Artist~Teacher... tishalou

This lesson is adapted from a VAEA session I went to taught by Sarah Matthews at J.B. Watkins Elem, Midlothian, VA and Heather Levet at Elizabeth Scott Elem, Chester, VA.

Next students are instructed to choose an instrument and draw it lightly in pencil on 12 x 18 drawing paper. The instrument must fall off 2 sides to create interesting negative space. Students complete these drawings with oil pastels.

I just finished up a lesson with 2nd grade that I have been teaching for a couple years now. I think it started out as a Fairfax County lesson and I have been editing and adding to it. First we start out by looking at Grant Wood's American Gothic.

I have set up a Flikr image that has everything I want to discuss and links to other facts...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/15230787@N06/5090280059/ just roll over the image to see them all.

We have fun looking at and discussing parodies of the painting. This can bring up some interesting conversations. The pitchfork brings some great responses. Last year I asked what it was used for and someone said - "for an angry mob" this year one of my quiet little blond girls said: "to kill people."

Next students have to draw themselves with a friend or family member. One person has to overlap the other and there must be clues in the background that give hints to what the people are doing.

As students begin to finish I give them a worksheet that they have to write about what is going on in their picture. Then they will switch with a partner and they must write about the other person's artwork. I stress that they are not to try to guess what that person was drawing - they are to bring their own memories and experiences to the drawing and write about what the drawing reminds them of or what memory it brings up for them.

Students sharing what they wrote about each other's drawings.

Love the pool details in the background.

priceless!

One of my resolutions is to blog more often! So for day 1 at least I am sticking to it. Today was my first day back and I am proud to say I did everything on my list which included starting new lessons, dropping my son at Tae Kwon Do and going grocery shopping and making dinner. So far so good! Usually I wimp out and put things off as long as possible.
For Kindergarten I ease back in with a simple crayon drawing lesson where we talk about drawing from memory. They get a chance to tell me what they did over break and what they got for Christmas, because they will tell me whether I want them to or not! I wish I was able to record some of what they shared with me when I went around and asked them to tell me about their drawings... hmmm I could record it on my camera. Perhaps I will try that with the next class, record the student telling about their picture and I could post it as their artist statement on Artsonia. See this has paid off already in a great idea.
Here are a few of the gems from my Kinders today.