2nd Grade Folded Paper Relief Sculptures

A few years ago, a fellow teacher was cleaning out their classroom closet and found a bunch of old wallpaper sample books.  Being the dumping ground my classroom is, she asked if I wanted them.  And of course I said "YES!!"  (I'd really be embarrassed to have the producers of those hoarding TV shows come check out my storage closets!)

 

I wanted to have my second graders create a SIMPLE relief sculpture and I turned to those wallpaper samples.  The students were given stacks of paper patterns to choose from.  They were to choose one wallpaper pattern and two colors of plain construction paper that went with their wallpaper.  I cut the paper into 5" squares.  (This was the loooooongest part of the project... better planning next time!) 

 

I then demonstrated folding the paper.  First I had the students fold the paper corner to corner on both sides so they would know where the center of the square was.  Then the folded each corner to the center.  Easy.  Done.  Next, they put glue on the back of each of the folded squares and glued them onto a neutral colored 12x12" piece of construction paper.

 

 

2nd Grade Aborigine Hands

"One old man in Arnhem Land remembered being carried as a child on his father's shoulders as his father climbed up a log leaning against a rock wall. His father then sprayed his hand with red ochre against the rock, leaving a stencil he could still recognize many years later. The main function of the stencils was to record people's presence and association with a site." Aboriginal Art Online

Second grade students studied the Aborigine Art of Australia.  They traced their own hand and painted dots in the style of many of traditional bark paintings in Australia. 

Earth Day Art Project

I know that Earth Day has come and gone, but we've had some really sporadic bad weather here over the last few weeks and we were just NOW able to get outside to create our environmental art pieces.  The students looked at the art of Andy Goldsworthy as their inspiration for their artwork.  They were to use only natural items from the schoolyard for their creations.  Once photographed, everything was put back where it was found.

This is a project that I've done every year and the kids never get tired of it...probably because they get to go outside. :) 

2nd Grade Poppies in Perspective

Second grade studied perspective to create these stunning poppy paintings.  They first drew a horizon line on either light blue or light gray paper.  Next, they painted red "lips" starting at the bottom with the largest and ending at the horizon line with the smallest.  Once dry, they used black oil pastel to add the black centers.  Using light green and dark green oil pastel, they drew lines to represent the grass and stems.  To add just a small amount of detail, they painted (or drew with oil pastel small wildflowers in pink and yellow. 

After hanging these in the hallway, many teachers told me that they'd like to have one to hang at home and they couldn't believe that second graders created these!

I can't take credit for this project idea, although I can't remember where I saw it!  Sometimes I find something that just sticks with me!

2nd Grade "Klee's Kool Kats"

Second grade studied the art of Paul Klee, specifically his cat paintings, and warm and cool colors.  I've done this project in the past with finger painting and wax crayon laid down lightly over the paint with FANTASTIC results (picture of this shown last), but due to time constraints, I decided to have the students use chalk pastel for color.  I don't think these look too bad, but I just wish I had more time with the kids!

And here is the painting I've done in previous years:

I wish I remembered where I found this project so I can give credit where credit is due! 

2nd Grade Fall Trees

Another huge thank you to my student teaching supervising teacher for the inspiration for this project.  Second grade students studied the Elements of Art Color and Space for this artwork.  Using size variation and overlapping, they created the illusion of space.  The details were colored with crayons, the background with watercolor paints, and the leaves with sponge-painted tempera in warm colors.  This is one of my favorite projects to do with second grade because they are so successful! 

2nd Grade Warm/Cool Dinosaurs