Line Adventures with Kindergarten

Kindergarteners explored lines in art by discussing lines, chanting a poem about lines, and observing lines in famous works of art.

First, using call and response and some fun hand motions, we chanted "Larry the Line" by art teacher extraordinaire Cassie Stephens: 

Larry the Line

Is a friend of mine

He can make three

Straight lines for me!

Vertical

Diagonal

and horizontal!

Any curve, he can learn

With a twist and a turn.

When he's out of his tangle

he makes a great...angle.

Any line, he can make

After all, he's a snake!

In Mary Taylor's Storm Pattern Rug, they noticed vertical, horizontal, and zigzag lines:

 

In Bridget Riley's Fall, they noticed wavy lines that made the painting look like it was moving!

And in Leon Bellefleur's Fish City, they noticed that the lines were lighter than the dark colors, which made them stand out.

Kindergarteners then used oil pastels to create as many kinds of lines as they could imagine. They made the paintings colorful with watercolor paints. We practiced keeping our brushes smooth to avoid a "bad hair day." We also practiced our cleanup routine so that they could properly take care of the materials and tools. 

First Grade Dots

First graders listened to the wonderful book The Dot by local author Peter H. Reynolds. In the book, a little girl named Vashti says she can’t draw, then jabs the paper angrily to make a dot. The next day, the teacher has framed the dot on her board in swirly gold. This catapults Vashti onto an artistic journey of painting, drawing, and sculpting all kinds of dots. She even inspires another student to draw! 

We then looked at artwork by Wasily Kandinsky, who featured dots in many of his paintings. 

Inspired by his concentric circles, students used oil pastels and watercolor to create their own. Displayed together, we have created a beautiful dot mural! You can view the mural on the first floor bulletin board.