maybe these posts will help another art teacher. 

Preparing Your Clay:

Rolled Clay

Slab Roller

I separate slabs with
plastic sleeves.

1. Roll out your slabs ahead of time.

- I'm fortunate enough to have a slab roller so I can roll slabs out for students to make things faster. 

NOTE: I do however have built into my lessons time for them to practice hand rolling their own clay and practice time for using all the different tools. I do this prior to giving them their final slabs for creating their projects.

2. Separate your slabs so they don't stick together. 

- I use thick plastic dividers to separate mine. They peel off and then I can reuse them over and over. 

Bagged and Labeled Slabs

3. Bag your slabs of clay.

- Make sure to seal your bags really well. I add wet paper towels inside my bags just to make sure the clay stays moist. I've been able to keep these bags for 2 weeks with no problem. I'm sure you could keep them longer if they are really thick plastic and you've sealed them well. 

4. Label bags with number of slabs.

- This just helps you to keep things organized. 

5. Declutter your art room.

- Put away anything and everything you don't need in your art room. You will need the counter and storage space for your students projects. 

6. Storage bags and paper towels.

- Use plastic bags to store the students incomplete projects in. Use paper towels so they can keep one inside their bags to keep their clay moist. I have them use masking tape to label their bags with their names, teacher and grade. Also I have students keep the same paper towel (recycle it) but, just re-wet it each day. 

This is just the start, I will be posting more pictures, tips and tricks over the next few weeks so check out my posts. I'll also be posting sneak peeks of the students awesome art, too. 

Curriculum/Lesson Planning

Sometimes it can be hard to decide what art projects to teach because there are so many that I love, LOL. Here's a basic outline of part of my 5th Grade curriculum. 

I outline my art lessons so I can be sure to order the correct & enough supplies for the school year. Although I try to do one big order, I almost always do a second order as the year gets closer to the end. Art teachers use a lot of supplies that are consumable so it's important to plan ahead. Always order a little more of the basic supplies than you think you will need. The basics, like white and black construction paper, markers, etc... go faster than you'd expect. 

When I'm designing my curriculum, I usually start outlining my curriculum with the basics - subject matter and purposes in art. I make sure that I include both 2-D and 3-D lessons. Then I create a project around each of them. I also try to use a variety of different medium so students get to experience different techniques/materials.

Lesson Ideas:

1. Portrait
2. Still Life
3. Landscape
4. Functional

5. Ceremonial
6. Expressive
7. Narrative

Medium Ideas:

1. Oil Pastels
2. Chalk Pastels
3. Paint - tempera or acryllics
4. Weaving/Fabric Arts
5. Clay
6. Watercolors
7. Paper Maché or Plaster
Etc...

I have a variety of lessons in my book "The Creative Classroom" and even more posted in my TPT Shoppe.

Classroom Management Tip #1

Brag Bracelets

There are so many different classroom management techniques out there these days. It's easy to find different ideas, but sometimes deciding which ones are right for you can be challenging. I have a few that I really like. Here's one that I'd like to share (more will come later). Using BRAG TAGS/BRACELETS is a great positive way to reinforce behavior. These work really great for younger students. 

Just a few tips:

1. Make sure to explain and review expectations with all your students.

2. Set-up a plan on how and when you'll use these. Make sure students understand the reasoning for the bracelets, etc....

3. Don't overuse (not everyone has to get something everyday). These are for reinforcement of positive behavior and for those who go above & beyond normal expectations.

I specifically designed these with an art teacher in mind. You can find them in my TPT Shoppe (click on link): Art Brag Bracelets! I also have some for Elementary Classroom teachers also. Just click on the link: Classroom Brag Bracelets!