Miss Packham's Palette

2nd Grade Winter Cardinals

2011-12-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

This is probably one of my favorite projects that I've ever taught. The kids were able to draw their cardinals really well and were very proud of them. I love when that happens! I got this idea from Art Projects for Kids (Kathy has many great winter projects if you need some ideas) but we watercolor painted ours instead of using pastel.

2nd Grade Snowflakes

2011-12-16T14:48:00.000-08:00

I just couldn't do enough Winter projects this year! Especially with the younger grades. This was a quick and easy project. The students drew their snowflakes in white crayon....a little tricky on white paper, but they did okay for the most part. Then they had fun painting over the snowflakes with watercolor and seeing them appear like magic!

4th Grade Abstract Winter Trees

2011-12-16T14:43:00.000-08:00

I ran into this wintery idea at Art Projects for Kids. My 4th graders loved it...they had a blast sprinkling salt onto the wet watercolor to get a snowy affect.

2nd Grade Scarecrows

2011-12-16T14:33:00.000-08:00

I am so behind on posting...we actually did these back in September during the fall season. I found the idea on Deep Space Sparkle a couple of years ago and always wanted to try it. We finally got the chance and I'm so please with the results!

4th Grade Islamic Architecture

2011-12-16T14:29:00.001-08:00

We create buildings patterned after Islamic architecture every year when the 4th graders study "The Spread of Islam" in world history. This year, I tried something different. We drew our buildings, complete with domes, pointed arches, and minarets as seen in Dome of the Rock and Taj Mahal. Then the students traced their lines with Elmers white glue, let it dry, and then filled in the spaced with pastels. They turned out beautiful!

4th Grade Stained Glass Windows

2011-12-16T14:10:00.000-08:00

The windows in my classroom have been bright and colorful for the past few weeks thanks to the 4th graders who created these beautiful stained glass windows. I can't remember where I saw the idea, but we painted onto transparencies and then created the window by folding black construction paper in half to cut our designs. It was super easy and successful!

Sunflowers

2011-06-14T10:11:00.001-07:00

Perfect end of the year project! I found the idea on Artsonia. We had been studying Van Gogh and we talked specifically about his painting/thick brushstroke style. As soon as the students heard that they would get to use spackle, they got really excited to begin the project! I love how they did their very best work! The only downside was that we didn't get to display them since it was the end of the year.

Pattern Name Towers

2011-05-21T13:17:00.000-07:00

I needed something to keep my 7th graders busy for the last few days of school. I've done this with my younger students and thought it might be too easy for my middle schoolers, but they loved it! I can't remember which blog I found the idea on :( But the idea is for the letters to get smaller as they go farther up the paper and then fill them in with patterns. Coloring in the patterns is optional :)

Modigliani Portraits

2011-05-20T17:50:00.000-07:00

I was hoping we would have enough time to squeeze this in before the end of the year. Ever since I saw the idea on Art Projects for Kids, I have been dying to try it! The kids loved it! I only wish it wasn't time to start taking down the artwork at my school...

They've Got the Whole World in Their Hands!

2011-04-23T20:11:00.000-07:00

I am disappointed in myself! This is the only Earth Day project I had my students do this semester...I had such high hopes for projects for this holiday but things seem to move quickly this time of year. Just getting through each week will have to be achievement enough! The kindergarten class had a lot of fun doing this project. It turned out great...it was an easy project and the results are bright and fabulous!

Totem Poles

2011-04-12T17:35:00.000-07:00

My many months of collecting paper towel tubes finally paid off!! I found these cute templates online, which were colored by the students and then wrapped around the tubes. Of course, feathers give a nice finishing touch to any art project!

Pattern Self-Portraits

2011-04-12T17:20:00.000-07:00

I found this idea on Artsonia and just had to try it out! Students first learned facial proportions, next drew their self-portraits, and then added lots of fun and interesting patterns!

Ancient Chinese Scrolls

2011-04-12T17:10:00.000-07:00

I found this idea on the fabulous blog Oodles of Art...and just as mentioned on that blog, this project took forever...but the results are worth it :)

Core Knowledge Culminating Event

2011-04-10T15:21:00.000-07:00

Here are the pictures about the school-wide event we had last week. As I was posting these, I realized that I didn't get pictures of everything, so I will have to post more later.

Families came to our school to see all the wonderful things that our students have been learning about. My part was to make sure there was a piece of artwork on display for each student. We don't have a lot of bulletin boards available for displaying artwork...so I worked hard to make a display area of artwork next to each classroom.

Whew!

All the hard work paid off though, the students were proud of their work, and the families commented on how wonderful the students did. I saw many parents taking pictures of their students next to their art work....

definitely worth it!

Kindergarten Grape Vines

2011-04-10T14:59:00.000-07:00

My little kindergarteners were learning about fruits that grow on a vine and I needed an art project to teach them about different lines...luckily I found this perfect idea on ARTolazzi!

Another fantastic blogger, Mini Matisse, also tried this idea and made a wonderful worksheet to go along with it...which I also borrowed :)

Thanks to both sites, our grape vines were a success! We drew our lines with crayon first and then used one finger to paint green/yellow vines and the thumb for the grapes. The kids absolutely loved getting to fingerpaint!

Laurel Burch Cats

2011-04-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

The colorful hallway display!

...some of the cats before the finishing touches...but still great :)

She Smells Like the Art Room!

2011-04-07T07:23:00.001-07:00

We had an exciting school-wide event last night where the students families came and were able to see what the students have been learning through classroom displays, presentations, performances, and of course, most importantly...art galleries! Pictures to come...but my favorite part of the evening that I just had to share was when one of my 2nd graders introduced me to her family...

Eva said," This is Miss Packham! She is the art teacher. She smells like the art room...and that room smells like paint!"

I guess there are worse things that could be said about the art teacher! So I'm wondering...do any of you other art teachers smell like your room...if so, what smell would that be?!

Islamic Architecture

2011-03-26T11:40:00.000-07:00

My fourth graders had lots of fun making these! I love the bright colors and the gold paint!

Geckos in the Style of Henri Rousseau

2011-03-12T13:57:00.000-08:00

Pointillism

2011-03-12T13:46:00.000-08:00

Our first try at Pointillism in 7th grade...pretty successful I would say!

The White House

2011-03-12T13:38:00.000-08:00

6th graders were studying the characteristics of Neoclassical artwork. We talked about the different aspects of Neoclassical architecture and then related it to modern day by studying one of the most famous examples of Neoclassical architecture today...the White House! At first the students were a little intimidated...but we drew it together step by step. They look great!

Mona Lisa

2011-03-12T13:23:00.000-08:00

I did this last year with 5th grade and they turned out amazing again this year! I had the students create frames this year for a finishing touch. The students drew designs on the frame and then added white glue to create a raised effect. When the glue was dry, the students painted the frames gold. The frames aren't really visible in this picture...but they look great!

Van Gogh's Starry Night

2011-03-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

I tried these with my 2nd graders again this year...on a much smaller scale. They turned out fabulous! I love the black paper against the bright oil pastels.

Awesome Websites with Art History Lesson Ideas!

2011-03-09T08:49:00.001-08:00

I just had to share 2 websites that make teaching art history fun and enjoyable for students.

I use them all the time for lesson ideas and have even used the printouts on the first website listed for lessons to leave with classroom teachers when I was absent for the day.

Not much time to go into detail, so go check them out on your own....you won't be disappointed!

http://makingartfun.com/

http://www.coreknowledge.org/

4th Grade George Washingtons

2011-02-26T10:16:00.000-08:00

Just in time for President's Day!

Kindergarteners and the Statue of Liberty

2011-02-26T09:44:00.000-08:00

Art Teacher Directory

2011-02-02T14:51:00.000-08:00

Best Resource Ever!

I just bumped into an Art teacher directory on this blog:

http://vividlayers.blogspot.com/2010/12/art-teacher-blog-directory.html

Check out the blogs and add your name to the list!

Just wanted to share...now I'm going back to browsing all of these amazing blogs....

8th Grade Roy Lichtenstein Comics

2011-01-22T12:04:00.000-08:00

My 8th graders learned about the fantastic artist, Roy Lichtenstein. Then, they found a newspaper comic to enlarge using the grid method. They painted their drawing with tempera paint. Very impressive!

6th Grade Learning about Symmetry, Proportion, and Balance

2011-01-22T11:36:00.000-08:00

These masterpieces are hanging on a bulletin board in the school hallway right now!

5th Grade Nutcrackers

2011-01-22T11:29:00.000-08:00

I saw this idea on several blogs and everyone seemed to do it a little different. We did ours step-by-step and then painted with tempera paint. We were working right up until the last minute before Christmas break! Some students didn't even have time to paint their nutcracker's hair! But the results were still fabulous.

Kindergarten Snowmen

2011-01-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

There is nothing more adorable than a kindergartner's snowman. Don't they look so happy? We did the snowflakes with Q-tips and then added accessories with holiday patterned scrapbook paper once the paint was dry. I usually go to their classroom and teach them there, but since this project required paint, they traveled down to the art room in their cute little aprons. Very fun day!

Fall Trees in Perspective

2011-01-22T11:10:00.000-08:00

Today felt like a nice fall day...of course it is winter, but I thought of these paintings. I originally got the idea from one of the art Usbourne books and decided to try it out with my 5th graders. They loved it and it helped to reinforce the concept of perspective that we have been studying.

2nd Grade Turkey Creations

2011-01-22T10:57:00.000-08:00

Yes, it is January and I am just now uploading Thanksgiving projects :) But better late than never. This was a last minute creation by our 2nd graders. I just love these long skinny legged, sharp toothed, fancy-looking turkeys.

Veterans Day

2010-12-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

Veterans Day is very important at our school. We have a big assembly every year to honor those who have served for our country. All of the students write essays, poems, learn songs, and create artwork and then we invite Veterans to the school to enjoy the performances. It is always a great experience for students, the Veterans and their families. I am in charge of directing a patriotic art project for each grade and then hanging up the artwork in the multi-purpose room. I was so proud of all of my students!

Sorry for the sloppy photos...I didn't have time to crop! My third graders drew these portraits of soldiers. CUTEST thing I've ever seen!

My second graders got to practice their scissor skills...

I got this idea at Oodles of Art. Step by step process...

My 6th graders painted these beautiful poppies...the aluminum foil really makes the paintings pop!! I can't remember where I found this idea...but it was a hit!

Finally...here are the end results! The flag is a mural done by my 8th graders...found on Art Projects for Kids. It was the star of the show!

Scratch Art

2010-12-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

This was so easy, I'm surprised I haven't tried it before! We did this in after school Art class...the students colored patterns in with crayon (making sure to press hard...great way to use all of my short, broken crayons) and then painted over their patterns with black tempera paint. After they dried, we scratched out all kinds of designs! The best scratchers we found after some trial and error were toothpicks. The kids loved uncovering the color and wanted to keep doing more and more. Definitely a project to repeat!

Spiderweb Bowls

2010-12-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

We made these in my after school art class...the kids loved them but it was very messy...lots and lots of glue. I found the idea on a craft website but I actually tried the technique posted on eighteen25 and that worked much better. I love the spider with one big eye and one small eye...I always tell my students they are so much more creative than I am :)

We made these

Symmetrical Pumpkins

2010-11-21T13:33:00.000-08:00

My 3rd graders get to learn about symmetry and I get to teach a fun Halloween project! Perfect!

Silly Jack-o-Lanterns

2010-11-21T13:21:00.000-08:00

I found this cute idea on Artsonia.com. The trick is to have the students cut out and glue together (no drawing!) a mouth, then teeth, then the pumpkin and so on. Make it a mystery! By the time we got to the circle for the pumpkin, I clued the students in on what we were creating. There was lots of giggling as we saw HUGE mouths glued onto teenie tiny pumpkins. Definitely a hit!

Ancient Greek Vases

2010-11-21T12:50:00.000-08:00

Our 6th graders were learning about Ancient Greece. The 6th grade teacher and I got together and came up with the idea to make paper-mache Greek vases. I found a couple of different lesson plan versions on Artsonia.com. We did ours by taping styrofoam bowls to the top and bottom of a balloon. Students covered their balloons with paper-mache paste (a mixture of water and flour) and newspaper. After the vases dried, the students fashioned all different kinds of handles from scrunched up tin foil and we hot glued them on. We then spray painted the vases and students added designs with sharpies. It sounded like a good idea and the results are amazing...however if I ever do this project again it will be on a much much smaller scale. This took FOREVER! But the students loved it and the younger students commented that they can't wait till they are in 6th grade so that they can make this project!

Under the Sea with 3rd Grade!

2010-11-17T18:14:00.001-08:00

This is one of those projects that started out as one thing and ended up as another! My third graders fabulously drew underwater creatures (they were learning about fish and mammals in science) from lots of resource pictures that I scattered about the tables. Then, they colored their creatures with crayon, crumpled their paper, and painted with blue watercolor. That is where the project was planned to end...however, I had a last minute discovery in one of my cupboards (this happens to me frequently) of clear cellophane! The students crumpled that up (sounds like pounding rain when all 28 students do this at the same time FYI) and stuck it to their paintings using a glue dot (fantastic invention!) in each corner. Voila! They looked great in the hallway, one teacher commented that the cellophane made the fish look like they were in an aquarium!

"I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!"

2010-11-17T17:55:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite books to read at the beginning of the year is "I Ain't Gonna Paint No More!" by Kathy Beaumont. We decided to create our own portraits in steps. We did the background by straw-blowing tempera paint. Such fun...such mess :)

Tallest Ice Cream Cones

2010-11-17T17:38:00.000-08:00

I got this idea from Oodles of Art and decided to try it out as an beginning of the year project for 2nd graders. They loved it and we counted scoops at the end to see who the winner was! Glitter glue added the final touch.

What Happened to the Beginning of the Year???

2010-11-17T17:35:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted since June?! Seriously? If you are a teacher you must feel like I do... despite all the hard work and tired mornings, the beginning of the year has FLOWN by and we are now quickly approaching the holidays. I figured I better get some of the projects that we have done lately up before I start posting turkeys and snowmen!

Origami Stars

2010-06-12T19:34:00.000-07:00

After School Art...always a joy! These origami stars were courtesy of Zen Crafting...she has a step-by-step picture tutorial as well as a video tutorial! Talk about on the ball! The kids really enjoyed creating origami...not to mention raiding my amazing mixed bag of buttons for their star center!

Dorothea Lange Collage

2010-06-12T17:19:00.000-07:00

My ninth graders were learning about Dorothea Lange's, Migrant Mother, this semester. I wanted the students to make the history of the photo more personal to their lives. The students were required to pick a theme relating to the photo and create a collage around that theme. What talented middle schoolers I have...

Symmetrical Butterflies

2010-06-12T16:41:00.000-07:00

Dream Catchers

2010-06-10T19:47:00.000-07:00

Another wonderful afternoon with After School Art students! I found this creative Dream Catcher tutorial at That Artist Woman.

Uncovering Mona Lisa

2010-06-09T16:23:00.000-07:00

My fifth graders were learning about portrait-style paintings during the Reniassance. What better portrait than Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa! A classic...with a twist. I gave each student a line drawing of Mona Lisa. They had to flip the portrait upside down so that her face was at the bottom of the page (this helps the students focus less on trying to get it to look exactly like a face and focus more on lines and shapes), and cover it with a piece of black construction paper, leaving only the bottom inch showing. On a 12"x18" piece of white paper they drew what they could see. When they finished drawing that inch, they would raise the paper inch by inch until they had drawn the whole portrait. Students finished off their drawings by using colored pencils to give each Mona Lisa a different look. I had some extra wallpaper scraps so we used those for the backgrounds...I thought it made them look a little more Renaissance-like. They were quite proud of their results, as was I!

Big Mouthed Fish

2010-05-10T20:01:00.000-07:00

Gone Fishin' with after-school artists...

Mother's Day Handprint Daffodils

2010-04-12T16:32:00.000-07:00

I was trying to figure out a Mother's Day project for my younger elementary students when I stumbled across this daffodil online. I thought hand prints would be a great keepsake for moms! I had the students write a letter and we pasted that onto the back of the daffodil.

Mother's Day Watercolor Flowers

2010-04-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

I wasn't planning on having my 6th graders do a project for Mother's Day, but we had some extra time. I set out all of my flowers and vases and they went to work. These beat any Hallmark card!

Kindergarten Mother's Day Fingerprint Flowers

2010-04-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

Easter Egg Mosaics

2010-04-02T16:25:00.000-07:00

For Easter this year, I drew an egg template for the students. We talked about mosaics and they got to work right away to create these materpieces! What a great way to get rid of extra paper scraps!

Pinwheels

2010-03-12T20:08:00.000-08:00

Pinwheel Maker is a title I never thought I would earn! Not as hard as it looks though...we tried these for after-school art and they turned out just fine! The students had fun running up and down the hallways making their pinwheels spin.I can't remember which blog I found this idea on...but there are a few variations out there in cyberspace. We used thumbtacks stuck into pencil erasers...but the 1st grade teachers at my school tried these with brads stuck through the center of their pinwheel and rolled up paper for the stem.
Happy Pinwheeling!

Perspective Snowman - 3rd Grade

2009-12-19T13:29:00.000-08:00

What better way to learn perspective around this time of year than to do a partial snowman! I borrowed this idea from one of the great blogs I follow...scatterbrain that I am, I can't remember which one...but I love how it turned out.

Abstract Poinsettia Flowers - 2nd Grade

2009-12-19T12:55:00.000-08:00

I saw this idea on Oodles of Art and immediately had to try it with my second graders! We began with a discussion on abstract art. We viewed real poinsettia flowers and talked about the shape of the petals. We then talked about how we could make these beautiful holiday flowers into an abstract work of art by ripping all of our petals and leaves. This project was also an excellent time to teach glue control! They turned out beautiful and received many complements!

Kindergarten Tissue Paper Snowmen

2009-12-19T11:44:00.000-08:00

This project was an idea I borrowed from another blog and it turned out so much better than I expected! The students had a great time with it and were able to practice fine motor skills. We began by having a discussion about cool colors. Next, we pasted down squares of tissue paper. After a little practice and a few reminders, the students had the process down to an art! The next class, after the tissue paper and glue had dried, we began painting our snowman. We talked about the shapes that we used for each part of the snowman's body. Last, my favorite part! We took Q-tips and added snowflakes for the final touch! What a talented group of kindergartners I have!

Straw Blown Turkeys

2009-11-12T16:17:00.000-08:00

My students loved this Thanksgiving project! The straw blown feathers turned out amazing! I tried it with both 2nd and 3rd graders. The students added their own individual characteristics to their turkeys! So creative!

Fall Tree Reflection

2009-09-12T15:57:00.000-07:00

This project was done by my creative 2nd graders! We did the soft pastel trees first, then the watercolor sky, and then the tempera paint grass. For the last step, my favorite step, we used Q-tips to add tempera paint leaves to the trees. I had some gold paint left over from another project that gave the leaves quite the finishing touch! After each step, you need to fold the paper over and press in order to get the reflection. It is very much a step-by-step process but the results were beautiful!