Weeks of 8/31/26 and 9/7/26 - First Rotation with 4th and 5th graders

4th and 5th graders had their first art rotation!

4th graders looked at three different self-portraits of artist Pable Picasso at ages 18, 25 and 90 and they engaged in a quick write about what they saw in the artworks. It is always interesting to see how students look at these artworks and what they share as we moved into the class discussion. several students were intrigued by how the first two self-portraits looked like they were of the same person and that there was so much going on in the third one with lines, shapes and colors.

Once done, students created two sketches of their self-portrait by looking in a mirror and examples of head shape, eyes, ears, nose and mouth provided. They used a template to trace the outline of their head on a 12" cardboard and divided it into different shapes. We used tempera paint in different colors to paint the shapes and dry during the first class.

During the second class, students used a gold marker to create patterns inside each shape of their self-portrait from the previous class. they also used cardboard scraps to look at their favorite sketch and cut eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth and ears. Some added earring and hair. They used paint sticks to color the different pieces and glued them using a glue stick and finish their work.

5th graders worked on creating Explosion books. This is a great beginning of the year project getting to know the students! I shared several handmade books by artist Bhavna Mehta. I was fortunate to have her give me her collection of handmade books. It was great for students to see the different techniques she had used.

During our first class, students created an explosion book using 3 6-inch cardstock squares and folding them. This year, I also had students create a cover with cardboard to protect their book. Students used text and illustration of different prompts I provided them such as their name and room number, their favorite hobby, sport, food, adjectives to describe themselves, among many others. We worked on the prompts and traced the text and illustrations with black and gold Sharpies and used color pencils to color during the first three classes. On the final class, students cut and glued the squares and triangles inside their explosion book to complete their work.

I am blown away by their works this year! There is so much variety and uniqueness in the way each student responded to each prompt.

Weeks of 8/17/26 and 8/24/26 - First rotation with 2nd and 3rd grades

 Our 2nd and 3rd graders had their first art rotation for the school year! I am so happy Ms.Kathi and I are able to offer whole class art again this year in addition to the half and half art!

3rd graders looked at the artwork "Synecdoche" by artist Byron Kim and engaged in a quick write followed by a class discussion. We discussed how we thought the different colors displayed were different skin colors and that how some were light and some were dark. Several students shared how we are all unique in some ways and different in some.

Students looked at their faces, hairstyle, and clothes in a mirror. They selected the paper closest to their skin color, added eyes, hair, eyebrows, nose, and lips. I encouraged them to make their portraits as unique as possible. Some added their birthmarks, hair to the side, and an expression after trying several while looking in the mirror! This lesson took students 3 1-hour class to complete. I love how unique each of these are and how they pop out of the paper!

At the end of the 3rd class, I let students know they will be creating donut sculptures to paint the next class. I showed them the work of artist Jae Yon Kim who creates large porcelain donuts in a variety of shapes, colors and patterns. I gave each student a 9-inch construction paper square where they first traced a small circle for the donut opening using a green lid. They then created a unique shape by drawing around their opening. Once students left, I used assembly foam, an incredible medium from Home Depot to squirt the foam on each students' donut. The foam is sticky and wet when it comes out of the can and sets in about 30 minutes. 

Students returned the 4th class to paint with acrylic paint and created sprinkles and a drizzle!

I read the story "That's NOT my name" by Anoosha Syed to 2nd graders. I love this story for 2nd graders where the main character is a girl named Mirha. She is excited to go to school and make friends on her first day. None of her classmates pronounce her name correctly. She decides to change her name, but her mom talks to her about the meaning behind her beautiful name. Mirha goes back to school the next day and gently corrects her friends when they mis pronounce her name.

Following the story, I gave each student a 9" X 12" watercolor paper with 20 boxes drawn with a pencil. Each student wrote one letter of their name inside each box and repeated this process until the boxes were filled. They then traced their letters and boxes with a chisel tip black Sharpie. They returned next class to use 1 warm color and 1 cool color watercolor inside each box to finish their work. They also filled in a small piece of paper and wrote something unique about their name.

During our whole classes students created Lego inspired self-portraits. I first read the story "Be Yourself" by Peter H Reynolds. Following the story, I gave each student a 9" X12" white tagboard. I gave each table a template for the head. Students traced using the template and added features, body and limbs to create their self-portrait while looking in a mirror and examples I provided. They then traced pencil lines with a black Sharpie and used twistable color pencils in their work to finish them. Below is student works displayed at the Paradise Hills public library for the month of September.

1st week of the 2026-27 school year

The 2026-27 school year is here! It is always so great to see staff, get the classroom ready and plan lessons during our prep days.

We started the school year with our beginning of the year collaborative artwork with 2nd, 3rd 4th, 5th grades and our ESN students. This year, we looked at Athangudi tiles from Tamil Nadu, India for inspiration and discussed how every tile was colorful, with beautiful patterns and had symmetry or asymmetry. These tiles are handmade and artists use cement and sand to create them. We also looked at a video on how these tiles are created! Students commented on how it was so satisfying to watch the process!

Each class came to me for 50 minutes. I go over the class expectations quickly first. Students used 3” neon card stock to fold in different ways shapes, arranged and glued them on a 6” black square. Each class had a different color combination as shown below. It is always exciting to see how the art gets bigger each day.

Once done, we used white school glue to glue the individual squares on a 24“ x 36“ black heavyweight construction paper. I installed the work in our auditorium where it will be until Celebration of Art in April 2027!

Weeks of 5/11/26 and 5/18/26 - Last rotation with 2nd and 3rd grades

 Our 2nd and 3rd graders' last rotation for the school year and yes, this year has gone by way too quickly!

2nd graders created art inspired by the Carlsbad flower fields. I love that I can use a San Diego spot as an example for students and it's always fun to hear students talk about visiting this spot and that it's on the way to Legoland!

I first showed students a photo of the fields and we had a class discussion about what we notice and wonder. We noticed how objects, people and place appear smaller as move farther away from us. We also noticed how the colors seem to fade away. I introduced the words one point perspective, horizon and vanishing point.

Students first created a horizontal line for the horizon, then a vanishing point with pencil on a 9"x12" watercolor paper. Once done, they used a ruler to connect the vanishing point to the sides and bottom edge of the paper. They then used a brown crayon to trace the lines and a variety of colors for the flowers using organic shapes that became smaller as they moved towards the horizon. Next class, they continued working on the flowers, added white clouds with crayon and used watercolors to create the grass and sky to complete their work.

Students created flower fields on their Chromebook using the Chrome Canvas website but using a different technique involving horizontal rows of flowers rather than diagonal rows. It is always interesting to see the details each students adds!

3rd graders worked on a teapot still life following the success of the fruit still from our last rotation. I showed them my collection of teapots and how the handle, spout, teapot shape and the lid shape can vary between the different teapots. We worked step by step and used construction paper crayons to create highlights, shadows and the table line.

During our last class, students recreated the teapot on their Chromebooks using the Chrome canvas website. It was interesting for them to compare their teapot art on paper with their digital work.

Weeks of 4/27/26 and 5/4/26 - 5th and last rotation with UTK, K and 1st grades

 Last rotation with UTK, kinders and first graders!

UTK students created digital art on iPads after I read the story "Harold and The Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson. Students used the Freeform app on iPads, a tool and color of their choice to draw what they might see if they went on a walk like Harold in the story. I did not a chance to take photos and remember them being amazing!

Kinders and 1st graders created a flower after I read them the book "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle. The story is interesting and the illustrations are incredible! Students received a long piece of posterboard, a change from the usual 9"X12" paper we typically use. I gave each student a circular lid to trace the center of the flower with pencil, draw large petals and then the stem and leaves. It is interesting to see how students use this new space on paper! Some students drew tiny petals, and I encouraged them to go BIG! They then traced the pencil lines with gold markers and used color pencils to color the different parts and add details!

Kinders and 1st graders also created digital art on iPads. I read the book "In my Heart" book by Jo Witek to kinders that beautifully explores associating different colors with different emotions. Each student drew a heart using the Freeform app and a variety of tools and used colors they felt explained how their heart was feeling.

I read the book "Cupcake" by Charise Mericle Harper to 1st graders. After listening to the story, students used the Freeform app on iPads to design a front cover for this book using the various tools available.

Weeks of April 6th and April 13th - 5th and last rotation with 4th and 5th grades

 Last rotation with 4th and 5th grade students!

4th graders returned for our last classes together. During the first two classes, they worked on the paper square challenge. This was a lesson I saw Blick host while at the NAEA conference a few years back. I gave each table a stack of 3-inch cardstock squares in different colors and the challenge was to see how students can alter each square by ripping, cutting, folding, curling etc. to change the way it looks. I love this lesson because it given students the chance to explore a variety of techniques. Ad they finished, Students glued their squares on a 9"X12" black cardstock paper.

5th graders painted their clay paintbrushes that I fired in the kiln. Students used left over mural paint for this, and it was a great way to use up what was left after the mural painting. I love the variety in the design and colors! I had made a hole on the handle while they were still wet, and students used a pipe cleaner to string through it.

5th graders also used a variety of ways to alter a paper square by cutting, folding, curling and other techniques. This was a one class lesson, so 5th grade students worked on 9 squares instead of 12 like the 4th graders.

Weeks of 3/2/26 and 3/9/26 - 5th rotation with 2nd and 3rd graders

 2nd and 3rd graders returned and it's always wonderful to see how much they have grown in art and how willing they are in participating in class discussions compared to the beginning of the school year. They know to look at the visual supports, sentence starters and the word wall for assistance to use it in their answers.

2nd graders created artwork inspired by Louise Nevelson. Students engaged in a partner talk while looking at several examples of her work and then a class discussion. We discussed how Nevelson’s sculptures began as collections of discarded wooden furniture and tools which she reassembled in dynamic compositions of shapes and patterns, rhythms and accents. We discussed the word "assemblage" and how Nevelson called herself the first "recycler".

During our first class, students glued different objects of their choice such as wooden pieces, blocks, metal lids and cardboard pieces on a 9"X12" cardboard using while school glue. During the next class, they painted one color of their choice on the cardboard and objects. The painting part took almost an entire class as I encouraged them to keep turning the cardboard and make sure there was paint on the cardboard, inside the crevices and all the sides of each object.

3rd graders created art inspired by the Mola art from Panama. We looked at the vibrant colors, the layering of the fabrics, repetition and patterns in the work. Students selected a 12" X 18" warm or cool color construction paper first. I had two templates for them to select - a bird or butterfly. They used the opposite color (warm/cool) to trace and cut their image from the template and glue on the 12" X 18" paper. They then used construction paper scraps to cut, layer and glue on top of their image and do the same around. 

This took us close to 3 classes to complete. I would reduce the size of the paper next year to a 12" square or a 9"X12" paper base. The 12"X18" was too big for students, and several gave me the feedback to reduce the size. Here are some students' artworks!