Weeks of 2/16/26 and 2/23/26 - 4th rotation with UTK, kindergarten and 1st graders

 UTK students created artwork inspired by Wassily Kandinsky. We looked at several examples of his work, discussed how he layered several colors in a circular shape incorporating repetition.  I gave each student a 12-inch cardstock and 4 5-inch squares. Students glued them on the paper and then used other 5-inch squares, trimmed them so they would fit inside the original square and repeated this process until there were 4 squares glued on top of each other on 4 corners of the paper.

Kinders created "dhurries" from paper. Dhurries are movable rugs made in India and incorporate bright colors and geometric patterns. Students used a glue stick to tape strips of brightly colored paper on a 9"X12" cardstock. They then used Sharpie markers to create shape and line patterns and completed their work by cutting 2 strips of white construction paper to add a fringes at both ends to mimic the yarn fringe in dhurries.

1st graders created mobiles inspired by the mobiles of Alexander Calder! This is my first year implementing this lesson and I am so happy with the results! During the first class I read the book, "Sandy's Circus" by Tanya Lee Stone. It gave students an insight into his life, inspiration and works! Students created 4 organic shapes on a 9"X12" piece of construction paper and add 2 layers inside each shape in different colors.

During the next class they cut out their 4 shapes. I also had a 6-inch cardboard piece with 1 hole in each corner for each student. I showed each student how to insert a 12-inch pipe cleaner in each hole, twist it, add 4 beads and insert and twist their shape. They also added a 24-inch pipe cleaner into 2 diagonal holes so their mobiles can be hung.