Zebras

OK, I think this has been my most favourite project I've ever done with my students. 

I love these zebras so much! Got the idea here at 'Manuales' (this is my also favourite blog - gives me heaps of ideas for lessons so thank you!)

As done in the 'Manuales' project, I had made my own little horse but changed the pegs on the legs so they could remain moveable. I then decided zebras rather than horses would be lovely for my students as they would fit with my current Grade One theme of Endangered Species.

So, we painted everything white then copied zebra patterns with black markers.

My three grade 1 classes all completed this lesson. In the first lesson I had older classes 'buddy up' with us to help with the cutting out of the thick cardboard, knotting the tail etc.

Changing the position of the pegs means you can train your zebra to stand, walk, sit and even talk! :)

I had the children colour  this African savannah type mural I drew with chalk pastels before adding zebras.

Campbell's Soup Cans

Inspiration:  'Campbell's Soup Cans' , 1962 by Andy Warhol (1928 -1987).

After discussing Pop Art and Andy Warhol, I had each student in my grade 5/6 class make a life-size drawing of a can of Campbell's soup. When their drawings are grouped together I find this a really useful marking tool for grading students on their use of line, shape and space. I have done this same activity in the past with Coca-Cola cans.

Op Art Cubes

Thanks to Jacquelien from Kids Artists for this idea. 

Also the work of English Op Artist Bridget Riley (1931-).  Image: Bridget Riley, 'Descending' 1965.

As a change from my usual Op Art inspired lesson I gave this grade 5/6 class a cube net upon which they had to draw optical illusions on the six sides of the cube. Some chose to do each side the same, others did each side differently. They outlined and coloured these in mostly black and white designs although some chose to use colour.

Emu (and Cassowary) Sculptures

Inspiration: Thanks to Jane Liddelow from Orelia Primary in Western Australia (one of the great art teachers I meet with regularly) for the inspiration for these emus. Her students made some emus similar to these and I just had to make them with my new class of grade 3s.

The body and head were sculpted from aluminum foil, paper mached with white tissue paper and painted. The feathers are acrylic wool and the dangly legs are strips of fabric plaited together, the knotted pieces becoming feet.

 

I have them sitting atop the shelves in the library. The kids also made Emu Crossing signs for the sides of the shelves.

 

And here is the work of the two boys who chose to make cassowarys instead.

Versatile Blogger Award

Rule #1 

Thank the person who gave you your award.

I'm a bit slow with my acceptance speech here - but many, many thanks to Nichole from Mini Matisse, Erica from Art Project Girl and Phyl from There's a Dragon in my Art Room for voting for me in their top 15 favourite blogs! Woohoo! :)

Rule #2 

Share 7 things about yourself.

1) I live in Perth, Western Australia, which is the world's most isolated capital city.

2) I'm a vegan.

3) I have been married for 2 years. I've known my husband since primary school. He's a musician and a writer. Actually, most of our friends are some sort of artists or musicians but we all have 'real jobs' too.

4) I went to art school and then completed a Fine Arts degree at university before studying teaching. I would only ever want to teach art and I still exhibit my own work from time to time. Hence my other blog. More information about me here in case you can't get enough :)

5) I have a dog called Henry and a cat called Mervyn. Merv hates me but that's Henry in the photo.

6) I dislike: mornings, winter, ignorance, spelling errors, hospitals, rudeness.

7) I like: alphabetising stuff, coffee and toast, the colour green, The Mighty Boosh, wandering around IKEA, miniature objects, laminating things, secondhand shops, vintage fashion.

Woah - that was way more than 7 things. Sorry.

Rule #3 

Pass the award on to 15 bloggers whom you have recently discovered and who you think are fantastic.
Here are 15 of my favourite blogs - some are recent discoveries but most are old friends that are worth a look-in.


Manuales
Briargrove Elementary Art Page
Mini Matisse
There's a Dragon in my Art Room
Call Girls and Businessmen 
Marianne Symons
Raw Hemline
Ann Wood
Ikat Bag
Kids Artists
Teach Kids Art
What I Wore Today
The Artful Parent
Art Projects For Kids

Cockatoos and Galahs.

 

My grade 2 students have recently created these mixed media drawings of Australian parrots.They were inspired by the Pink and Grey Galah and the Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo.

Ceramic Kookaburras

These are some ceramic kookaburras made by my grade 6 students last year. Students made detailed drawings from photographs before sculpting and glazing.