The story of the Nativity and so many representations of the scene in paintings, storybooks are easy for children to create a composition. We read The Friendly Beasts by Tomie DePaola and discussed what animals, people, things, would be in their nativity scene they would like to create. We used felt. I was conflicted on how to "help" students. Cutting felt can be challenging so in order to assist the children of ages 5-9 I cut the faces before the lesson, a variety of flesh colors were offered. The students were able to create their compositions on their own, I loved the variety and the creativity in all of them. 12/2019

I started off the month of December contemplating which direction to take. I didn't want to dive into new units on an art element only to stop a project midway into break. I had been pushing students hard at art and design principles and had been documenting and saving work for display in our public library and our annual art show to come in April. December I wanted to focus on making and taking. I continued to use art disciplines like printing in this project. We opened with a discussion about Christmas symbolism and what each might mean. We also discussed what your might find on a Christmas card. Each student practiced what they might want on their card design in their sketchbook. Students then transferred their design to a styrofoam tray with a blunt stick (rounded end of paint brush work best). A brayer and block printing ink on construction paper. 12/2019

What is your Robot's name? What does your Robot do? What shapes are in your robot? I wanted to do a paper scrap project. An what kid doesn't like thinking about machines and what they can magically do? If I had a robot to clean my room, do my homework, feed my pets... They all had fun and enjoyed their creations. I did too! 11/2019

In starting a unit on shape students learned about the work of Paul Klee. We talked about how shapes can make up spaces or places. We read the book The Cat and the Bird by Géraldine Elschner. Children were excited to create their own castles using color and shape. 11/2019

Student chose a landscape picture from a magazine to work from. They learned about Monet and his landscapes he painted in a variety of light and views. Students were instructed to mask four quadrants of watercolor paper. They were given a view finder. They were then instructed to experiment with watercolor and create four different views of the same landscape. 11/2019

 We studied the expressionist visual artists, Kandinsky and Klee and the composer Sergei Prokofiev's piece Peter and the Wolf. In the study of line we talked about expressive and different lines, curvy, straight, zig-zag, etc. While listening to the music I had students practice in their sketchbooks what they thought the line would look like. They were then instructed to paint four line drawings with black tempera. Two drawings for a rainbow watercolor and two drawing for warm or cool in tempera painting. This lesson incorporated music, literature (many illustrated versions), and visual arts. 10/2019
​https://cassiestephens.blogspot.com/2013/10/in-art-room-unit-on-line-for.html

As an introduction to line the younger students do a line study with construction paper scraps to create a roller coaster line sculpture. In the past I have used a stapler, but this year used glue. It was a practice in patience for students but they also practiced counting to 10! 10/2019

Monarchs were on everyone's mind this fall and I had just finished reading Flight Behavior, By Barbara Kingsolver. We studied some fun facts about butterflies and looked a different types, we also discussed how the wings are the same (symmetry) on both sides. Children were instructed to find a line of symmetry by folding the paper in half. On one side they were instructed to paint on half of their wings. While still wet fold the paper again to print. Some needed to repaint but they were excited with the result. After the prints were dry students were given a collection of chalk in either cool colors or warm colors. Mixing the two will only dull the chalk effect plus it was a great lesson in warm and cool.  10/2019 
​https://cassiestephens.blogspot.com/2015/04/in-art-room-2nd-grade-printed-and.html

The project begins with a drawing and a written description of a mythical creature that involves at least three characteristics of a living creature. In the description the children are to describe habitat, how they are born, what it eats, preferences or dislikes, and peculiar habits. After a description and drawing were created the students started work on a paper mache 3D version of their creature. We studied the work of Roberto Benavidez and his series of Hieronymus Bosch's The Garden of Earthly Delights creatures. His work gave student the confidence in creating their own wacky combinations. 10/2019

Mary Cassatt used this simple technique to to create another depth to image making. In this project students painted a composition/object/animal on a cookie sheet and printed the painting on paper. they were encouraged to create more than one print. 5/2019