1st Grade Woven Landscapes

 My amazing substitute did these while I was out for awhile. She took my lesson WAY BEYOND. This is a basic paper weaving project, but the idea is to use it as a landscape backdrop. She then had the kiddoes add symbols in a pattern on the weaving. The end result is striking.

I just love the clean collage details. These kids are amazing!

Fun with Ceramics!

3rd Grade Ceramic Rain Forest Birds.

Yeah, I had them trace a template and felt like the biggest cheater, but THEY LOOK AWESOME! ..so it's all good, right?

And those are super cute 1st Grade Ceramic Turtles below them on the lily pads. Pinch pots for the shells, so flippin' cute.

Love it when it all comes together!

1st Grade Ceramic Turtles

We did not glaze these, but painted them and them and added metallic details (I had extra paint, and it's close to the end of school...what are you going to do?)

Deconstructed Books: 5th Grade

Ok, this has been a HIT! Every kid was successful and everyone really enjoys looking at them.

Our librarian pulled over a hundred books to be destroyed due to damage. I grabbed them. Altered books are all over the Internet! Great way to introduce contemporary art.

I was able to find a lesson plan on Dick Blick's website (awesome plans btw!) that helped me with a good starting point.

• I gave the kids 2 1/2 class periods to do this. They have a tendency to stretch their projects ooooooouuut. Since they were so excited to do this, the time limit was appropriate.
• I purchased and borrowed hole punchers, rubber cement and "fancy" scissors.  
• We started off with this being a lesson on form and symmetry, but I was very open to student choice.
• If you want to try this: have the kids open the book to the middle. They can fold, cut, curl, rip, etc. Then do the same thing on the other side. From there, see where it takes you. I encouraged symmetry to kids who had some struggles. Other kids cut out illustrations and attached them in great ways.
• After a few tries, they took OFF. Kids wanted to add watercolor, yarn, sharpie details...and they were all excited.
•  This has been one of my most favorite projects this year. I am so proud of how creative and innovative the kids were.

Here is the sign I posted so everyone understood EXACTLY where the books came from!

Once the kids knew that these were going to become thrash, it was easier to cut into a beloved book.

Lewisville ISD Student Art Show April 2012

Some of the beautiful art my students created this school year! So proud of them!

Lewisville ISD Student Art Show April 2012

"The Donald Wall" at the Art Gallery in the MCL Grand Theater

Lewisville ISD Student Art Show April 2012

Congratulations! 43 students were selected to represent Donald at the 2011-2012 LISD Student Art Show in April.