DIY: Art Turntables for the Classroom
While looking for an inexpensive way to make turntables for classroom use, I stumbled onto using two plastic cups, one inside the other. The two key components to making this work are dead simple.
Art
Self-Hardening Clay
Self-hardening clay is available in five pound boxes at hobby stores, dries on its own when left uncovered in about a week, and is paintable. This clay is great for a first-time art project if no kiln is available, and dividing the five pound cube into eight equal sections gives students a large enough piece to make a small coiled pot.
Recycle Everything, Even Broken Crayons
Take it a step beyond having extras around in case someone forgets or loses theirs or you somehow pick up an extra student. If a kid runs out of blue, you just give them another. But when the tub of brokens gets too large to be practical, it’s time to get creative.
About St. Patrick’s Day
St. Patrick was the patron saint of Ireland and the Irish, born about 385 A.D. in Northern Wales. He studied religion in Europe to become a priest and bishop.
Homework Valentine’s Project
You can combine an art lesson with a Valentine’s bulletin board with family participation with creative writing while there’s still time before February 14.
“Fall”ing Apples
Fall has officially arrived, and now that we’re gearing up for cooler weather and a new crop of goodies, apples have become a hot topic. This compilation of apple activities and crafts comes direct from our T2T contributors.
Font Lesson: What’s Your Type?
X-height: Since everyone with a computer is a graphic designer by default, we might as well know the correct terminology.
Fairy Tales Unit Ideas
A list of ideas for incorporating fairy tales and their characters into just about any subject.
Classroom Theme of the Week: Pizza
They’re on nearly everyone’s dinner table at least twice a month, maybe even twice a week. In fact, Americans eat approximately 100 acres of pizza each day. What can you do with a pizza? Even a student-made cardboard one?
Photograms
Heat sources: Part of this learning process is figuring out how different heat sources react differently with the paper. Some possibilities are hair dryers, irons, electric griddles, cups of hot water, soldering irons, curling irons and heat lamps.
Burn Off Energy in a Positive Way
Introduce younger children to the concept of Assisted Living for elderly citizens. After a discussion, create artwork to share with an elderly community near you.
Have a Mobius Christmas
When your class is cutting up strips of paper to make Christmas ornaments, it’s a perfect time to introduce them to the Mobius strip. Take >>>
Recycled Christmas Ornaments
For something different, try making Christmas ornaments out of recycled materials. Brainstorm with your art teacher how that might be accomplished in an aesthetically pleasing way, or tackle it on your own with bits of plastic, paper, aluminum foil, string, wire, etc.
One Eyed Drawing: Depth of Field
A tip for students who complain that “it doesn’t look right” is to close one eye while looking at the subject they are drawing.
The 15 Second Drawing
Need a quick filler before the bell rings? Have your kids grab a sheet of paper (scratch paper will be great) and a pencil. Then strike a pose, and give them 15 or 30 seconds to draw you.