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
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
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
Aboriginal /Indigenous art was used as inspiration to make an artwork of the local area using Google Maps for the structural lines and shapes. Australian Aboriginal people have a strong connection with the land, sky and waterways, creation and dreaming stories. The history of their ancestors and creator spirits are passed down through song, dance … Continue reading Maps of Local area inspired by Indigenous art ~Year 4
I did a unit on Pop Art and Andy Warhol to fit in with a Food theme a few years ago, and students made these models of a "Favourites" chocolate bar (obviously 'popular' food rather than healthy food!) The students had already created a digital Pop Art artwork using either a chocolate bar or an … Continue reading Chocolate Bar model: Year 3/4
Year 4 students were introduced to Texan artist, Polly Jones by way of a series of works she did featuring cut fruit on a placemat. The students chose a fruit and used an image to draw from as a reference, then painted with watercolour paints. The students had been leaning about mixing tints and shades … Continue reading Cut Fruit on a Placemat Still Life ~ Year 4
Inspired by Frida Kahlo's 'Viva la Vida, Watermelons' and Diego Rivera's 'The Watermelons' students first discussed and compared the two artworks, then drew their own compositions of watermelons - whole, half and sliced, the shapes overlapping. Looking at images of watermelons, we talked about the different colour values and how to make them using tints- … Continue reading Watermelons ~ Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera inspired ~Colour mixing tints-Year 4
Year 3/4 have been learning about different biomes in their classroom, and in art lessons we have been making artworks about various biomes too. These artworks are focusing on aquatic biomes, specifically coral reefs. For inspiration we looked at the illustrations in the book, 'Hidden in the Sea' by Peggy Nille, and the art of … Continue reading Coral Reef Biome ~ Year 3-4 art lesson
Year 3/4 project looking at Australian animal habitats and biome of temperate forests where koalas, possums, sugar gliders, quolls etc. live. Students viewed and discussed artworks by a local wildlife artist and then chose an animal (I had plenty of print out image photos to choose from - mostly koalas) and sketching it large on … Continue reading Australian bush animals~ Yr 3/4 mixed media art lesson
This lesson is part of a series of lessons around the theme of 'BIOMES'- (geographical area consisting of a biological community formed in response to the regional climate), this one being a GRASSLAND BIOME. There are many examples of African animal / savanna sunset silhouettes in stock photos and art, and was perfect for Year … Continue reading African Savanna Animal Silhouettes ~ Year 3-4 art lesson
