Parts of the Earth Mixed Media
The 5th graders learned about the 4 parts of the earth (Crust, Mantle, Inner and Outer Core) as part of their science unit. So in art, we reviewed the 4 parts and then created them using 4 different colored circles on a large manilla paper. Then, while watching a video featuring various scenes from Planet Earth, the students created a mixed media artwork using their circles as a start. They all turned out so different and cool!
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Colonial Perspective LandscapesTo go along with 5th grade's study of colonial times, we created a perspective painting featuring their time and ours. On one side of the painting, students drew what things would look like if they walked down a street in colonial times, and on the other side they did the same, but with today. Students learned about one point perspective, featuring the horizon line and vanishing point, and tried to draw things in 3D and in perspective. After sketching it out, students went over it with black watercolor marker, and then painted it with watercolors.
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Martin Luther King Calligram
In honor of Martin Luther King Day, the 5th graders created calligrams (pictures made out of words/letters) of Martin Luther King Jr.'s portrait using excerpts from his "I have a dream" speech.
Fish Whistles
In conjunction with their study of physical and chemical change, we have been creating clay whistles in art. The clay changed physically after the first or bisque fire by getting harder and less breakable. After the second or glaze fire the whistles change chemically with the glaze. The students worked really hard on these and they are turning out great!
Collaborative American Flag
To celebrate Veteran's Day, the 5th graders collaborated on creating a large paper American Flag. We talked about actual and implied texture in art, and then each student created a texture rectangle to add to the flag. Every rectangle was unique and added to the large flag that was hung in the halls for Veteran's Day.
Wax Museum Portraits
The 5th graders were doing a wax museum for Halloween, so we created portraits of their historical figures in art. We talked about drawing the face and proportions, as well as looking at the shapes of the face. They turned out great!
State Maps
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To accompany their study of maps and the United States, the 5th graders created maps of a state (either of their choice or for their state report depending on the class). We talked about cartography, different map features, and types of maps in class and then to accompany their map, they drew the state symbols as well.
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Radon posters created by 5th and 6th grade students!
Radon Poster Contest
Welcome to the start of a new school year! The 5th graders are starting out by making a poster for a nationwide contest about Radon. There is a preliminary statewide competition followed by a national competition sponsored by Kansas State University. Students have the opportunity to win prize money for themselves and for the school! Check the statewide contest information out here. Check the national contest information out here.
3D Geometric Shading and StyrogamiTo go along with their study of area, volume, and 3D geometric shapes, we having been learning how to draw things in 3D using shading in art. The first week we talked about the value scale, and the students practiced drawing a sphere using charcoal pencils. The second week, we learned about styrogami, each student created their own styrofoam cup sculpture, and then attempted to draw it using the skills they had practiced the week before.
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Painting with Magnets!
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Then and Now Watercolor Perspective PaintingsTo go along with 5th grade's study of colonial times, we created a perspective painting featuring their time and ours. On one side of the painting, students drew what things would look like if they walked down a street in colonial times, and on the other side they did the same, but with today. Students learned about one point perspective, featuring the horizon line and vanishing point, and tried to draw things in 3D and in perspective. After sketching it out, students went over it with black watercolor marker, and then painted it with watercolors. They turned out really neat!
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Piet Mondrian Fraction Paintings5th grade has been studying fractions in math, so we learned about an artist who used fractions in his paintings: Piet Mondrian! After looking at the artist's work, each student created their own artwork, using precise measurements and dividing their paper into many fractions. Students then chose some of their sections to paint with primary colors, just like Mondrian. Even though all of the papers started out the same, they all turned out different!
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Snakes and Chalk Pastel Examples from the Chinese New Year Art Show!
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Glazing!
We glazed our snakes this week for the Chinese New Year Art Show! Come see their awesome creations 2/6 or 2/7 from 4-7pm in the gym!
Year of the Snake Clay
On February 10th it will officially be the Year of the Snake. We learned about the properties of clay in art and learned how to make coils. Using coils, each student created a snake that they will glaze in time for our school art show.
Chinese New Year Chalk PastelsWe are having a school art show February 6-7 (during parent teacher conferences) and the theme is Chinese New Year. So, we talked about Chinese New Year and the origins of the Chinese Zodiac. We then looked at the characteristics of the animals that the 5th graders were born into. Using this information, they created chalk pastel drawings illustrating their specific characteristics.
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Caricatures and Cartoons
5th grade beginning to learn about summaries, so in art we talked about how comics create summaries of their own. We also learned about techniques that cartoonists and caricature artists use to create their drawings and practiced those by making self-portrait caricatures. The culminating project was to take a fairy tale story and create a summary comic about that story, especially keeping in mind the beginning, middle and end of the story.
Winning Advertisements
After each class' vote, here are the winning advertisements that will now go on to the grade-wide vote next week! Everyone did a fabulous job with their advertisements.
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AdvertisementsIn honor of Red Ribbon Week (our school's week to encourage students to stay drug free) the 5th grade created advertisements promoting the positive results of not doing drugs. We looked at different print advertisements and talked about the important parts of an advertisement. Each student then created their own anti-drug advertisement. When all of the classes have completed their advertisements, we are going to have a grade-wide vote on the best one, and that student will get an awesome prize!
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Wax Museum Portraits
The 5th graders had their wax museum this week (on Halloween...how appropriate!) so we finished up our portraits. We had a crash course on shading and briefly talked about Chuck Close's photorealistic drawings. The students then tried to capture their person as best they could.
Seeing With Our Eyes
5th grade is getting ready for a wax museum, so we have started a portrait unit in art for the next couple weeks. The first time in art, students practiced really looking at the shapes of someone's faces by doing blind contour drawings of the partner across from them. (drawing the outlines, never picking up the pencil or looking at the paper) We then talked about proportions of a general face, while stressing that everyone is a little bit different. This week, students have started in on their portraits of the person they are being for their wax museum.
Columbus Day
5th grade finished up their maps the week before fall break, and then we celebrated Columbus Day by making origami paper boats that actually can float! We talked about the origins of origami, as well as the geometry that the folds create. When the students were done with their boats, they were also able to decorate them.
State Maps
5th Grade has started working on a project where they choose one state in the U.S. and complete a research project. So, in art, we have been working on creating state maps. We talked about cartography and its history, as well as modern-day cartographers. Students then created maps of their states including both technical information and artistic design. Did you know that there are contemporary artists that use cartography as a basis for their art? Click on the button below to check out a book all about these artists and what they do!
Mixing Colors
Week of 9/17 - This week we learned about the color wheel. We talked about Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary colors, and the learned how to mix those colors with tempera paint. Students had fun trying to mix "the perfect orange" or even a middle gray using the complementary colors.
Sensory Imagery Painting
Ask our 5th graders what sensory imagery is...because now they know! For our second and third weeks of art, the 4th graders created paintings based on music. First, we talked about the Expressionists, a group of artists who created artwork based on emotions. We talked about artists such as Edvard Munch, Franz Marc, and Wassily Kandinsky. Wassily Kandinsky painted "Compositions" as his interpretations of music. So, using sensory imagery, the students created paintings based on two types of music. The first painting was listening to classical piano music, and the second was to action music, the third was their own compositions as inspired by Kandinsky's works.