Are you looking for an engaging, NEAT color project? Try these analogous color chameleons, made with watercolor paper scraps and Crayola markers.
Materials
Color wheels
Watercolor (or drawing paper) scraps
Sharpies (or other black permanent markers)
Crayola markers (or other fine tip watercolor marker)
Brush
Water
Construction paper
Construction paper crayons
Pipe cleaners
White glue
We began by watching this FUN chameleon video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMT1FLzEn9I
We did a directed draw of the chameleon using Sharpie on watercolor paper. Second graders then added their own details – stripes, patterns, dots, horns, and spikes.
Next I passed out the color wheels and Crayola markers. We talked about analogous colors as ‘next door neighbors’ on the color wheel. I asked the students to select three analogous color markers and lay them out on their color wheels.
Students checked their neighbor’s work to make sure all the markers were analogous colors.
We used the ‘marker painting’ technique I learned on the fabulous Artisan Des Artes blog. Students outlined the interior of their their chameleons with the markers, then went over the lines with plain water and a small paintbrush. The kids LOVED it when their markers turned to ‘paint’ and spread through the watercolor paper.
To finish the project, we cut out the chameleons and glued them to simple habitats drawn with crayon on construction paper. For a final touch, some student glued on a curled pipe cleaner for a tongue (I will skip that step next year!).
Second grade results:
Guess what…….this project will work even if your markers are a bit dry! It’s a great project for end-of-year or anytime.
Enjoy!
p.s. Here are two books my students LOVED!
(note: this post contains compensated affiliate links).
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.
It all starts with a pinch pot. Stuff with crumpled newspaper for support and turn upside down. Apply starfish, urchins, coral etc. to top of rock using vinegar to attach.
Vinegar, clay tool, toothpick
http://youtu.be/TUuvmrJIXiQ
If you don’t finish, wrap clay in damp paper towels and seal in Ziploc bag.
Day 2:
Finish adding sea life to rock.
I let them dry for 12 days, then fired on slow setting.
Although no slip was used to attach decorations, only one decoration came off during bisque firing.
Day 3:
We painted with pan watercolors and tiny brushes. Students had option of rinsing off excess paint (they called this ‘fading’). Also could draw on painted ‘rock’ with colored pencil.
A huge thank you to SDAEA’s Carol Catalano Webb, who brought back this lesson from California state conference AND made the YouTube movie. A huge thank you to the clay teacher who created the Powerpoint (we think it was Barry Bernam-please leave a comment if you know Barry!).
Maybe you have used scratch foam for printmaking in the art room. I’ve seen a lot of beautiful art work using scratch foam and printer’s ink applied with brayers. But did you know scratch foam prints can look like this?
This set of four cupcake prints were all made from the same scratch foam plate during a single 40-minute class.
3rd graders used watercolor marker and scratch foam to create multiple prints. We did an easy directed drawing of a cupcake onto scratch foam, colored the foam with watercolor markers, and then printed the cards onto damp paper.
Materials:
Scratch foam, cut to desired size
sketch paper, cut to same size as foam
dull pencil
masking tape
watercolor markers in assorted colors (I use Mr. Sketch markers)
oil pastels or other embellishments (optional)
shallow tub (dishpan) of water
beach towel (several if you are teaching multiple or large classes)
plastic sleeve protectors for printing station
white construction paper for printing – cut larger than scratch foam
Prep:
Set up a printing station. Fill tub with water depth of 2-3 inches. Set out a folded towel. Tape a sleeve protector to the table. Slide in an alignment sample (see below). Cut a stack of printing papers, enough for each student to make at least 3 prints. Think about drying space (always an issue when printing multiples). Drying rack? Clothes line?
Drawing
draw cupcake onto sketch paper. Click here for my step-by-step how to draw a cupcake instructions.
Remind students: NO LETTERS, NO WORDS, NO NUMBERS.
tape sketch paper on top of scratch foam.
go over cupcake sketch with a dull pencil. The lines should transfer to the scratch foam below.
pull up the paper. Drawing directly on the foam, go over any lines you missed with the pencil. You can also add sprinkles or other small lines at this time.
discard the sketch paper and tape.
Tape sketch on top of scratch foam. Go over lines with dull pencil to incise foam below.
Inking
use the watercolor markers to ink the scratch foam. Students should use multiple colors. Fill the scratch foam completely with color.
Color in the scratch foam with watercolor markers.
Printing
take your foam to the printing station.
write your name in small letters on white construction paper. Use pencil.
dip white construction paper in water
put wet paper in folded towel to blot
align inked scratch foam on sleeve protector INK SIDE UP
put damp white paper on scratch foam NAME SIDE UP (align using the sleeve protector)
rub paper firmly without wiggling
PULL THE PRINT
Printing station. Students align foam with white rectangle, damp paper with blue rectangle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAY0pGj7c7g&rel=0
The third graders were amazed!!!! Vibrant colored cupcakes for their beautiful birthday cards.
ARE YOU READY FOR EVEN MORE FUN?????
Re-inking
Students re-ink the scratch foam plates using a different color scheme. It doesn’t matter if the plate still has a little color on it – go right over the plate with a different color.
Print again!
Students should carefully sign their name on the back of the foam plate WITH PENCIL. Write small.
A word of caution: as always, test this project out yourself before attempting with your students.
1) The degree of dampness of the printing paper is critical. Too dry and the ink won’t transfer to the paper. Too wet and the ink will bleed and blur as the paper dries. For blotting, a fresh beach towel is ideal. My towel was too damp by the third class of the day. I wish I had a couple of fresh dry ones with me. Next year!
2) Size of drawing matters. Tiny drawings the size of a thumbnail just won’t look good.
Day 2: Embellish Prints with Oil Pastels
Students have the option of embellishing their dry prints. These cupcakes are decorated with oil pastel. This is a great way to rescue students less-than-perfect prints. Can you imagine these with a little clear glitter and/or a sequin?
Next we trim our cupcake prints and glue them onto colored construction paper. What fabulous birthday cards for all our family and friends.
Fun – colorful – successful – easy to clean up!
This would be a great Wayne Thiebaud lesson plan – it relates to his dessert paintings in terms of subject matter and repetition.
Wayne Thiebaud. Cakes. 1963
A huge thank you to Carol Catelano Webb, master art teacher, who taught this printing process at a San Diego Art Educators workshop back in 2005.
Tayli’s YouTube video: ‘Weaving on a Cardboard Loom’
It’s a new era for an ancient art!
Tayli posted a series of elementary weaving videos on YouTube. If you teach weaving to kids, YOU MUST SEE THEM. If you can show them in the classroom, even better.
I LOVE this primary weaving video for beginning weavers. The great part: the cardboard loom is warped with two alternate colors of yarn. If you have ever taught weaving to kids, you probably know some of them don’t ‘get it’ right away. Our fourth graders watched this video, and we have be following the directions step by step. Now they get it!
Tayli also posted a fast weaving video. Only 1:44 long, this video shows real elementary students making their own cardboard looms, warping, and weaving. This would be a good intro video on day 1 of the project.
Next comes Tayli’s weaving on a cardboard loom video. Amazing! The video shows a three color weaving featuring blocks of color and rya knots. Last year, I showed this video over and over to my fourth graders. The more advanced students ‘got it’ right away and were soon making elaborate weavings.
Tayli’s YouTube video: ‘Weaving on a Cardboard Loom’
‘Primary weaving’ loom. We use popsicle sticks instead of plastic needles.
Two-color warp strings help out beginning weavers. From Tayli’s ‘Primary Weaving’ YouTube video.
. Look at the sea life on the ocean floor.
