4th and 5th graders returned for their 2nd art rotation with me!
4th grade students looked at works by Op artists and we had a class discussion about how the artists used lines, shapes and colors to "trick the eye into believing something that they see was actually not there" in the words of students. Students loved looking at the works by Bridget Riley, Victor Vasarely and Joseph Albers and took their time seeing how the artists created movement using simple techniques like changing the spaces between lines, varying the size of shapes and changing the lightness of the colors to create interesting works.
On a white piece of paper with six squares, we created 6 different Op art designs using a pencil as a warm up. Each student was then given a 6" cube (box). They traced 4 designs on the 4 different sides of the box and the last 2 on 2 white paper squares.
The next class students traced their 6 designs with a black Sharpie and added color to the different designs using paint sticks and/ or crayons. We put the boxes to together by taping the flaps and used double sided tape to add the 2 squares to complete our Op art cubes!
5th graders looked at Amphorae from the Greek and Roman era and we had a class discussion about how these were used to store grains, water, oils and fish and how they were made from clay. We compared this information with how food is stored these days - in plastic bags, containers and jars that are readily available for purchase in the stores. We looked at the geometric line designs and patterns on the Amphoras as well.
As a warm up, we created 15 different lines on a piece of paper to combine and use on our Amphora when done. I gave each students 2 32 oz. paper soup containers, 2 paper bowls with the option to use small plastic bowls and cups if they wanted to.I showed students 2 ways to arrange and combine the 2 soup containers and lids with different ways to also use the plastic bowls and cups. We first used small pieces of white masking tape to keep the pieces in place and then used long pieces to cover the Amphora.
During our 2nd class students covered their work in long pieces of masking tape and also added 2 handles by crushing 2 pieces of paper towels lengthwise, covering them with masking tape and adding them to their Amphora symmetrically.
During the 3rd class students added the base color(s) to their Amphora using acrylic paint. I gave each table 2 colors with thick, flat paintbrushes and showed them how to take their time to spread the paint so it wouldn't pool in one spot.
During the final class, I gave students white and black acrylic paint with narrow, flat paintbrushes to use and add line patterns by looking at lines from the first class.
This was a long project and I was happy to see the engagement from students. It was great t see the stamina they are building, risks they are taking, the problem solving skills they are developing, the perseverance and not to mention the beautiful works they created!!
.jpg)
