Sample Lesson:
After finding inspiration in the Usborne Book “1000 Things in Nature“, we decided to learn more about cherry pits. A quick search led us to 13 sweet facts about cherries
in which we learned not only about cherries, but also cave paintings, neanderthals and their diet, Roman Soldiers, pemmican, US and World Geography, Zachary Taylor, the Gold Rush and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Phew!!! A lot in one afternoon!
Up next, will be an art activity based on cherries. We may choose to learn about Paul Cezanne and his painting “Still Life with Cherries and Peaches“. Our art activity might include, creating a Cezanne inspired still life (drawing from observation), or exploring other artwork with cherry blossoms such as that of Japanese artist Utagawa Hiroshige and his beautiful woodblock print “Morning Cherries at Yoshiwara“.
Art activity for this could be simple mono printing techniques using flowers, tinfoil, markers or even a mud/dirt mixture or sidewalk chalk mixture on paper or discarded cereal/granola bar boxes, or simply drawing a tree with blossoms from observation…
Sample Lesson 2:
Create an architectural innovation based on designs of the past and trends in modern day architecture. Take an immersive 3-D tour of Petra, Angkor Wat and the Taj Mahal. Study vertical design techniques, aquaponics, and architecture from around the world. Create your own city from sketches, studies and deep thinking. Completed project can be done in paint, drawing or 3D paper sculpting.
Sample Lesson 3:
Family portrait in the style of a famous artist! After reviewing famous portraits of families both past and present, create a masterpiece of your own family in the design style of your favorite artist.
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Color Wheel Lesson
In this lesson, students ages 7-11 were introduced to the color wheel, color mixing, complementary and tertiary colors and art making techniques utilizing color concepts in their art.
Still Life with Color Lesson
Building on the color wheel lesson foundations, students learned how to draw from observation, incorporate color  mixing techniques into their artwork and reinforced concepts from the color wheel lesson.
Value Lesson
In this lesson, students were introduced to the value scale and using shading, line, form and various mark-making techniques to understand the concepts of value in artwork. Students were shown examples of various artwork from well known artists that incorporated the value scale. Negative and positive space within the value scale lesson was also introduced.
Mixed Media Lesson
Students were shown examples of art and artists utilizing mixed media techniques. Students used concepts from previous lessons on line, value, color to create artwork implementing concepts and methods for previous lessons within their artwork. Students were mixed ages and levels.
Art and Storytelling Lesson
Students wrote their own stories and illustrated artwork to retell their stories.
