Virtual Classroom

Friday, October 24, 2025

Invitation to Create: Monsters-Where the Wild Things Are

 This week we will read a beloved story, Where The Wild Things Are

This book has inspired children for decades to imagine a magical place full of fantastic creatures.

After reading the story, we will use our imaginations to create our own beasts and monsters.






Supplies:
Paper
Markers & Crayons
Construction paper (red & white)
Glue

Video for instructions


Tuesday, October 21, 2025

Working as Artists: Painting Shapes

 With a Paintbrush We Can Create Shapes.


Create

2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

A. Skill Acquisition

Through experimentation on, build skills in various media and approaches to art making.


How do you think this artist moved his brush to create these shapes?

August Light, Hans Hoffmann
What shapes do you see?
A brushstroke is the mark a paintbrush makes.
Can you tell if the artist was painting a shape with up and down brushstrokes or side to side brushstrokes?

2 ways to create shapes:


Blob Method
  • Dip brush in water to water
  • Load your brush with paint
  • Move the paint up and down, or back and forth until you have a shape that resembles a square.
Outline Method
  • Paint two vertical lines. 
  • Cross them with two horizontal lines so that you have a square.
  • Fill the square with paint. Demonstrate both methods of painting another shape, such as a circle or a triangle.
Paint the white spaces, leave the shapes so we can see them.
Remember to rinse and wipe the brush.

  • Give students tiny brushes and black tempera to paint on top of their shapes.

Art talk questions:
1. Did you paint shapes in different sizes?
2. Did you paint any geometric shapes? How about free-form shapes?

Shape song and Show





Supplies:
Paper
Paint (tempera, cake tempera, watercolors)
If you don't use paint, markers, crayons or oil pastels can be used)

Monday, October 13, 2025

Thinking and Working as Artists: Chalk Pastel

 

Thinking and Working as Artists-Chalk Pastel

Create

2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

A. Skill Acquisition

Through experimentation on, build skills in various media and approaches to art making.


What happens when you put one color on top of another?
What happens when you blend with your finger?
What happens when you press harder/lighter when you color with a pastel?


What can I do with a Chalk Pastel?


A chalk pastel is made from a powdery substance that is used for drawing and comes in many different colors.
Chalk pastels are like cousins to sidewalk chalk. 




Chalk pastels have a soft look, and can be blended easily.

Mary Cassatt-Little Girl in a Big Hat


On the Cliff-Theodore Robinson
Lynn Morgan-The OrangeWoods


Today we are going to explore and discover how to use chalk pastels!

  • Two ways to hold a pastel, tip and side
  • Changing pressure 
  • Layering colors
  • Blending with one finger
Technique Video for Chalk Pastels







Supplies:
-A few sticks of colored chalk, sidewalk chalk or chalk pastels.
-Your printmaking project from last week or a drawing done with a black marker or black paint.

Monday, October 6, 2025

Thinking and Working as Artists: Printmaking

 Thinking and Working as Artists-Printmaking

Create

2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

A. Skill Acquisition

Through experimentation on, build skills in various media and approaches to art making.

How is printing different than painting?
Can you think of something else you could dip in paint to make a print?

Lines Make Shapes-- PRINTING!
Be a shape detective...
What geometric shapes can you find in these pictures?








How might you print these shapes with the straight line tool? 



Where a Line Bends a Shape Begins 
(Play before shape discussion)

Printing shapes with a straight line tool.

Video of printmaking techniques


What motion do you make when you print?
What motion do you make when you paint?


1. Demonstrate making basic geometric shapes. 
2. Have students practice first without paint to understand how to place their printing tool.
3. Students may get a second sheet of paper to create their own composition, or they may continue on with their first. 
Have students identify geometric shapes in their art. 




Supplies:
- Tempera paint
- Paper
- Cardboard pieces

Monday, September 29, 2025

Working as Artists: Meet the Paintbrush

  Painting at Last!!!

Create

2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

A. Skill Acquisition

Through experimentation on, build skills in various media and approaches to art making.


Today, we are going to become friends with our paintbrush.
We are going to learn different ways to hold and control the marks we make with this new tool.


Every painting begins with a brushstroke. A brushstroke is a mark made by a paintbrush.
What kinds of brushstrokes do you see in these paintings?


Wassily Kandinsky, Untitled


Franz Kline, Mahoning


Exploring the Paintbrush, how to hold, and control movement:

  • parts of paintbrush--bristle, ferrule, handle
  • how to hold a paintbrush
  • Children locate shoulder, elbow wrist and finger, hold joint with free hand. Pretend to paint in air moving each joint. Notice how the length of the brushstroke changes.

Artists at Work:
Guided Practice Video








Paint:
Long straight line, leave a space, paint another
Curved line
Wavy line
Zig-zag
Dashed line






Ma Lien and the Magic Brush, Hisako Kimishim
a

Monday, September 22, 2025

Working as Artists: Paper Playground Sculpture

 

Artists at Work: Kindergarten Playground Sculptures

 Making a Paper Playground Sculpture:

Create

1. Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

A. Play & Ideation

Engage in exploration and imaginative play with materials

Create

2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

A. Skill Acquisition

Through experimentation on, build skills in various media and approaches to art making.



Today we are going to make a paper sculpture of a playground.
Sculpture is three-dimensional. You can see it from many sides because it stands up from the base. 
When we make paper sculpture, we cut, fold, curl and glue the paper to make it stand. 


Think about last time you played on a playground...
What were some of your favorite things to play on?



Paper sculpture techniques:
Roll
Accordian Fold 
Fringe


Lesson Demonstration




Tuesday, September 2, 2025

Artists at Work: Crayons!

 What can I do with a crayon?

Create

2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.

A. Skill Acquisition

Through experimentation on, build skills in various media and approaches to art making.

Experiment with Crayon Techniques: Using the tip and side of the crayon, and creating a rubbing using crayon


As artists we will discover many ways to use materials in the art room. 


What is a crayon, and how is it made?


How to make a crayon video link
5:49-11:52


Let's try some different ways we can 
 use our crayons!

Materials needed:
Crayons
2 or 3 of broken, peeled crayons
2 half sheets of copy paper
Small piece of consruction paper and stickers


Video Lesson





The Day the Crayons Quit