4th grade Robots!
4th graders started their first project of the semester by building a robot! Students used geometric shapes to build their own unique drawing of a robot. Once the design was complete, they added gray for the metal color. We looked at how metal objects have a reflection from the shiny surface that creates a white highlight on its surface. They also studied how the opposite side of that object there is a shadow. Students added their highlights and shadows, and then completed the robot with color for additional buttons and parts. Once the robot was finished, they wrote a little summary about their robots and what they do.
Northern Lights
Fourth grade looked at the phenomenon known as the Aurora Borealis, or sometimes also referred to as the Northern Lights. We watched a short video that shows how the strange lights are formed from solar bursts that hit earth's magnetic field. Students created their own Aurora Borealis using a blending of chalk pastels. Next, students created a silhouette of either mountains or trees on the horizon in front of the Northern Lights using black ink.
If you are interested to see how the lights are formed, here is a link to the video- NASA video
If you are interested to see how the lights are formed, here is a link to the video- NASA video
Cats at Night
For this project students created a variety of papers to form a collage of their cats. First, students painted their sky using cool colors and splatter painting stars. Using a little chalk, they created a glow to their moon. Then students used oil pastels and crayons with a paint resist to create the texture of the wood fence. Then students created a variety of patterns with oil pastels and water colors for the original cat silhouettes. Finally, students put the collage together cutting and gluing each shape onto the background.
Tube Sculpture
Students are working on creating their own sculpture using paper tubes as their medium. Students hand rolled each paper tube prior to building. We looked at different sculptures from around the world. We talked about how balance plays a integral roll (no pun intended) in creating a sculpture. We also studied how negative space, the empty space in and around the sculpture, can be just as important to the viewer as the sculpture itself. Students glued each piece together to form their own unique design!
4th grade Wavy bowls
4th grade learned to make a slab of clay by rolling it out on their own. They then added pattern and texture to the clay with texture plates. When ready, they gently put their slab over a cup and let gravity create their bowls. Once out of the kiln, students applied glaze colors to their bowls. This project was also a lesson in science! Students learned a little about physical changes and chemical changes in the clay and glazing process.
Symmetry in art
For the last day of art, some of the older students were given the opportunity to make a symmetrical design using, of all things, a napkin. Students created their own designs onto the front of the napkin. Then they flipped it to check that it came through to the back. Once the design was complete, they would open it once to do any touching up in the middle. After the center was finished, they opened the napkin entirely to reveal the finished design.