Kindergarteners and first graders learned all about vertical, horizontal, diagonal, carved and angled lines by reading and acting out "Larry the Line"
Larry the Line
Larry the line
Is a friend of mine
(creating a snake by opening the fingers of your hand, puppet style and there's your snake!)
He can make three
(hold up a three with your fingers)
Straight lines for me!
Ver-tickle
(create a vertical line with your forearm)
Diagonal and horizontal!
(pantomime each)
Any curve, he can learn
With a twist and a turn.
When he's out of his tangle
he makes a great...angle.
(created by placing your hand on your hip and pointing to your elbow)
Any line, he can make
After all, he's a snake!
(cue children screaming and hissing like a snake)
It took some repeated articulation for students to realize we were saying LINE and definitely not LION.
Kindergarteners practiced making different types of lines using a variety of materials. We then read Eric Carle's 1, 2, 3, to the Zoo to learn about different types of animals. Then, using clay, students had to mold a ball into an animal without cutting, only pinching. Finally, students used as many different types of lines as they knew to carve into their clay animal. Many students were too excited to have clay to focus on properly carving their lines and ended up shredding their animals. With a few repairs, they were able to settle and make fabulous animals.
First Graders learned the emotive and expressive qualities of both lines and colors. Students studied Kandinsky and described the energy and purpose of each line in his energetic compositions. Then, students listened closely to Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and used his march to inspire their own line compositions. While, some devolved into excited scribbling and color mixing, some really listened to the different parts of the song and illustrated what they heard.
I really want to hang these up but I'm so afraid of them falling and shattering. I already sent home half to be safe.
First Graders learned the emotive and expressive qualities of both lines and colors. Students studied Kandinsky and described the energy and purpose of each line in his energetic compositions. Then, students listened closely to Prokofiev's Peter and the Wolf and used his march to inspire their own line compositions. While, some devolved into excited scribbling and color mixing, some really listened to the different parts of the song and illustrated what they heard.
As much as I use line in my personal art, it definitely took some creativity to make it interesting for the younger students.
