So I have been doing some serious thinking about the future of the blog- and propose to create more positive entries that consist of lesson plans divided into short time slots to help other teachers with similar schedules as mine.
So here it goes:
Georgia O'keeffe Grade: K
I love teaching kindergarten. It seems no matter what subject we study the kids always get super excited. Their enthusiasm is refreshing. When the O'Keeffe exhibit came to town ( to the High Museum of Art) I knew I needed to study her in some of my classes. So I chose two groups, one 3rd grade class and one Kindergarten.
Way back since my freshman year of collage I knew I wanted to be an art teacher. Even when my major was theater, secretly it was art education. So since 1999 I have been collecting art books and art calendars. Every year after Christmas I would go the Barnes and Noble and buy cheap art calendars- because I knew one year I would use them. Recently a retired art teacher who had the same idea gave me tons of O'Keeffe examples in various sizes pulled out from small and large calenders. So these went to great use!
Day one: 30 minutes
First Day: I introduce Georgia, talk about how she was from Wisconsin, studied art in NYC and moved to New Mexico. Talk about how her boyfriend, a photographer who helped her have her first show. Then I hold up examples and discuss her flowers. We talk about scale, and abstract shapes and color. We discuss that her flowers sometimes do not look like flowers but are just abstract paintings of organic shapes that capture the flower shapes and colors.
I tell them they are going to create their own giant flowers in the style of O'Keeffe and that we are going to study her paintings. I always tell them that they can't mess up- and that they are going to need to draw really really big.
My kindergarten classes are arranged so that they sit 4 to a table and their are 4 tables in each class. So I pass out large 12x18 paper and have students use crayons to draw from examples placed at each table. Some students share calendar examples, and some use their own. I tell the students that they must draw the shape over and over and make it big drawing all the way to the edge of their papers.
OK- end of first class.
I repeat this again and again using my arms to emphasize that I want them to draw it big.
Ok so by the end of the first 30 minute session they are finished with the drawing because Kindergarten draws really fast. - They do this because they draw with confidence!
If any finish before others- I have then color in shapes of petals.
Day Two: 30 minutes
They color in their flowers using their own color choices but they must stay away from neutrals. ( Easy huh?) They also have to color using their muscles. I say this a lot in my classes. If your hand hurts- shake it out- and continue ;).
Day Three:
Color ( repeat)
Day Four: Paint! ( 30 minutes)
Some tables used tempera others used watercolor. I like to mix it up when I can. I am an art teacher who looks for different results and solutions. This prevents me from getting bored with the lessons. This is why it is difficult to find enough space on my cart sometimes :).
So students apply paint on and around their pieces covering any white space. I recommend black paint to a few students around the edges of their flowers.
So it only took us four weeks but the results are fantastic! I displayed these proudly around the school to help celebrate Youth Art Month.
