Line sculptures and Munch Screams

Second Graders practiced making and labelling different types of line, even inventing descriptive names for ones that don't have one already. Then, after studying Matisse's Paper Cutouts, students folded, curled and twisted paper to create a lines sculpture. The solutions the students came up with continued to surprise me as the unit progressed. I loved how you can see a new idea spread across a table as student comes up with a create folding solution.

I think this is my new favorite projects. Every one came out amazing and the students had a blast making them. Even my other classes have been begging to do this project just based on how they came out. The only down side is they're impossible to store!

Third Graders studied Edvard Munch and discussed how he used line and color to express his extreme distress. Students brainstormed what makes them so frustrated that they feel like screaming and used this idea to create their own Munch drawings. Using oil pastels, students used lines to fill in each of their forms. Students found it challenging coloring in their picture while maintaining the appearance of the lines. Students really had to experiment with values and oil pastels techniques in order to make their ideas shine through.

Introducing, the wonderful world of Lines

I was absolutely inspired by art teacher/blogger Cassie Stephens in this entire unit and you have her to thank for the poem your kindergarteners and first graders are reciting daily :)

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.

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.