Ms.Barchik

Students looked at the details of a tree. They observed how a tree is widest at the bottom of the trunk and thinner at the top of the trunk. They also observed that the branches get thinner as they go farther from the tree's trunk. Students drew their trees using brown oil pastel. In the background they blended the three primary colors using watercolor paints.

1st grade made symmetrical jack o lanterns, using the fold and cut technique. They added lines and details using oil pastels. Students also practiced their spiral cutting to make the pumpkin's vine.

1st grade looked at the art of the first painters, then got a chance to pretend they were the first artists. The paintings of the caves are often of animals, and enigmatic symbols. Sometimes, the cave artists blew paint over their hand to make a negative hand print. Students drew what they think they'd see if they lived back then. They used earthy colored crayons and black chalk pastel as their charcoal.

Students constructed scarecrows out of various shapes. Details were added by cutting and gluing on different pieces of paper, and later drawing details were added. Some students chose to make happy scarecrows, and some chose to make scary scarecrows.

Students discussed all the different kinds of lines they know. Wide,thin, curvy, zig-zag, curly, straight, etc. They then drew all these different lines on their white paper with markers. Next they added 3 dimensional lines using paper strips. Students practiced their folding skills by manipulating the paper into the lines they wanted. They were encouraged to imagine that they were building a roller coaster for their eyes.