Big & Bold Self-Portraits by Ks and 1s

For the past two weeks the kinders and first graders have been working on their big and beautiful self-portraits using chalk and/or oil pastels. These can be very messy materials but the children have persisted - despite fingerprints, smudges, and pink, chalky shirtsleeves.

Kindergarteners Explore How Shapes Make Pictures

This year our kindergarteners completed a drawing project in which they used shape stencils to create a picture or design. First, they worked collaboratively, exploring how to use the stencils and experimenting together to make pictures:

Kindergarteners Make Tiny Thumbelina Figurines in Clay - Photo Shoot Immortalizes Them

I try to incorporate relevant life experiences as well as other school curricula with my art curriculum. Each grade at my school does a play each year and last year the kindies did "Tiny Thumbelina."

You Can Think Like an Artist!

I created this design in Illustrator and had it printed on canvas to hang up in my art room at school:

We refer to it often during lessons, and students will sometimes point out how we are thinking like an artist when I forget. Its been a great tool this year, as I am really working on teaching my students that art is not just about how real you can make something look. There is much more to artistry than that, and I think they are starting to really get it!

Mona Lisa, Kindergarten Style!

My Mona by Mariah

In kindergarten art this year we learned about the Mona Lisa by reading book Who Stole Mona Lisa? by Ruthie Knapp.