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This lesson was a one-day skill-builder activity before we start our next big project. The goal was for students to increase their understanding of color relationships and how intermediate colors are created. In addition, the intricate painting process helps students develop their brush-handling skills. In the first step, students used a black crayon to draw a continuous line spiraling out from the center of their paper. They could use a simple round spiral, or different shape- some students chose triangles, rectangles, or hearts. Students painted their spirals by beginning with one color in the center, then blending into an adjacent color. In doing the blending, intermediate colors like red-orange and blue-green were created. When students had made a full revolution around the color wheel, they continued into another round. Students needed to use careful brushwork to avoid the colors mixing into a muddy mess!
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This kindergarten activity was the beginning step of the project that will be featured at this year's Art Show. We are going to be painting self-portraits! The lesson was an exploration of mixing skin tones. We started with the wonderful book, The Colors of Us, by Karen Katz. This book celebrates the differences in our skin colors and points out how beautiful the variations are. Each student received a paper plate with a blob of each primary color (red, blue, and yellow) plus white. I challenged them to mix and blend the colors until they had created the perfect color to represent their own skin. The most fun part was that students got to paint on their hands to see how closely their color matched! The lesson was about mixing colors, but the REAL lesson was that we are all made up of the SAME colors- just mixed into beautifully different combinations! These paintings will be the beginning layer of our self-portraits. Next week we'll add the faces and hair. We don't often do holiday-themed projects, but this color-mixing experience allowed students to add a festive twist if they wished! This lesson was inspired by one of my very favorite books, Hailstones and Halibut Bones by Mary O'Neill. It's a book of poems inspired by colors! Here you can read a few examples or listen to a recording of the poems. My favorite is the one called What is White? Here's part of it: "White is marshmallow and vanilla ice cream and the part you can't remember in a dream. White is the sound of a light foot walking White is the beautiful broken lace of snowflakes falling on your face." The poems use beautiful figurative language to describe qualities of each color. The poems often describe the colors as having a taste or a smell, and we used this idea as the foundation of the poems students would write on their own. But first, students had to get inspired by mixing their perfect color! This was a good review of basic color theory concepts- or "color science" as we call it. Each student received a plate with the primary colors (red, yellow, and blue) plus white and black. I reminded students that all other colors are made from combinations of these basic colors. Students were tasked with creating the most beautiful and interesting color they could imagine. We did the mixing and blending right on top of these index cards, and by the end of the day, students had an assortment of every color of the rainbow! It reminded me of visiting the paint-sample section of Lowe's or Home Depot! Next, students chose a color to describe in a poem. I gave them a template to help them get their ideas organized, and encouraged them to focus on describing each color using all five senses. This took some creative thinking, since colors don't literally have a taste or a smell- but it was fun to use our imaginations! Most students chose to use a holiday or winter theme when naming their colors and writing their poems, although that was not one of the requirements. Here are some of the most creative examples. Our students came up with some beautifully descriptive phrases! Christmas Tree Green Christmas Tree Green is the color of a beautiful tree. Christmas Tree Green sounds like the little bitty branches falling off the tree when my cat walks under it. Christmas Tree Green tastes like a mint sizzling in my mouth. Christmas Tree Green smells like a fresh cut pine in the forest. Christmas Tree Green feels like a lumpy bump on a piece of wood. Christmas Tree Green makes me not want to go to sleep on Christmas Eve because Santa will be here soon. -Ava Christmas Fire Orange Christmas Fire Orange is the color of little flames crackling in the fireplace. It looks like a sunset going down. It sounds like popcorn popping. It tastes like a cinnamon swirl. It feels like a bright star on top of the tree. -Selena Snowflake Snowflake is the color of sky in winter Snowflake looks like the frosting on a sugar cookie Snowflake sounds like rain falling from the sky. Snowflake tastes like a blueberry snowcone. Snowflake smells like a flower blooming in the garden. Snowflake feels like the clouds over our home. Snowflake makes me smile all the time. -Natali Firewood Firewood is the color of the twinkling fire sparking from the wood. Firewood looks like the morning sun rising into the night sky. Firewood sounds like the leaves flying through the breeze of wind. Firewood tastes like the cookies my mother bakes on Christmas Eve. Firewood smells like the smoke coming from a burning fire. -Abigail Frozen Mint Leaf Frozen Mint Leaf is the color of the frost on the mint leaves on a cold day in the garden. Frozen Mint Leaf looks like the deep minty blue ocean along the coast. Frozen Mint Leaf sounds like the joyful laughter of kids playing at the park. Frozen Mint Leaf tastes like the mint leaves with frost on them. Frozen Mint Leaf smells like peppermints on Christmas Eve. Frozen Mint Leaf feels like sheets of ice in your hands. Frozen Mint Leaf is to celebrate the most popular time of year, Christmas, as the snow falls like the feathers from doves flying around your house. -Caleb Frosted Cranberry Frosted Cranberry is the color of bright red covered over by white. Frosted Cranberry looks like a bright red-violet. Frosted Cranberry sounds like the glass ornaments on my tree. Frosted Cranberry tastes like the sweetness of a warm fire and the coldness of the snow outside. Frosted Cranberry smells like my teacher’s Scentsy in our room. Frosted Cranberry feels like a white Christmas. Frosted Cranberry makes me smile when I see it. Frosted Cranberry is so many things to me. -Addyson Winter Pine Bark Winter Pine Bark is the color of white Christmas cookies on a picnic plate. Winter Pine Bark looks like a tree’s bark with snow drizzled on it. Winter Pine Bark sounds like a white wolf howling in the snow. Winter Pine Bark tastes like gingerbread with sweet icing on it. Winter Pine Bark smells like sweet baked Christmas cake with red icing. Winte Pine Bark feels like a Christmas tree covered in ice. Winter Pine Bark makes me think about the presents that are coming. -Chloe Christmas Pine Christmas Pine Green is the color of a fresh pine tree ready to decorate. Christmas Pine looks like a velvety dress for a Christmas party. Christmas Pine sounds like a silent night. Christmas Pine tastes like a happy family dinner. Christmas Pine smells like waking up to see presents under the tree. -Echo Snow White Snow White is the color of the puffy white snow laying on the winter ground. Snow White looks like the snow I dream of in my sweet Christmas dreams. Snow White sounds like me remembering very sad days. Snow White tastes like sweet cotton candy. Snow White smells like mint candy canes and blue frosting. Snow White feels like cold sugar and winter snow. -Irina Everest Green Everest Green is the color of spring leaves falling. Everest Green looks like Giuseppe Arcimboldo’s green vegetable paintings. Everest Green sounds like flowers popping up in cartoons. Everest Green tastes like basil with a little hint of pepper. Everest Green smells like peppermint leaves dipped in watermelon juice. -Ardynn Golden Tree Golden Tree is the color of an empty tree in the snow with no leaves. Golden Tree looks like a gold medal. Golden Tree sounds like a cool breeze through the snowy trees. Golden Tree tastes like a perfect golden sugar cookie. Golden Tree tastes like a delicious cake baking. Golden Tree feels like a snowflake on your nose. Golden Tree makes me feel excited. -Maliyah Christmas Present Pink Chirstmas Present Pink is a color glowing with beauty. Christmas Present Pink looks like a bright pink box under the Christmas tree. Christmas Present Pink sounds like tearing paper as you rip it off the present on Christmas morning. Christmas Present Pink tastes like a fresh strawberry dipped in cream. Christmas Present Pink smells like a cotton candy scented candle. Christmas Present Pink feels like a box with a great big bow. Christmas Present Pink makes me as happy as when I see my present. -Ava Mint Joy Mint Joy is the color of fun. Mint Joy looks like candy. Mint Joy tastes like a mint melting slowly in my mouth. Mint Joy smells delicious. Mint Joy feels like a pillow made of snow. Mint Joy makes me happy. -Carlos Frozen Crystal Shard Frozen Crystal Shard is the color of blue and it looks like an icicle. Frozen Crystal Shard sounds like it’s going to fall and be really sharp. Frozen Crystal Shard smells like it’s been in a freezer for years. Frozen Crystal Shard feels very cold… Brrr! Frozen Crystal Shard is a very cold crystal and it makes me want to lick it. -Jadyn Reindeer Coat Reindeer Coat is the color of Rudolph’s soft fur. Reindeer Coat looks like a willow tree’s pale bark. Reindeer Coat sounds like the crackling and popping of a warm bright fire. Reindeer Coat tastes like a fresh baked sugar cookie. Reindeer Coat smells like sweet orange and cinnamon. Reindeer Coat feels like a cozy blanket. Reindeer Coat makes me happy. Reindeer Coat is Christmas morning. -Echo Sparkly Present Sparkly Present is the color of red Christmas sweaters. Sparkly Present looks like Santa Claus riding in his big red sleigh. Sparkly Present sounds like kids opening their presents from Santa. Sparkly Present tastes like red Christmas cookies with lots of sprinkles. Sparkly Present smells like yummy brownies with chocolate icing. Sparkly Present makes me excited for Christmas morning. Sparkly Present is shiny and sparkly and glittery. -Chloe Evening Snow Evening Snow is the color of slippery snow on your porch. It looks like clouds in your room. It sounds like the crackling of a fire. It tastes like the batch of brownies your mom just made. It smells like cinnamon. It makes me happy on a sad night. -Mya Peppermint Peppermint is the color of mint ice cream. It sounds like Christmas carols in my head. It tastes like candy canes in my cocoa before bed. It smells like the pumpkin spice candle my mom bought. It feels like being in bed on Christmas Eve. It makes me feel so happy in my dreams. -Mya Rudolph Red Rudolph Red looks like a hot fire on Christmas Day. Rudolph Red sounds like the beeps on my new phone. Rudolph Red tastes like coffee sitting on the table. Rudolph Red smells like the candy cane candle in the window. Rudolph Red feels like the teddy bear from your grandma. Rudolph Red makes me want to fly with Santa! -Lydia Christmas Tree Green Christmas Tree Green Is the color of the soft armchair I sit in by the fire. Christmas Tree Green looks like the needles that fell off the Christmas tree. Christmas Tree Green sounds like a soft breeze on Christmas Eve. Christmas Tree Green tastes like chocolate from my stocking. Christmas Tree Green smells like the cookies mom is baking for Santa. Christmas Tree Green feels like hot chocolate in my mouth. Christmas Tree Green makes me want to play in the snow. -Olga Cranberry Juice Pink Cranberry Juice Pink is the color of Christmas ornaments. Cranberry Juice Pink looks like wrapping paper on my presents. Cranberry Juice Pink sounds like snow falling on the ground. Cranberry Juice Pink tastes soft and velvety like the cake I’m eating right now. Cranberry Juice Pink smells like a pie fresh in the oven. Cranberry Juice Pink feels like a snowball in my hands. Cranberry Juice Pink makes me shout with happiness. -Olga Ice Queen Ice Queen is the color of ice that has melted into pieces. Ice Queen looks like snow, but blue. Ice Queen sounds like winter in my ears. Ice Queen tastes like ice cream melted in my mouth. Ice Queen smells like frozen berries. Ice Queen makes me think of the snow outside my house. Ice Queen is the music in my ears. -Sayla Silver Ornament
Silver Ornament is the color of Santa’s sleigh on a frozen winter night. Silver Ornament looks like fog in the night sky. Silver Ornament sounds like snow falling on a cloudy winter day. Silver Ornament smells like cookies fresh out of the oven. Silver Ornament tastes like mint candy on Christmas morning. Silver Ornament feels like the soft warm blanket on my bed. -Bethany Third Grade celebrated fall colors this week! We did an inquiry-based color mixing activity. I asked them to closely study a fall leaf, notice the wide variety of colors, and recreate as many as possible by mixing and blending basic colors of paint. Students were to be inquirers and find the answers to these questions: Rather than give instructions on how to make the colors, I wanted students to figure it out for themselves through experimentation. I wanted them to notice the effects of adding new colors- for example, what change would adding brown cause? What about adding brown and green together? What if I added peach or yellow next? Students were very successful in matching the colors. I was pleased with their enthusiasm and perseverance! We worked on this for the full hour, and they still weren't ready to clean up when our time was over! Some students had time to think of creative names for their color creations. They had some really fun ideas! We had a special guest on Friday! Our principal, Mrs. Humphries, was able to come in and paint with us for a while! She is a pretty talented color-namer! This project is one I keep coming back to year after year. It is so much fun for the kids, yet it has them practicing so many skills! I like to time this project with kindergarten's study of patterns, which they just finished up last week. We talk about the rainbow as a type of pattern- the colors repeat in the same order every time. Students begin their paintings with a squiggle line going all the way across their papers. Next, they'll make a matching squiggle line using the next color in the spectrum. These lines will repeat until the entire paper is filled with rainbow squiggles! The main learning objective of this project is for students to learn the correct order of the colors in the rainbow. I introduce the concept of the color wheel, and explain that it's like a round rainbow. This understanding will be important as students are later introduced to the science of color and how primary and secondary colors work. In making these paintings, students are also learning how to successfully handle a paintbrush. Their goal is to place lines of color next to one another- very close, but not touching! Painting with that amount of control takes a lot of small-muscle movements in the hand, and is a great exercise for developing fine motor skills. Students also learned important painting routines, like remembering to wash their brush before switching colors and treating the brush gently instead of scrubbing it across the paper! It was so interesting to see some students begin their paintings with a color other than red. Though red is typically the color you start with when naming the colors in order, I explain to the students that when looking at the colors in color-wheel form, it's a never-ending repeating pattern. Once you get to the last color, you are right back where you started and can just keep going! This means that no matter what color you start with, the colors before and after will always be the same. Seeing students take these different approaches is evidence that they are truly understanding the learning, instead of just copying from an example! This activity was a continuation of the color wheel fractions activity from last week. This time, students introduced black and white into their color-mixing "recipes". We discussed how adding these neutrals creates tints (colors with white), shades (colors with black), and tones (colors with gray).
After blending the paints into new colors, students used fraction terminology to describe the proportions of each color they used. This was definitely an approximation rather than an exact science, but most students got the idea! They really had fun coming up with descriptive names for their color creations, and I was impressed with their enthusiasm! I love teaching kids about color and the science behind it! It's one of my favorite things to teach, so I was excited when fourth graders started that part of their curriculum recently. They have been learning all about light- white light, how it can be divided into a spectrum of colors, and how objects either reflect or absorb light so that we can see that object's color! It's confusing for kids when they hear that all the colors of light blend to make WHITE, when I've been teaching them since kindergarten that all the colors of paint blend to make BLACK! With the help of this 5-minute clip from a Bill Nye episode, I hope they are beginning to understand. Now that they are learning about the color spectrum in science, it's a good time for us to talk about the color wheel in art. My students are already familiar with the color wheel- I teach them that it's a tool artists use to organize color. I start teaching it in Kindergarten, and tell them it's like a round rainbow. Now that fourth grade has the vocabulary word "spectrum" we can approach it a little more scientifically. If you are unfamiliar with the color wheel, here's a one-minute introductory video. This is more information than I expect my kids to know, but it is a good overview of all the reasons artists need to understand how colors work together! The goal for today's activity was for students to mix colors to make their own complete color wheel, using just the three primary colors of red, blue, and yellow. I explained the color variances using fractions- green is half yellow and half blue, while yellow-green is 3/4 yellow and only 1/4 blue. This was all explained on this worksheet I made. The dots in each circle represent spots of paint- each student was to use a q-tip to dot the correct color and amount of paint, then mix it all up to make the color! I told them it was kind of like following a recipe when cooking. Here's an example of a completed color wheel. The last step was for students to write some "color recipes" using fractions. This ties in very well with their current math focus. They did a great job, and I hope this helped them better understand light, color, AND fractions!
I am very pleased at the amount of success students had with this project! We began these paintings when third grade was in the middle of their unit about rocks and minerals. They experienced an in-school field trip where they got to go mining for real gemstones! Each student took home a collection of beautiful rocks. The students were so excited when I told them they would get to design their own crystals! One of my favorite parts of this project was that I got to sneak in a lot of math skills. Students got lots of practice using rulers, though we used them more for making straight lines than measuring. We also talked some about lines, line segments, and vertices. I also briefly reviewed types of angles with them. Also, this drawing process was more complicated than our usual projects, so it was a good opportunity to practice following multi-step directions- which is a critical test-taking skill! After the crystal drawings were completed, then we talked about color. Students were required to plan a specific color scheme for this project- they couldn't just pick whatever colors they wanted. They needed to select a group of three analogous colors- these are colors that are all together on the color wheel. These were the colors of paint they would use. Next, students had to identify the complement of their analogous colors. Complementary colors are directly across from each other on the color wheel. It means they are like opposites. For example, red and green are complements, and I tell students that when you put red next to green, it makes the red look the "reddest" it can look. And green next to red makes the green look even "greener." Students first used a crayon in the complementary color to color a few sections- this was our "accent color". Next, they painted the other spaces with the analogous colors. Can you see how the contrast makes each color "pop"?
To give these crystals a little sparkle, students traced their lines with metallic markers. And it's hard to tell in the photos, but there's also a little glitter added to some of the spaces! The last step added a little scientific flair- students pretended this was a new gemstone they had just discovered, and they had to give their stone a name, tell how much money it was worth, and also tell one interesting fact- maybe something about how the stone was formed, where it was found, or how old the stone was. They came up with some really creative answers! Hendrix is participating in "The Great Kindness Challenge" this week. Each day students are encouraged to do a kind act for someone at our school or in our community. Students have made cards and banners, created homemade gifts, and collaborated on this beautiful display! These colorful cards were created by several 1st and 2nd grade classes. The students explored color relationships and how new colors are made. Each student used only three paint colors (red, yellow, and blue- the primary colors) and mixed them to create orange, green, and violet (the secondary colors). They were encouraged to try different color combinations. The result is this beautifully unique rainbow! Each class has discussed what it could mean to "be a rainbow" for someone. We talked about how if someone is having a hard day, your kind act could be all they need to turn their day around. Just like a rainbow at the end of a storm! * I can't take credit for this idea- the design is based on a bulletin board I saw online, and we made our own version! Here's the original: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/166773992427772517/ Second grade students have just begun a new IB unit involving weather. This week's learning has been all about air. To go along with this topic, we painted with air in the Art room! Each table had some watered-down paint and some eyedroppers. The goal was to get the paint on the paper and then move it around using ONLY air- no brushes, no fingerpainting. I demonstrated several ways of using air (blowing gently, blowing concentrated air through a straw, fanning a puddle with a piece of cardboard) and then it was the students' turn to experiment! After a few minutes, I stopped them and we had a quick discussion. I asked them what they noticed about how the air worked. One student volunteered that if you blew gently, the paint moved slowly, and if you blew really hard, the paint moved very fast and spread out much further! I was really proud when a student used the word "force" to describe the difference!
Then I asked them what they thought this had in common with weather. They immediately connected it to the wind. We compared the force we used to blow the air to the wind's strength during different weather conditions. They were able to make comparisons between the gentle blowing being like a calm breeze, and the forceful blowing being like hurricane-level winds! We also had to talk a little about color theory... I had given the students red, yellow, and blue paint and the colors swirled and mixed as it moved on the paper. We had a quick review of the concepts behind primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and secondary colors (orange, purple, green- the colors that are made when the primaries mix.) It was a fun day with lots of memorable learning! |
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