Ah, the first days of art. It is so neat and clean and organized in the art room….I just had to share some photos before the room reverts to its natural ‘studio’ state. Here are seven photos taken on opening day.
1. Table Colors and Numbered Seats
In the photo above you can see tables organized by color. All the seats are numbered – four seats to a table.
2. Rotating Jobs by Seat Number
Last year I rotated jobs by table. This year I am rotating jobs by seat number.
3. Rules Poster
My rules poster underneath the amazingly helpful Time Timer.
4. Elements Bulletin Boards
New Organization Projects!!!!
I did three big organization projects:
- Grade level prep boxes
- Lesson plan organization
- Free draw area
5. Grade Level Prep Boxes
These boxes fit perfectly on my shelves, and are big enough to hold 12×18 paper and all my supplies for each project.
I have a big shelf unit on wheels. I filled it with these yellow catering boxes from the local Jamba Juice smoothie shop. Three boxes fit perfectly on a shelf. The boxes are large and great for organizing all the supplies. They will be really helpful for organizing prep for our parent volunteers.
(Note: see all that cut wire in the 5th grade prep box? Our parent volunteers just cut 100 3-ft. lengths of it in preparation for our Calder wire sculpture project next week. It all fits in the box with room to spare!).
6. Lesson Plan Organization
Lesson plans go into individual manilla envelopes.
I completely cleaned out all my lesson plan files this year. Each lesson plan (plus samples) is stored in an individual manilla envelope. I turned each envelope ‘landscape’ and labeled each one. Once turned sideways, they fit perfectly in my file cabinet. This makes me SO HAPPY. Imaginary angels sing when I open the file drawers and see all the organized glory.
(NOTE: I read about the manilla envelope method on Deep Space Sparkle. If you are looking for more ideas check out these great lesson plan organization ideas from Deep Space Sparkle).
7. Free Draw Area
On top:
- how-to-draw books
- origami books
- stencils
- rubbing plates (organized in ziploc bags)
In the cubbies below:
- copy paper
- origami paper
- markers, one box per table
- crayons, one box per table
- peeled crayons
- crayon cakes
- art games
Let the games begin! Have a super new year everyone!
Enjoy!
P.S. Click here to see our 2012 Art Room Opening Day photos
Did you make any changes to your art room this year?
Well done, Rina! Looks great. I love all the resources at the free draw area. Now I wanna see pics of your room in a month;)
Thanks Don. Pics will start flowing next week. I am still amazed that although your district started class after mine, you have already completed and installed a whole-school collaborative project. I’m just doing the rules this week!
Where is Art Teacher Barbie? She hasn’t been asked to leave the art room, has she?
Hi Rach
Do not fear- Art Teacher Barbie is still here! No art room is complete without one. Does Mattel make a Professor Barbie? I’ll buy you one for your birthday.
I’d love to hear more about the 4 jobs you have each student do, that you are now rotating through by seat! I am rotating through tables weekly, but those tables are just my helper table, doing whatever I ask them to (pass out work, collect, etc).
I feel like it could be done better.
Thanks!
Hi Melissa
The jobs (generally) are:
*table folder leader (passes out and gathers dry work in progress)
*clean up leader
*table tub organizer
*supply leader
If we are doing clay or sculpture, and we don’t have table folders, I may have sink helper. If we use the bathroom to wash hands (4 sinks vs. only one in my room) we will have bathroom leaders to make sure the floor stays clean.
For the really big clean up jobs (end of the day post plaster or clay), I will assign special clean up jobs to all 4 seats
*sponge
*paper towel
*whisk broom
*water spray bottle (maybe!) or another sponge
Next year I will make big easy-to-read signs with these jobs, laminate them, and put those on the white board as well. Right now I just write it out or say it verbally.
Good luck!