A is for Art (again)

Had a double Y6 class this afternoon - it was too cold to go outside for PE and the hall was taken so we stayed inside and sketched. Showed them how easy it is to create a recognisable image using an 'A'.

boxosaurus

Today we began to construct a big dinosaur out of cardboard boxes. Pairs of children were detailed to make specific body parts, ie. body, head, leg etc. The whole was then assembled using tape and cable ties. We had time at the end to begin to papier mache it.

Y6 finished off their shoes by putting them into origami shoeboxes. I think they've turned out well.

origami

Y3 have been busy learning the gentle art of origami and have made simple boxes to tie in with their science topic on materials combined with a Design Technology unit on packaging.

At school we also run an arts & crafts enterprise club, where we produce items that we then sell on to pupils and parents. We have been busy making Christmas cards using stitches and buttons.

paper shoes

Today Y6 made paper models of the shoes they had designed. They were given a simple template of upper, sole and insole. It was quite fiddly but most seemed to manage.

teddy bear sketches

On Friday we had raffles and activities in aid of the Children in Need appeal. I drew a couple of teddy bear pics loosely based on Pudsey - a skateboarder and footy player. These are the initial sketches. I thought about doing a 'Pudsina' version but ran out of time.

I was also recently asked to do a teddy bear drawing that was loosely based on Mick Aston from the Time Team programmes. Again, here is the initial sketch wherin the Ted is excavating a 'sandpit'.

Animation

Taught Y4 all about animation today - well simple flick books anyway! We touched on 'persistence of vision' but kept it simple. They used post-its to make their books, some of which worked extremely well. Haven't sussed out how to add video clips yet so can't upload any of their 'films'.

observational drawing

Y6 have been drawing trees and shoes!

Y4 went 'fossil' hunting today and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. They carefully (for the most part!) excavated the 'fossils' and then had the task of trying to work out just how they might fit together. Lots of discussion ensued as they tried to identify what might be a skull or a rib or a spine. As it dawned on them that they might not have all the requisite pieces they joined other groups and pooled their finds.

'Fossil' hunting

As part of our themed study about dinosaurs, tomorrow we are going 'fossil' hunting. The children are going to be given a tray in which 'fossils' have been buried. The 'fossils' are really the wooden parts from those model dinosaurs that you can construct. The idea is to get them to not only excavate the 'fossils' but then try to assemble them without having a picture or diagram to work from. This will hopefully put them in a similar position to the early Victorian fossil hunters who used a bit of guesswork and

conjecture to assemble their finds. Obviously after a while I'll put them out of their misery - maybe! Oh, and just to get them into the spirit even more, each tray does not necessarily contain all the parts of a dinosaur model.

Some of the Y2 children have also completed their woven bookmarks.

Dinosaur skeletons

In Y4 today we had a go at creating a representation of a dinosaur skeleton. We used lollipop sticks, craft sticks, sellotape and mod-roc.

We constructed the armatures in stages.

Then we covered it with mod-roc strips.

We added details - using paperclips and pipe cleaners. When they're dry we might give them a coat of white paint to cover over any parts of the armature that are still visible. The finished skeletons will be displayed in a mini museum we are hoping to set up in school.

Dinosaurs

Managed to do a bit of sketching with Y4 today. Showed them some easy ways to draw recognisable images of dinosaurs. Nothing too specific, but a simple framework that can be adapted and altered as appropriate.

Weaving

Back after the half-term break. Y2 followed up their paper weaving with simple yarn pieces. We'll tie them off and use them as bookmarks.