2nd grade Super Heros!

Here they come to save the day, Second grade selfies are on their way! For second grade, I decided to do a fun self portrait lesson. The kids LOVED creating these super hero versions of themselves.

Students started by sketching ideas for their superhero selfie.  We talked about using shapes to create out bodies: rectangles for the torso and shapes for the arms and legs, etc. 

We also talked about masks, capes and symbols. When the kids were finished with their super hero, they traced them in Sharpie. Before coloring, we discussed about finding our skin tone. We also talked about limiting our color palette to three colors for our super hero costume. Checking out Superman, Spiderman and Ironman really helped them understand the idea of a limited palette.  Some kids added a sidekick to their super hero selfie.

Kids decided what powers their super hero has and in what type of environment they want to place their superhero. Some chose a city scape, landscape or in outer space. 

Once complete, the super heroes were cut out carefully before being glued into the cityscape masterpiece. Here are some images of their hard work.

2nd grade Cardboard Challenge

We began this unit reading Barney Saltzberg's wonderful and inspiring book, Beautiful Oops!  Students love this book and are constantly amazed at how the author turns rips, spills, and tears into new creations!   Before reading the book, each student was prompted to make a "mistake" on their paper.  After reading and discussing the book, students were given someone else's "oops" and had the challenge to turn it into something new!

This was a springboard for our final project, in which students created a painting inspired by a scrap of cardboard.  Each student began with a scrap of cardboard, brainstormed ideas, and used tempera paint to complete their ideas.  Students experimented with color mixing and using various brushes.   Pretty cool how the kids used their imagination and creativity to transform what would be considered trash to most into a beautiful work of art.

2nd grade Wild Things Printmaking Project

This project uses Styrofoam printmaking material. After reading Where The Wild Things Are,by Maurice Sendak each student did 4 thumbnail drawings in their sketchbook in order to design their own original wild thing print. They use their favorite one to press into the foam to later make prints. We started our printmaking this week and will continue printing  over the course of two classes.  

We the use of line and shape.  I encouraged kids to use lots of line to create texture which make the final prints more interesting to view.   Students were introduced to the concept of texture in visual arts which is the perceived surface quality of a work of art. It is an element of two-dimensional and three-dimensional designs and is distinguished by its perceived visual and physical properties. Use of texture, along with other elements of design, can convey a variety of messages and emotions. They had a lot of fun with this project and it was a fantastic way to teach texture.

2nd Grade goes to the Taj Majal

We took a virtual trip to India to visit the Taj Mahal. Students learned about the architecture and why it was built. They are studying India in their regular classroom so this project was a good tie in to their curriculum.  We talked about symmetry, using size to show distance,  and one point perspective (which is a fairly advanced concept for 2nd grade but I like to give them options and provide a challenge for students who want to attempt).    We used watercolor paints to finish them up. They are amazing.

2nd Grade Autumn Collages

We discussed warm and cool colors and students learned different techniques to draw a tree.  Students used magazines to find warm colors to cut our for their leaf shapes.

2nd Grade Sunflowers

2nd grade studied the artist Vincent van Gogh. We looked at his Sunflower paintings and students learned how to draw sunflowers from different angles.  They also learned how to use curvy lines to make an object have form such as the vase in their paintings.

Andy Goldsworthy Autumn Art Project

It  was a beautiful fall day outside so to take advantage of the weather I decided we should go outside and make art.  We watched some video clips of Andy Goldsworthy's Rivers and Tides. We talked a bit about design and how his art uses organic materials found in a particular location and how he cannot be attached to his work because weather and the elements take a toll on his work and erase it or alter it as time goes passes.  This was difficult for the kids as throughout the day I heard them complain that kids changed or "ruined" their work during recess.  They took photos of their work with the iPads. The results are incredible.

2nd grade documents the weather!

To tie in with the 2nd grade class study of weather,  we are painting pictures that show weather. This is part of the Square 1 Art project.  We talked about color and how to show movement using line. Students learned some new watercolor techniques and explored using crayon with paint.

2nd grade creates the GREAT WALL of China!

2nd grade is learning about China.  During art class we talked about the Great Wall and how it was built in sections over many centuries to keep out the nomadic tribes of the north (later known as the Mongols).  I talked a bit about Mongolia and my experience working and traveling in the country as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  Students are working in small groups to create a section of the Great Wall. Later we will attach each child's wall to create a large and very long "classroom" Great Wall. Here are some finished works from Ms. Isaacson's class.