5th Grade Abstract Sculptures with Haiku

To start this lesson, 5th grade students had a discussion how certain colors, lines and shapes help describe different emotions. For example, happiness is sometimes associated with yellow, the sun, and curly lines. We also discussed how every person may choose different lines, colors and shapes to describe an emotion.

Next students picked on emotion to describe. They then created an abstract sculpture using cardboard and acrylic paint. I was inspired by this lesson from a Pinterest post that took me to this website.

After students finished constructing their sculptures, they each wrote a haiku to go with their emotion. The sculptures are now on display in the elementary school display case with their Haiku.

Jellies!

After visiting the AMAZING "Jellies" exhibit of jellyfish at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago over spring break with my children, I was inspired to have my 8th grade students create their own jelly fish out of recycled materials.  This was perfectly and spontaneously planned around earth day so I was able to incorporate the idea to re-use everyday materials to create a sculpture of an amazing sea creature. 

This is an example of a Jellyfish at the Shedd Aquarium I took with my cell phone.  They are really a beautiful and unique animal!

On the first day of this lesson, students learned about jellyfish, and their unique qualities.  We observed different types of Jellies, and discussed the variety of shapes, colors, and sizes.  I found interesting videos on National Geographic Kids and the Shedd Aquarium website. 

Students brought in their own empty 2 liter bottles for the jellyfish body.  They also used plastic bags, paper, newspaper, yarn, and fishing line to create the jellyfish tentacles.  I allowed them to be as creative as they preferred, not necessarily making a realistic jelly.  The biggest obstacle for them was learning how to paint "backwards."  We painted the inside of the bottles, so they had to start with the smallest details and end with their final coat of paint. 

Keith Haring Paper Sculptures

I got the idea for this lesson for my first graders from haringkids.com to create 3Dimentional Keith Haring Figures using strips of colored construction paper... I had no idea this would be such a fabulous lesson!

First, we discussed Keith's artwork and how he conveys movement in his artwork.  I then had the students come up and re-create the dance moves seen in his work.

Students came up one at a time and their classmates had to guess which color person in the painting they were imitating.  This was a really fun way to tie dance into the lesson. 

I then had them watch an old Sesame Street clip that has Keith Haring's people become animated and dance off the screen.  The song is called "Exit" and it is a very catchy tune and fun to watch!

Sesame Street Exit Video

Then the students and I explored the different things you could do to a piece of construction paper 1" by 8"... bend it, fold it, roll it, etc.  I asked the students to show me how you could make legs out of the paper.  Then I let them get to work on their own Keith Haring 3Dimentional people! Below is a sample of what they made

By the way:  This was extremely fun for the students, and for me!!



Next class, they can contine working on their 3Dimentional People, and then they will be drawing their people in Keith Haring's style, but add a background to show us what their person is doing.  I can't wait to see what they come up with!