Pinch Pots!!!!

Kindergarten artists are learning about clay and texture and then creating a pinch pot. We will discuss how clay comes from the ground, can be different colors (gray, white, brown, reddish-orange) and has a texture. Texture is the way something feels: bumpy, smooth, soft, hard, squishy, rough, etc.




On the learning carpet, we are having the children feel their hair, clothes and shoes and describe the texture to us. We are showing pictures of Native American pottery to give the children inspiration for making their pinch pot. To create a pinch pot, the children follow the steps:


1. Roll it (into a nice smooth ball of clay)
2. Thumb it (stick thumb in middle but not all the way through)
3. Pinch it (keeping the thumb in the hole and rest of the fingers on the outside, children are pinching the clay to make the hole bigger and create the pot's walls)
4. Check it (have Ms. Zimmerman or myself make sure the pinch pot walls are not too thin or thick)
5. Smooth it (rubbing away all the little cracks)


Clay takes around 7-12 days to dry. After Thanksgiving break, the children will use underglaze to paint a color pattern on their pinch pot. After that, I will fire their pinch pot in the kiln. The children will be painting a clear glaze over the top to make their pots safe for eating and drinking from. Most of them will not be big enough to drink from, but I like to have that option for the children.

 2 artists sticking their thumb in their clay before pinching it open to make their pot.

An awesome artist working super hard on his pinch pot

 Awesome artists pinching their clay

 Just some of the Pinch Pots from Wednesday!

The kiln that I fire the pinch pots in.

Tuesday Art Classes

I came into school today to find out my sub didn't follow my 2-step directions...even with my examples I have provided....UGH! I'm not really sure how my sub didn't understand or maybe she understood and didn't like the plans I gave. Anyways, that was a waste of a day for the children. I feel badly that the children didn't have a productive/useful art day.
I've made sure to not allow to have that sub back for me!!

Out SICK Tuesday, November 18

I will be out sick tomorrow, Tuesday, November 18th. I'm waiting to get into the doctor now, but I have a low fever as of now and drainage. YUCK! Thankfully, Miss Zimmerman (student teacher) is teaching today. Unfortunately, she will be up at Miami University tomorrow, so the children will only have a guest teacher.


They will, however, be creating "A Crazy Hair Day" piece of art.

Chihuly Macchia

2nd grade artists learned about famous artist, Dale Chihuly this week. Chihuly, is an American glass sculptor born in 1941.
http://www.chihuly.com/


I showed a quick video on YouTube of Chihuly's work. You can take a look here:
Through The Looking Glass.


Children received a small piece of overhead transparency, traced a circle onto it, drew a curvy line around the circle and cut it out, making sure to cut right on the curvy line.


Then, the children used enamel paint in various colors to add color to the transparency. After the paint is dry, Miss Zimmerman and I will put the transparency on top of an upside down glass cup and use a heat gun to make the transparency change from a 2-D piece of art to a 3D piece of art.

 The colors are a bit off in the picture. Children had magenta, white, yellow, green, blue and dark purple paint. The dots are in black.

Kindergarten Teepee Continued

Kindergarten artists are creating the background (the space behind the main object in a picture) for their teepee. To make the background, the children are drawing a horizon line (where the sky and the ground meet). The horizon line will be mountains and artists can choose to draw a zig zag, curvy or bumpy line for it. After drawing their horizon line, children are using liquid watercolors to paint their sky blue, the mountains green and the ground brown. Then, they use a paper towel to blot any paint that is too wet before gluing their teepee on the top.
To glue the teepee, children are remembering to use "Just a dot, not a lot" of glue (4 dots:1 in each corner and 1 in the middle). After gluing the teepee, children will add sticks to the top that are precut pieces of construction paper.

Kindergarten art coming home next week!

Kindergartners will be bringing home their masterpieces next week! I know you and your child have been patiently waiting; thank you!


To help encourage critical thinking and develop your child’s critical thinking skills ask your child open ended questions about their artwork. Open ended questions will help support your child’s efforts rather than if you said “good job” or “that is beautiful”.


1. What can you tell me about your picture?
2. What materials did you use?
3. What is your favorite part of the picture?
4. What title would you give this picture?
5. If you were doing this picture again what you change or do differently?
6. If you had more time what would you add to your artwork?


Encourage your child to elaborate on their answers or use the artwork as a starting point for telling a story. Open ended questions will help develop critical thinking skills in your child. By taking an interest in their work you are supporting them and helping them express their own ideas.

Native American Teepee

Kindergarten artists are learning about Native American people and teepees (the home of Native Americans). We are talking about how the Native Americans lived, what shape teepees were and what they were made from and introduced AB patterns (i.e. red, blue, red, blue/ circle, triangle, circle, triangle).
Kindergartners are using construction paper and markers for their teepee. Next week, the artists will paint a background on a large 12x18 paper and glue their teepee on top.

We created a classroom teepee out of canvas and dowel rods. The "fire" from battery operated candles.

Artists working on their patterns

Art to Remember deadline extended!

Friday, November 7th, will be the last day to order Art to Remember! Please let me know if you have any questions!!