My 2nd graders were in WAY over their heads. If you've been reading my blog for a while, you may have noticed that, although I've been teaching a million years, I don't like to repeat myself too often and I do like to try out new lessons. Hence my uber-challenging 2nd grade Op Art lesson, using geometric shapes, and intersecting wavy lines creating shapes to paint in complementary colors.
So, when the original shapes began to get lost as the kids attempted to paint every other space of a complicated design, I reminded them that it was just a sheet of paper, and that no matter how many mistakes they made, nobody would notice, because they would all still look great in the end. I was right, wasn't I? We solved the problem of the disappearing shapes by outlining them in black (painted with a giant Q-tip). We cleaned up messes by adding polka dots, and painted black and white frames (which the kids called "cow frames").
I think they turned out great in the end!
dang...my 5th graders would be hard pressed to do those.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE these -- the black and white really set them off well!
ReplyDeleteLove all the patterns and colors! I agree who wants to repeat projects all the time there are too many fun things to do in the art world!!! :) Tell the kids GREAT JOB!
ReplyDeleteI love your group shot of the display. The black and white borders for each were the perfect touch.
ReplyDeleteCow frames LOL.
ReplyDeleteYou just have to love their choice of words! They can be very proud at their cow-framed op art !
Ilse at
http://artlessonsfrombelgium.blogspot.com/
what a great solution, they look wonderful! I think its great that you dont repeat yourself to often, that shows that you want to grow as an educator, as well as, wanting your students to have a great art program.
ReplyDeleteI love your advice!! So true! It is just a sheet of paper. Excellent, excellent advice for all of us. . . And, I have a question: what are your plans for the blog after the end of the year? You're not going to leave us out here without your voice are you?!?!
ReplyDeleteAmy, relax!! I'm not retiring THIS year; I tentatively plan to retire NEXT June - in other words, June 2012, so that's another year of blogging for sure. And even then, blog addict that I am, I expect my blog will continue somehow. I can always find an opinion or two to spout, no? Anyhow, it's more than a year a way, but it's quite possible that I may still teach art in some capacity - an after school program perhaps?
ReplyDeleteWhew! I was WORRIED!
ReplyDeleteI think that one of the greatest ideas that we can teach our art students is that it's ok to relax, be flexible and go with the flow (creative problem solving). To quote Bob Ross It's not a mistake; it's a happy accident. Go with it.
ReplyDeleteFANSTASTIC! Love it love it!
ReplyDeleteErin
They look great! I something similar with bubble-letter names (or shorter nicknames) with marker with 4th grade. These look fantastic!
ReplyDelete