Snake and Tree: Fantasy and Reality

This is a fourth grade project that works on drawing skills using overlapping. The students look at famous works of art done by Salvador Dali and Thomas Cole. Comparing and contrasting the two landscape paintings students discuss the art styles of realism versus fantasy. They are then introduced to the first part of the drawing which is a realistic rendering of a tree. After discussing the ways trees and branches grow, the students are given specific requirements in order to create realistic looking trees. Students are then told that their trees must grow at least one thing, and this can be realistic like leaves or flowers or fantastic like money or candy. After completing this part of the drawing, the snake is then introduced. The snake curls up or down the tree and students practice making the snake disappear behind the tree and re-appear in front of the tree. The snake also needs to have a skin pattern which can be realistic or fantastic. After a discussion on color and how decisions on material used can help emphasize their realistic or fantastic drawing students complete the drawing by adding in a
background.

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Name Transformations

For the first mini drawing project, students were asked to write their first names in bubble or block letters and transform them into objects that reflect their unique personalities. Here are some amazing examples!!

3rd and 4th Grade Symmetrical Name Aliens

Third and Fourth Grade started the year off with a lesson on symmetry and pattern. After writing their names on a folded piece of paper, the names were cut out and details added. Patterns were introduced and added to their name aliens.

Texture and Animal Emphasis Project

This lesson was inspired by two separate ideas, the first involving the use of pattern and texture, and the second, applying color theory to create a focal point. The discussion started with the concept of texture and visual texture and how one can create different textures. I held a contest where each table was challenged to write down as many examples of textures they could think of. The winning group had over sixty different textures!!! We then talked about how to draw these textures and practiced by repeating lines and/or shapes. The next part of the lesson was selecting an animal to be the focal point of the piece. The students were asked to create emphasis through their use of a color scheme demonstrating their understanding of color relationships from the color theory unit. A critique was held to view and talk about the finished product. Check them out below...

Ms. Edwards' Art Room

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