What's ART like in kindergarten?
The focus for our kindergarten artists is fine motor skills and creativity! The year begins with several projects that introduce students to the art room and art materials including paint, cutting and gluing, oil pastel, and the idea center that is filled with resources for artists. Once these projects are complete and students have an understanding of how to set-up and clean-up independently in the art room, students will begin choosing their own art materials by visiting different art centers.
Each class will begin with a short group learning experience. During these first five to ten minutes of class we will typically view a work of art, explore an object, OR view a demonstration. Following this time students will then create based on what they just learned. Upon completing their first creation students move to an art center of their choice. These centers include painting, drawing, oil pastel, sculpture and collage. Your child may choose to visit different centers or may be most interested in visiting the same center on a regular basis. Students often collaborate with one another and help each other learn new techniques. I work with students in both small group and one-on-one conferences to help children think about their creations and build their art making skills. You may notice that your child brings artwork home on a regular basis if they enjoy drawing and 2D art, but if your child enjoys the sculpture center and or painting their, art may remain in the art room until it is complete. Some students choose to store their art in their "art pocket" and bring it home at the end of the school year.
Kindergarten is an important time for exploration. Encourage your child to create artwork at home by setting up a simple art bin that includes scissors, glue, crayons, markers, pencils, and paper.
Each class will begin with a short group learning experience. During these first five to ten minutes of class we will typically view a work of art, explore an object, OR view a demonstration. Following this time students will then create based on what they just learned. Upon completing their first creation students move to an art center of their choice. These centers include painting, drawing, oil pastel, sculpture and collage. Your child may choose to visit different centers or may be most interested in visiting the same center on a regular basis. Students often collaborate with one another and help each other learn new techniques. I work with students in both small group and one-on-one conferences to help children think about their creations and build their art making skills. You may notice that your child brings artwork home on a regular basis if they enjoy drawing and 2D art, but if your child enjoys the sculpture center and or painting their, art may remain in the art room until it is complete. Some students choose to store their art in their "art pocket" and bring it home at the end of the school year.
Kindergarten is an important time for exploration. Encourage your child to create artwork at home by setting up a simple art bin that includes scissors, glue, crayons, markers, pencils, and paper.
Not a Box
During LAMP time students have been reading the book Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis. Two 5th grade artists created a dragon using boxes outside of school and brought it to the art room! What an awesome opportunity. The 5th graders were invited to share their art with Kindergarten before the Kinder artists developed their own not a box ideas. They were also invited to take turns riding the dragon!
Dot Circle and Line families
Kinder students learned about the 5 basic elements of shape and went on a hunt for these elements around the art room. Successful artists use their eyes to observe and notice subtle differences in angles, curves, and circles. The world is filled with shapes that fall outside the categories of perfect circles squares and triangles.
Each kinder artist created their own shape with black paint and then added white paint to the black to complete their work of art. |
Symmetrical BugsKindergarten learned about symmetry in this spring project. First they folded their paper in half and then painted half of small sections including the head, thorax, and abdomen. Next the folded and rubbed to complete the second half with a "PRINT". The bugs were placed on display for the end of year musical performance and picnic.
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Painting Value
Students used black and white tempera paint to create shapes filled with light and dark value. WOW. They were focused and kind. They even helped clean up an accidental spill. All of them seemed to just jump up and help! This is going to be an exciting year in the ART room!