Description of the Unit – To celebrate Halloween, students chose a famous painting featuring any kind of portrait, such as one of Vincent van Gogh’s or Frida Kahlo’s self-portraits. They recreated the painting onto posterboard, cutting out the area with the face so that they could ultimately “wear” the painting as a Halloween costume!
Continue reading “7th & 8th grade – famous painting halloween costumes”Tag: art education
Kindergarten: Monet’s Water Lilies
Description of the Unit – Students will be “introduced” to Monet and will learn all about the ways he approached painting the world around him. Students will try to recreate his painting of water lilies, paying attention to their brushstrokes and the colors they choose.
Continue reading “Kindergarten: Monet’s Water Lilies”6th Grade – Masks inspired by traditional masks of the Pacific Northwest
Description of the Unit – Students explored the interesting history and dramatic artistry of masks of First Nations people of the Pacific Northwest. Taking inspiration from the colors and patterns observed in these masks, students made their own masks primarily using…egg cartons!
Continue reading “6th Grade – Masks inspired by traditional masks of the Pacific Northwest”7th & 8th Grade Pen Drawing Techniques and Landscape Drawing
Activity statement – 7th and 8th grade students developed their pen drawing skills via the illustration of a landscape.
Continue reading “7th & 8th Grade Pen Drawing Techniques and Landscape Drawing”4th Grade – Still life with colored pencil techniques
Activity statement – Students will learn and practice essential colored pencil techniques (some of which can also be applied to painting, as well as chiaroscuro drawing) to create a realistic still life.
Continue reading “4th Grade – Still life with colored pencil techniques”1st Grade – Recreating Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night
Description of the Unit – Students observed and discussed Vincent van Gogh’s famous painting, Starry Night, and, using what they noticed in the painting regarding color, texture and movement, attempted to recreate it in oil pastel.
Continue reading “1st Grade – Recreating Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night”8th Grade – Linoleum Block Printmaking
Description of the Unit –
This is one of my favorite art units to teach, because it involves one of my favorite art forms to practice: linoleum block printmaking. There is something so satisfying about carving through that soft linoleum block, watching the shavings curl off the blade. Students love this art form, too, and always request it every year (I offer it as an elective).
Continue reading “8th Grade – Linoleum Block Printmaking”3rd Grade – Taking Inspiration from Bridget Riley’s Op Art
Description of the Unit – This delightful unit introduces students to optical illusion art. Students will observe and discuss different examples of optical illusion art, focusing particularly on the work of Bridget Riley. Using basic measurement skills, students will create their own two-color optical illusion design.
Continue reading “3rd Grade – Taking Inspiration from Bridget Riley’s Op Art”5th Grade – Franz Marc and his Kaleidoscopic Animal Paintings
Description of the Unit – Students will explore the kaleidoscopic, expressionistic animal-centered paintings of Modern artist Franz Marc, applying the same concepts to their own compositions in oil pastel.
Continue reading “5th Grade – Franz Marc and his Kaleidoscopic Animal Paintings”6th Grade – Self-Portrait inspired by the art of George Littlechild
Description of the Unit – Students will create fantastical, energetic self-portraits inspired by the portraits of George Littlechild. Students will use a mix of sharpie markers, colored pencils, watercolor and acrylic paint for their portraits.


















