First Grade Busy Cities

Many of my first lessons in the elementary grades involve the element of art, line.  In first grade we design and paint busy cities using broken, thick, thin, curvy, horizontal, vertical and diagonal lines.  Then we paint our cities in bright colors that make us feel excited and make us feel what it might be like to stand on a city street.

This year I ordered Blick Liquid Watercolors and I am in love.  These paints are so vibrant and I no longer am dealing with pans that get muddy!  I also found these wonderful paint cups from Oriental Trading that work perfectly for holding our new paints.

Blick Liquid Watercolors...my new favorite paint.

I must thank all the parents again for your support.  These new paints and cups were bought with the monies that were raised from last school year's Fine Arts Gala.  We couldn't do it without you. 

We made it!

The first week back to school is filled with procedures, rules, and too much teacher talking. But then there is the smiles from returning students and meeting the new students!  The first kindergarten art class is so exciting to me.  It's their first experience with art.  On the first day, I love to read the book, Art, by Patrick McDonnell.  It is a book about a little boy named Art that loves art.  He makes all kinds of different types of lines to create his doodles.  My favorite line in the book is, "You can't stop art, when Art is inspired".

Abigail, Kindergarten

While I read the book, I have the students take their imaginary paintbrushes and make the different types of lines in the air.  Then we practice all the different types of lines into these beautiful line drawings.  It is a great opening for the rest of the year and the students know the names of the different types of lines the will be using for the rest of the year. 

Back to School

The art room is open and ready for class to begin!  It takes me a long time to move into my room.  Yes, I mean move in...every year.  Every summer the art room's floor gets waxed and move the entire room out and then back in again, so it takes a good three days just to get everything back where it belongs.  Everything is ready now, and it's time to lesson plan for the year!