I regularly incorporate a variety of art activities with Prep students (Foundation/Reception/first year of primary school) to explore and reinforce the use of primary colours. This particular project not only revisited primary colours but also focused on the elements of line and shape, while introducing students to basic sewing techniques using hessian (burlap). I chose … Continue reading Sewing on Hessian~ Prep-Yr 1
I have always admired the glass sculptures of Dale Chihuly, and was thrilled to see the Chihuly exhibition in the Botanic Gardens in Adelaide in January 2025. In 2024, and a few years before, I had done this plastic cup melt activity with Year 3-4 students, as it fitted in nicely with their classroom Science … Continue reading “Glass Bowls” Dale Chihuly inspired~ Year 3-4 art lesson
To fit in with a classroom topic of Community, in the Art room we looked at the physical community made up of streets, houses, schools, shops and other services. Materials: Grey strips of cover paper (for streets) A3 cover paper for background (white or coloured) Coloured squares and triangles (pre-cut -for houses etc.) Small figure … Continue reading Me in My Community ~ Prep
The true story of John Fitzpatrick Simpson and his donkey he named "Duffy" is well known for the courage shown by a soldier who joined the ANZACs and went to Gallipoli as a stretcher bearer. He was originally from Shields in England but went to Australia and worked a variety of jobs before enlisting with … Continue reading Simpson and his Donkey~ ANZAC story~ Yr 3-4 art lesson
A perfect activity for the beginning of the year with Prep/Foundation students: it allows you to get to know the children while helping them feel comfortable with a familiar theme. Some preparation is required: gluing floss sticks onto paper to form a house shape. This can be done after the students draw their family members, … Continue reading Family in my house~ Prep
At the start of each year, I typically organize a collaborative "mural" project for the entire school. During the first lesson, in addition to discussing Art room rules and routines, each student contributes a small piece to a larger mural. By the end of the first week, we have a finished piece ready for display. … Continue reading Whole School Collaborative ‘Murals’
Such a simple activity using quilling strips glued onto a small rectangle (I cut up A4 paper into 4 pieces) in any colours and pattern- stripes, criss-cross, even woven! A triangle is drawn on the reverse to cut out the Christmas tree shape, to then glue it onto a card front above a base or … Continue reading Oh, Christmas Tree!
Students in Year 6 looked at the rocket paintings of Peter Thorpe which include abstract outer space backgrounds with a rocket, as inspiration to create their own artwork. Thorpe, based in North Carolina, USA has always had an interest in space exploration and space science. My students looked through his website to see the variation … Continue reading Abstract Outer Space scene inspired by Peter Thorpe ~ Year 5-6
This project complemented the classroom topic of Geography, exploring topography and contour lines of hills and mountains on maps, to then make a 3D model from cardboard or foam. I gave the students the choice of cardboard from boxes, Styrofoam in thick and thin sheets, or coloured foam sheeting. I had so much Styrofoam in … Continue reading Topographic Models~ Year 5
The Year 3 and 4 students delved into the study of rock formations in their classroom, so in the Art room, they searched online using their ipads for an image of a rock formation to replicate using texture / modeling paste. Year 3 students focused on Australian rock formations, while Year 4 students explored those … Continue reading Rock Formations with texture ~ Year 3-4 art lesson
