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!