One-Point Perspective Memory Room Drawings

  Hello! Here is a lesson I thought was pretty successful I did with my middle school students in a unit themed around time and memories. In that unit, we studied folk art, Grandma Moses and Clementine Hunter. This assignment was to illustrate a three-dimensional-looking room that is inspired by one or multiple memories using one point perspective. For example, I did a room with a checkered floor, giant chess pieces, a grand piano, and other decorations inspired by books that influenced me and the memory of my first piano. I walked students very carefully step-by-step through the process of using a ruler to make an X, then a square in the center using those lines, then demonstrated how everything follows the grid lines, getting larger near the viewer but higher and smaller in back. Here are student examples: 

I hope you find this lesson idea helpful!

-Lauryn

Folk Art Tunnel Books (Middle School Art Lesson)

Good Sunday morning, everyone! I am happy to announce that since I have started adding art lessons and plan to continue posting some when I have time for blogging, I plan to create a separate page like the "Events" and "Gifts" pages where those can be easily accessed for my fellow art teachers (or people looking for an art lesson, creative parents, teachers of other subjects, or anyone interested, really). Speaking of art lessons, the one I'd like to share today was part of a folk art unit themed around memories/time, this one inspired by Grandma Moses. 

The assignment was to create a tunnel book featuring a memory (or mashing memories together) that was (or were) important to the student. I got this wonderful tunnel book project idea from this link from Dali's Moustache: http://dalimoustache.blogspot.com/2014/02/tunnel-book-fun-with-8th-grade.html. I'd seen but never knew the name of tunnel books, and certainly never made one prior to this, so I used Youtube tutorials and they are surprisingly simple, even for very non-mathematical people like me lacking in measuring and cutting skills. I broke it down step-by-step for my middle school students (I did it with grades 5th-7th). This project applies the art elements of line, shape, and form. I handwrite my lesson plans and I am not required to state all of the standards met at my school (praise the Lord) although they do align with national and GA state art education standards. In case you were interested in seeing the actual lesson document, I tried to add it to this post but I could not attach or paste it (sorry!). 

I hope you enjoyed this post and have a great 4th of July!

-Lauryn

DIY Lego Father's Day Gift (That Kids Can Make)

Hello! Here's another gift back from Father's Day using Dollar Tree Lego (which technically aren't Lego but some other brand, but still). I helped one of my (small) close friends make this. She did a fabulous job. This gift is super easy, and it's a great gift for children to create. I found the idea through Pinterest at this website (The Seasoned Mom). I don't have the instructions on my website since this wasn't my idea, but the link has the instructions and it's pretty self-explanatory. You just need a permanent marker, Lego, a jar, and supplies to make a label and/or tag. My label was just brown paper, pen, and tape. My tag was made with brown paper, string to attach it t the jar, and pen. You can stick a bow or label on top, too, if you'd like. The idea is that children write their favorite memories with dad onto the Lego. I hope this comes in handy for somebody when Father's Day comes around again! Actually, this could really work for any occasion. Maybe somebody could use this for Christmas or an upcoming birthday?

I've got lots to share, so visit again soon!
-Lauryn