Mondrian Meets Britto

First graders compared the work of two famous artists, Piet Mondrian and Romero Britto. They are similar because their art both has bold lines and colors. However, first gradres concluded that Britto's art is easier to understand and not as abstract as Mondrian's. Britto also has a lot of pattern in his work! First graders used both artists as inspiration to create their works of art.

Chinese Dragons

Fourth graders just learned about the Chinese New Year celebration and created beautiful dragon scrolls in Art class. They were also able to practice Chinese writing. The dragon is a symbol of good luck in China. Students drew their dragons with marker and used chalk to make colorful backgrounds. They added rolled pieces of construction paper to finish their designs.

Art Project Girl's Project!!

Attention all art teachers! A great and inspirational blog, http://artprojectgirl.blogspot.com/, has a great collaboration project planned! Erica is asking for your best lesson plans for a substitute. She will compile them and email all of the lessons to each teacher who participates! What a great idea...useful for years to come. I will print all mine out and add it to my "sub tub" of possible projects. Thanks, Erica! Hope lots of teachers participate!!

Substitute Art Centers

I just developed art plans for my K-2 students for when I have a substitute teacher. I have 6 table groups, so each table will get a tub of supplies. Students will rotate between the following activities: play dough, rollers, and cookie cutters ( in 2 centers), art journals, art books, Art "Memory" game, and drawing prompts (from the Anti-Coloring Book series) with geometric design coloring sheets. Here are the directions I will leave for the sub for centers!

*One of my previous posts on Zentangles explains what my 3-5th graders will work on when we have a substitue teacher. I find that things flow much better when I leave detailed activities that leave no room for boredom when there is a sub! I also don't want to scare a substitute away from the Art room, so I try to leave things that won't cause a lot of chaos-and also activities that I can pull out at a moment's notice if needed.


Art Room Centers (K-2)



Tubs should be set on the tables according to the diagram below. Students will begin at the center where their assigned seat happens to be and rotate accordingly. Each center will need to be explained before any movement occurs.


1.) Play Dough: There will be two centers for play dough. Students must keep the clay on the table. They may not mix colors or else they may not participate. They can use the rolling pins and cookie cutters. They must use a placemat. Please have them use hand sanitizer before the begin and when they finish (and of course, if they get up to use the bathroom!!)


2.) Art Books: Students may choose books to look at quietly and switch when finished. Please remind them to be respectful of the books!


3.) Art Memory: They may need assistance setting up a memory game with the art cards. They will take turns to find a match, just like in the game of Memory.


4.) Drawing/Color sheets: They will use pencils, crayons, and markers to select a coloring or activity sheet of their choice. They will take these with them!


5.) Art Journals: Using the famous work of art, students will take a journal sheet, write their name on it, and follow the writing prompt. They will put their journal entries in the bottom of the tub when they are finished.


Center Rules: No more than 6 will be at a center at a time. They will stay with their table groups and rotate. Please set the timer for 10 minutes at each center. They will only be able to get to four or five centers in a class period.

Mouse Paint

Kindergartners are learning all about primary and secondary colors in Art class! We will begin by reading the book Mouse Paint ,by Ellen Stoll Walsh. Then we will be dancing with our fingers to mix the primary colors and create secondary colors. Finally, we will make a little white mouse out of model magic for our palette.

Jim Dine Hearts



I love teaching about Cincinnati Pop Artist, Jim Dine. His colorful and expressive hearts are the perfect subjects for January and February! Collaborating with other wonderful art teachers, here are a few ideas we've tried.

Second and third graders used crayon resist, model magic, and wire to create these colorful heart collages.

Students used a combination of marker and paint (oil pastel is another great possibility) to create these hearts. They layered warm and cool colors and used glitter to finish.

Kindergartners made their hearts by smearing plasticine clay!

These hearts were made by cutting and gluing pieces of painted paper and using oil pastel to add additonal designs!

Wayne Thiebaud Creations

I love the art of Wayne Thiebaud. His colorful depictions of ice cream cones, cakes, gumball machines, and collections of toys are great for working with kids! For this project, we created a background with tissue paper painting. We lay pieces of wet tissue paper onto white drawing paper and when it's dry, it leaves a beautiful print from bleeding colors.

Children then used silver paint and oil pastels to make a cupcake holder and joint compound mixed with paint to "frost" the cupcakes. Colored rice was used for sprinkles!