The Magic of Authentic Art

Wonderful learning is happening in the studio!  We currently have drawing, painting, collage, and 3D paper as studio offerings on choice days.  Choice days are student led and artists are following their own plans or seeing where their ideas take them.  I still teach a mini lesson, but then artists are off to all corners of the room working in small groups or individually.  Here are some first graders on a choice day:

 This was the first day with bottled glue (we start with liquid glue in cups and use fingertips for application).  We reviewed glue bottles, where to find and put away glue, and how much glue we need to use.  Then artists are off to work!  Scroll down for a typical atypical studio session...
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                           

 Some students revisit skills from past art experiences for mastery.

 

I affectionately call these artists my "car guys" they love racing and monster trucks!  Their vehicles became fancier and fancier as we talked about the colors and names of their favorite trucks.  Look at how well they colored in their work!  They were inspired to do their best because they chose to create personally meaningful art.

Drawings of Thomas the Train and the wrestler John Cena morphed into comic books!  Look at how strong John Cena is! He is no longer a quick stick figure as he jumps on Thomas for a ride.  A reluctant reader/writer excitedly shares his comic with our intern Hadley.  Yes, that is a flying pizza!  Look out Mo Willems, you have some competition coming your way!

 

 
The rest of the kids took over the book center to build a leprechaun trap of course!  All had jobs- a gold maker to lure him in, a sign and map maker to show him where to go into the trap, past the bed and the chair, up the slide... Watch out!  If you pull the string he's trapped!  If that doesn't work, there is the glue trap (an unfortunate teachable moment!) ;).      Impromptu sharing circles started at the leprechaun trap, but  time is up!  Clean up, line up, adios until next week!  Sorry    that the leprechaun trap ended up at your house Mrs. P.!     Wonderful, meaningful, age appropriate art development is happening in our student-directed classroom.  Kids might think it's playing; but the creative solutions and engaged persistence in their art learning have me sold.  I'm always surprised by our artists creativity each and every day!