Springtime! Time for first graders to study the life cycle of butterflies. Time too for a fun art project using recycled cardboard egg cartons to make butterflies. Our first grade teachers ordered a set of real chrysalis (a hard outer casing for the developing pupa) and put them inside protective netting in the classroom. Then each class learned about metamorphosis which, for a butterfly has four stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis) and adult butterfly. Students eagerly watched for signs of development over the following weeks. In art class, we learned that butterflies wings are symmetrical (the same on both sides). We studied a variety of different types noticing the details and differences. Then first graders designed and painted the segmented body and wings. Wings were assembled and colorful antennae added the final touch. Lovely!
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Looming on the monitor screen was a shot of a huge, shifting sand dune in the Sahara desert. "What kind of land form is that?" "DESERT!" was the loud reply. "How many have been to Sleeping Bear Dunes? (Hands shoot up) Did you know that the Sleeping Bear Sand Dunes are slowly burying the parking lot? What might cause that?" "WINDSTORM! RAIN!" Wonderfully engaged after my Power point, we jumped into our art project for a culminating science activity - mixing and building salt dough land forms. What a great way to complete this earth science unit! Second graders studied everything from how mountains and hills are formed, to learning about the desert, how valleys and canyons are formed, plains, peninsulas, rivers, lakes, island, and even volcanoes. The culminating lesson takes place each year in the art room. Many hands measured then squished and mixed the sticky salt dough. As soon as their hands got sticky, the students could barely contain their excitement! Next they pinched and formed the dough into mountains, islands and curving rivers. By the end of an hour, each child had created their own land forms. After a week of drying, we painted them using tempera paint. Now THAT was hands-on, fun science!
Salt Dough Recipe: 2 cups flour, 1 cup salt, 1 cup hot water. Mix till consistency of bread or pizza dough. Make your creation. Let dry until hardened (it takes a few days). Paint. Fourth and fifth grade students made animal bookmarks as part of our unit on classifying animals based on their habits and individual characteristics. Students learned about the differences between reptiles, amphibians, mammals, etc. and then examined how these differences affect where they live. How would having fur or layers of fat help the animal live in a cold climate? Why might a snake have scales and a body that bends and is flexible? Students wrote about their animal and included facts about its habits and habitat for their bookmark. Nicely done!
One of my goals as an elementary art teacher has always been to teach our children how to be better stewards of the earth. As a board member of the Highland Conservancy, I create the theme for our annual Huron Valley earth day poster contest. Last year's theme focused on endangered animals - what can we do to save an animal's habitat, how can we help save animals from extinction by protecting or restoring their homes? This year, it was time to focus on a new environmental issue. Since our district has a number of teams that compete in the First Lego League competition, I decided to tie into their Trash Trek theme. The fifth grade and middle school teams had already done a great deal of research on recycling trash and living the 3R's so it was a perfect fit!
At Oxbow and Highland Elementary, we kicked this unit off with internet research focusing on how to LIVE GREEN through the 3R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Using guiding questions, upper el students went on a Webquest where they visited a recycling plant to see how items are recycled and how things like plastic are turned back into containers or toys. Then we brainstormed how to reuse everything from paper to plastic bottles, to toys, clothing and even composting food. Students came up with ideas on how they can make a difference such as by turning out the lights, walking instead of driving, composting lunchroom food, or shutting off the car while waiting in the parent pick-up line. Finally they created a poster with a slogan, facts and their idea on how to live green. The posters were judged by the Highland Conservancy Board and the cash prizes will be awarded to the winners at 1:30pm at the annual earth day celebration at Carls Family YMCA Sunday, April 24, 2015 (it runs from noon to 4 pm). I am proud at the depth of learning of all of our students. They often surprise me with their creative solutions for positive change! Winners for the Elementary Division are: First Place: Nicodemus Williams/Highland El., Second Place: Makayla Cope/Oxbow El., Third Place: Aaliyah Kinsey/Oxbow El., Two Fourth Place Winners Tied: Madison Thompson/Highland El. and Keira Thomas/Highland El. Winners for the Middle School Division are: First Place: Marian Shaver, Second Place: Madeline Rende, Third Place: Nicole Graham, Fourth Place: Katelyn Cuthrell - all from White Lake Middle School. Congratulations to all the awesomely creative winners! We have just started our unit on Egypt which has been especially exciting for my art students. All grades enjoyed a chance to learn about mummies, the mummification process, Egyptian tombs and artifacts and writing using hieroglyphics. I kicked off the unit by popping out of a full size sarcophagus (mummy coffin) as each class entered the room. Of course, this led to students taking turns for a quick visit for themselves inside the case. Lower elementary then made miniature mummies complete with hieroglyphics. Third through fifth graders worked with table teams to trace around a student who lay arms crossed on top of two huge sheets of butcher paper. Each team then eagerly drew and designed their pharaoh's mummy case including headdress, jewels, and intricate Egyptian designs on the front and back. They also wrote a secret message using Egyptian pictographs (hieroglyphics) on the front and back. We will then stuff them with newspaper and staple the mummies closed. I am enjoying watching the students encourage and support each other, sharing their ideas and working together with their teammates.
What a thrill it is to see my students investigate different science issues and topics in art. It is easy to dismiss art as merely a "special" whereas, in my opinion, art can be taken to a much deeper level. I make an effort each year to find a variety of ways to integrate technology and science, social studies and language arts with the art curriculum. Sometimes this means creating fun games such as Habits and Habitats picture cards the students use to try to match what creature goes with which habitat, or what eyes belong to what kind of animal? This encourages my students to use their investigative habits such as observing scales, feathers, hair or other characteristics that will give a hint to the animal's environment. Each year, we also use Webquests where students are guided to complete a variety of steps on different websites that then culminates in a final art activity and often a research report. What an excellent way to take science or social studies learning to a deeper level.
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March 2024
AuthorMy name is Mrs. Krupa and I'm an elementary art teacher at Oxbow Elementary. I'm a professional harpist turned art teacher of 20 years. I'll share art lessons and ideas on these pages, what works and doesn't. Enjoy! Categories
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