1st and 2nd Grade Art

We began the year as we always do, talking about art, what makes one object art and another just an object. I bring in a series of objects and art like a manufactured IKEA bowl and a handmade ceramic bowl and ask the students what makes one bowl art and not the other. After the discussion, we started on observational drawings. This helps the students focus and learn to s l o w down the drawing process. We then moved into talking about line and how different lines can "talk" to each other. The students created a line composition and added patterns and colors to their final piece. We have recently begun a zentangle name design unit, which ties in nicely to the study of line and pattern. The first grade students are focusing on black and white zentangles and the second grade students are adding the element of color to their patterns to build on the knowledge gained last year.