Clay Pendants

Adaptive Art
3 Class Periods

Adaptive Art, Clay Pendants

Day 1:  Students were given time to experiment with the clay.  Pushing into the clay with their fingers and squeezing the clay with their hands were encouraged.  Different items were placed on the table to create textrues within the clay.  Students were shown how to press and create textures into the clay.

Adaptations:  Stencils were used to trace for final shape of the pendant. Using items that are chunkie are easier for students to grip (think large legos vs. small sizes).

Day 2:  Students glazed each pendant piece.

Adaptations:  Color selections were limited.  Sponges could be used versus brushes.  I placed masking tape on the back of the pendant and placed it onto a styrofoam tray.  We didn't have to worry about glaze getting on the back of the pendant or the piece falling off the table and breaking thanks to the tape.

Day 3:  Beads were placed on string and attached to the pendant.

Adaptations:  I placed tape on the edge of the string to prevent it from fraying as they placed beads on it.  I also had pendant attached already to the string before students came to the classroom to work.  I discovered placing a small tray of beads in front of each student helped with reaching and spilling of beads from the center of the table.  Using beads with larger openings is also, very helpful.


Student Examples:

 

Birthday Party Fun!

Sometimes, I ask myself, do my own children realize how lucky they are to have a mommy that is an art teacher?  Both of my children have birthdays in July. My son has turned 7 and my daughter 9 this year. Thanks to my excellent teacher planning skills their birthdays are only 5 days apart.  Due to this unforeseen madness of having close birthdays, we usually celebrate their birthdays together on one special party day.  This year, they both agreed on a Minion party theme. 

I started to search Pintrest and found some really cool ideas that caused lift off for my own ideas.  Seriously?  How did we ever do anything creative without Pintrest?  lol.

It all begins here with me wondering if my children know how lucky they are.

 

 

Then boom!  Add a few balloons and some happy children faces and you have a great party photo opportunity for all your guest.

 

During the actual birthday party, we had a craft activity for our guests.  Maybe this is a touch strange, but hey!  I'm an art teacher.  The guests loved it and it gave them a small party favor to take home, too!

Examples of our Minion puppets made during the party.

I also made these two posters for my children to hang as decoration for the party.

The great thing about this one, is that my daughter helped me paint it!

My son loves Batman and Robin.  This is our Minion twist on these characters.

 

Playdough: Roll, Cut, Squish, ACTION!

Playdough either puts a smile on your face or it makes you cringe.  I am often surprised to hear how many of my students do not get the chance to play with playdough at home.  My only guess to this reason, must be the fear of the mess that is created with this very important art media.

My advice.  Embrace the mess!  Set up an area on a table, picnic table or a plastic table cloth to work on.  Take a deep breath and let them play!

Playing with playdough helps in imagination and creativity skills.  Squishing, rolling, cutting, poking, chopping, flattening and building with playdough all helps with building strength in the tiny muscles and tendons in your hand (FINE MOTOR DEVELOPMENT) that helps with learning how to grip and control pencils and scissors (so important for the art room and class room!).

Playdough is fairly inexpensive to purchase, but making your own can also be a great bonding activity with your child.  There are a ton of recipes that you can find online, but the one below is my favorite.

Mrs. Allen's Favorite Playdough Recipe

1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup of boiling water
1 tablespoon of cream of tartar
1/2 cup of salt
1 tablespoon of cooking oil
food coloring

Combine all the ingredients  in a bowl.  Mix with a spatula.  Once the mixture becomes thick you will have to use your hands to mix it.  Then knead, knead, knead, until playdough is soft. 

Last step:  PLAY!  CREATE!  WORK OUT THOSE FINE MOTOR MUSCLES.


Playdough can be stored in an air tight container. 

 

 

Summer Art Journal Ideas

The most famous sketchbook artist of all time is Leonardo da Vinci.  Leonardo da Vinci was born April 15, 1452.  If he was alive today he would be over 562 years old!  Leonardo's books were filled with drawings and diagrams of things he saw and ideas he came up with.  He wrote notes about his drawings. These notes were written in such a way that the only way one could read them was to use a mirror.  Leonardo kept his ideas well guarded.

Another famous sketchbook artist is Pablo Picasso.  Picasso was born October 25, 1881.  He made more art during his life time than any other artist to this date.  Picasso created over 178 sketchbooks while he was alive.

Many artist draw in sketchbooks.  To be a really good artist you should carry your sketchbook with you everywhere you go!  You never know when you will get a good idea or find something inspiring to draw. 

To get you started here are 40 Sketchbook Ideas to try out this summer.

1. Draw a monster with a moustache.
2.  Draw a picture of a family member.
3.  Draw your favorite food.
4.  Paint a landscape.
5.  Create a picture of how you feel.

6.  Look at your favorite toy and draw it.
7. Paint a picture of a summer storm.
8.  Create a treasure map on a piece of paper.  Glue it into your sketchbook.
9.  Draw yourself as a robot.
10.  Draw the ocean and the animals that live in it.

11.  Draw something that you love.
12.  Use only 2 colors and draw one of your dreams.
13.  Draw a flower or vegetable garden.  Label the types of flowers or vegetables you see.
14. Paint a picture of yourself with wings.
15.  Listen to the sounds around you.  Draw what you hear.

16.  Design a superhero.
17.  Write your name and design all the letters.
18.  OH NO!  Earth has been invaded.  Draw what the invaders look like.
19.  Create a maze.  Have someone solve it.
20.  Create a code.  Write a secret message in your journal.

21.  Cut out a picture from a magazine.  Glue it into your book and draw more around it.
22.  Invent a machine to do something that you do not want to do.
23.  Paint your happiest memory.
24.  Draw your favorite animal.
25.  Draw your view from an airplane window.

26.  Draw your bedroom.
27.  Draw something using only your favorite color.
28.  Draw a forest and the wild animals that live in it.
29.  Draw a picture of the inside of your stomach and all the food in it after a big meal.
30.  Write a poem about summer.

31.  Draw a boat that you would like to travel around the world in .
32.  Draw a picture of you camping.
33.  Paint a sunrise or sunset.
34.  Become a fashion designer.  Draw a picture of your clothing designs.
35.  Write down a list of all the things you want to do this summer.

36.  Draw a picture of yourself if you grew flowers instead of hair.
37.  Check out a book form the library.  Write about your favorite part.  Draw a picture to go with it.
38.  Draw person with an animal face.
39.  Draw a picture of your favorite thing to do or watch at the fair.
40.  Draw or write about anything your heart desires!

UV Splash Dash

I completed another fun running adventure to celebrate the kick off of summer vacation.    This was my first glow run.  I'm not going to lie.  It rocked! :)

My wonderful husband and I with glowing smiles.

Team Glow Worm.