Sharpies or other permanent marker, black and colored
spray glue
small squares of felt
q-tips
pencil/erasers
Students began by writing their names in pencil on cardboard. They traced their names in glue, then yarn.
Students write their names in glue and yarn.
Next they added decorative glue/yarn lines. I sprayed the plates with spray glue and slapped on a piece of pre-cut foil.
Students carefully polished the foil with felt squares. This helps the foil adhere to the cardboard and smooths the foil. A q-tip is good for polishing tight areas. Finally, they got to the best part: coloring in with jewel-tone colored Sharpies. Black sharpie looks good too! Remind students to avoid coloring the raised yarn lines.
Fourth graders use markers to make landscape name art. Allow two 40-minute sessions.
Looking for quick, fun name art project? Here is the colorful project that gives 100% success and lets you get to know your students.
Students made a simple landscapes using curved lines. Each section was filled with a single repeated word. One section had to filled with the student’s name; the other sections had to be filled with single repeated words that described the student in some way. Students incorporated their pets, favorite subjects (yay art!), sports, activities, family members and favorite foods.
Looking for an exciting name art project? How about introducing a famous artist at the same time? Try this Paul Klee-inspired graphic name art project.
Second graders create name art in the style of Paul Klee. Allow 1-2 40 minute classes. Artwork by Tyler.
Start out by introducing artworks by Paul Klee. This project is inspired by his graphic works such as Castle and Sun. WikiPaintings has lots of images of his art. Click here, here, here, and hereto see some of Klee’s other graphic artworks. This is a good time to talk about abstract art.
Students should turn their paper horizontally. They write their names in pencil, using all capital letters. Encourage students to S-T-R-E-T-C-H their letters from the bottom to the top of the paper (note: students with long names may need to draw extra skinny letters, use longer paper, or perhaps use their nicknames). The letters can touch the left and right sides of the paper AND touch each other: letters such as ‘E’, ‘F’ and ‘K’ look more abstract when drawn in this manner.
After they are pleased with the layout, they trace over their pencil lines in white oil pastel.
Students write their name in white oil pastel, then fill in the spaces with colored pastels.
Next they color in the spaces in their name. Encourage them to use a variety of colors, although it is fine to repeat colors. Students must not color in with black pastels.
Completed second grade art:
Randie
Flynn
Jax
Chris
Kian
Show students the completed projects and ask if they can read the artist’s name. Successful artworks are often abstracted to the point it is challenging to see the artist’s name! How does this compare to Klee’s graphic artworks?
This lesson plan was inspired by (or abstracted from!) this fabulous post on the Kids Artists blog.
Enjoy!
Do you have a favorite name art lesson plan for the beginning of the year?
Famous artist Andy Goldsworthy is fascinating. Our 5th graders were amazed at an artist who creates and photographs art made from gathered leaves, mud, twigs, ice or rocks.
We began by viewing brief videos of Andy Goldsworthy on YouTube.
We discussed the repeating motifs in Mr. Goldsworthy’s work, including serpentine lines, spirals, and a circle with a hole in the center. We also looked at examples of stacked stone.
Students wend to the school garden and created temporary art works from materials found there.
A group of fifth graders worked together to make this dry-stacked rock arch.
Leaves arranged by color.
Early finishers made insect sculptures!
I took the photos initially, then turned over the camera to some early finishers who shot the rest of the photos.
Most students chose to work in pairs or groups for this project. Several said it was their favorite art project EVER! A few watched the YouTube videos again at home.
Next time you have good weather, consider an Andy Goldsworthy project.
Do you love impressionism? Want to create memorable artworks? Try this Mini-Monet lesson plan from the Blick website. It even has an instructional video!
I adjusted the materials list from the Blick website. Here is what I used:
Shrinky Dinks shrink plastic, Frosted Ruff ‘n’ Ready, size 8″x10″, cut into quarters (tip: cut it on the paper cutter)
chalk pastels and spray fixative OR
colored pencils
easily removable masking tape, such as artists tape
color photos of impressionist art from books, notecards and calendars
Tape the Shrinky Dink, rough side up, over a section of the impressionist book or note card. Trace image onto Shrinky Dink. Use short strokes to mimic Monet’s and other impressionists’ style.
Students tape shrink film over impressionist art, then trace with pastel or colored pencil.
Bake in the oven according to directions on the Shrinky Dink package. Shrinky Dinks shrink when baked, starting at 4″x5″ before baking and about 2″x1.5″ after. When baking Shrinky Dinks, do not remove from oven until the plastic ‘comes up’ (folds and shrinks) and ‘comes down’ (flattens). Count to 30, then remove.
After tracing, remove tape and bake plastic in oven. Here is one after shrinking.
Kids are going to want to watch this! If you are doing this in a small group setting, let them watch the shrinking process through the oven window.
Completed Mini Monets
If you use chalk pastels, you will need to spray them with a fixative AFTER BAKING (hair spray is fine). If you don’t, they more likely to smear. You do not need to spray if you used colored pencil.
As a finishing touch, color the thickened edges of the shrunken artwork with gold marker.
Add a magnet, pin back, display as a group or on mini-easels.
This project would look great with Van Gogh’s artwork. Students will like tracing his short brushstrokes with pastel or colored pencil.
Do you have a favorite impressionism project? Leave a comment!
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