Using wood to create 3-Dimensional art (Part I)

For this project the students used a variety of wood strips to create a 3-Dimensional art work.

The students had a choice to create an objective or a non-objective piece of work.   

It was interesting to watch the students as they were trying to decide on what wood pieces they needed to use in order to build their wood composition. 

Student comment: " My design reminds me of the rays of the sun."

Working on decorating the background paper.

Student comment: "I can sail away in this ship."   

Creating prints using styrofoam sheets for the background paper.

Creating a frame using a variety of wood. 

Making decisions on how to incorporate scraps of paper to the background paper.

Creating prints using the styrofoam sheets.

Student comment: "I made a giant dragonfly."

Student comment: "This is my star design."

Student comment: "I like grids."

Student comment; "I made a robot."

Using a variety of acrylic colors to complete the wood composition.

Student comment: " This is my living room ."

Student comment: "I made a Tree House."

Student comment: "I can swim as fast as Michael Phelps."

Vinyl Flowers and Play Dough Fish

For this mixed media project the students were divided into two groups. The first group decided to create flowers using vinyl 45's records. The second group used colorful play dough to create fish.

The students used a variety of materias and tools to complete their mixed media projects.

(KG) People in Motion

For this project, the students used pipe cleaners and beads to create people in some kind of movement.

I find it challenging to teach kindergarten students how to represent the human body in motion.

We looked at a variety of pictures showing people walking, jumping, and dancing. We discussed how these pictures depicted the expression of the human body.  I showed the students how they can create the movement of the body by using pipe cleaners and beads. The students were amazed on how they were able to twist and bend the pipe cleaners to create a real person in some kind of a moving pose.

Student comment: " My girl is running."

Using glue sticks to attach the yarn around the face.

Using beads and pipe cleaners to create the arms and the legs.

Student comment: " I am jumping high, and this is why my hair is crazy."

Student comment: "I am walking home fast because it is dark outside."

Choosing two colors to create a pattern..

Student comment: " I am dancing in the forest."

Student comment: " I am walking to my friend's house."

It was challenging to cut the fabric.

Student comment: "The lines around me are moving too."

Using a variety of colors to complete our artwork.

Student comment: "Look how high I can jump."

Student comment: "I am going to my friend's house to play."

Student comment: "I just wanted to put my arms on my waist."

Student comment: "This is how ballerinas dance."

(G1,G2) A Lesson in Comparing and Contrasting

For this project, the students had the option to create compositions using paper, paper cleaners, and training weaving sheets. The class was separated into three groups, each working on the material of their choice.
After the completion  of the projects, we used an entire session to discuss our choices.

The discussion session provided the students with the opportunity to defend their choices, as well as to demonstrate ability to compare and contrast their work with the work of their classmates.
We discussed our color choice and combinations, sculptural quality, balance and symmetry, and degree of difficulty.

                                   This student was interested in creating a symmetrical composition.

The choice of his shape was the rectangle.

Using pipe cleaners to create an intricate design.

This student was interested in contrasting colors.

She used squares and triangles to create a collage. 

Using pipe cleaners to create a sculptural artwork.

Student comment: "I wanted my composition to be symmetrical but a little complicated in the center."

The simplicity as well as the level of difficulty was the focus on this piece.

Student comment: "I love apples."

There was a great degree of difficulty, as the student had to be careful not to tear the fragile aluminium/tissue paper in creating her composition. 

A symmetrical and balanced composition.

Students had a lot of good things to say about this artwork. 

Struggling but persisting in creating this intricate design with pipe cleaners.

Student comment: "I am missing a corner on my training sheet but it does not matter."

I watched this student as she carefully used scissors to cut her paper in long, rectangular pieces.

She then carefully used pipe cleaners around the paper.

Student comment: "I was too afraid to cut through the paper, and so I went around the paper." 

Another balanced composition.

Student comment: "This reminds me of one of my belts." 

Student comment: "I turned my training sheet over to make a sleigh."

The red pipe cleaner is the person riding the sleigh. 

Cutting the paper into thick, rectangular pieces.

The student used the pipe cleaners in a folding fashion.  

This composition was a favorite among the students.

They loved her choice of colors and shapes.

Student comment: "I used the purple square for contrast."

Despite certain limitations regarding the health of this student, I watched him working with intense concentration to make sure the pipe cleaners would appear flat on the training sheet.

Exhibiting no fear of twisting the fragile aluminum/tissue paper to create a collage.

I watched this student as he glued the three different tones of green on his aluminium paper.

Student comment: "I created a sunset window."

This work gave us the opportunity to discuses color association.