Sixth Grade Perspective Drawing

Sixth graders at The Rashi School learned perspective drawing techniques. They used these techniques to draw scenes inspired by the book The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamakwambe.

Make Your Own Passover Story With Toys! (Rashi School Online Lesson)

Hello everyone! Passover is coming and it's going to be a different kind of Seder this year. Every year, starting in February, my classroom at The Rashi School pretty much transforms into a Judaica factory, as my 250 students create everything from Elijah's cups to matzah covers to saltwater bowls. We had started all of these projects when school had to close, and I want to make sure that all of my students still have something to make their Passover special. 

Here's an idea I came up with for a fun activity that you can do, using things you already have in your house. First, think of a scene from the Passover story. Now, using things from your house, recreate the scene. Then, take a picture. Print it out to show at the seder, or recreate it at the seder to show your family.

Materials: Stuff around the house

Time: 30-45 minutes (or more)

Ages: All ages! I'm a grownup and I had a blast!

Some ideas- Try a few!

• Moses parting the Red Sea
• The ten plagues of Egypt
• Moses receiving the Ten Commandments
• The golden calf
• Miriam leading the Jewish people in celebration dances 
• The Jews rush out of Egypt, leaving their bread no time to rise
• Elijah the prophet visits Jewish homes and drinks a cups of wine.

Here are some of the ones I made. I had so much fun!

Moses Parting the Red Sea

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה מַה־תִּצְעַ֖ק אֵלָ֑י דַּבֵּ֥ר אֶל־בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל וְיִסָּֽעוּ׃

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry out to Me? Tell the Israelites to go forward.

וְאַתָּ֞ה הָרֵ֣ם אֶֽת־מַטְּךָ֗ וּנְטֵ֧ה אֶת־יָדְךָ֛ עַל־הַיָּ֖ם וּבְקָעֵ֑הוּ וְיָבֹ֧אוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל בְּת֥וֹךְ הַיָּ֖ם בַּיַּבָּשָֽׁה׃

And you lift up your rod and hold out your arm over the sea and split it, so that the Israelites may march into the sea on dry ground. (Exodus 14:15-16)

Moses Receiving the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai

 וַיְהִ֗י בְּרֶ֤דֶת מֹשֶׁה֙ מֵהַ֣ר סִינַ֔י וּשְׁנֵ֨י לֻחֹ֤ת הָֽעֵדֻת֙ בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁ֔ה בְּרִדְתּ֖וֹ מִן־הָהָ֑ר וּמֹשֶׁ֣ה לֹֽא־יָדַ֗ע כִּ֥י קָרַ֛ן ע֥וֹר פָּנָ֖יו בְּדַבְּר֥וֹ אִתּֽוֹ׃

So Moses came down from Mount Sinai. And as Moses came down from the mountain bearing the two tablets of the Pact, Moses was not aware that the skin of his face was radiant, since he had spoken with Him. (Exodus 34:29)

The Ten Plagues of Egypt

וְשָׁלַחְתִּ֤י אֶת־יָדִי֙ וְהִכֵּיתִ֣י אֶת־מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּכֹל֙ נִפְלְאֹתַ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֖ה בְּקִרְבּ֑וֹ וְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֖ן יְשַׁלַּ֥ח אֶתְכֶֽם׃

So I will stretch out My hand and smite Egypt with various wonders which I will work upon them; after that he shall let you go. (Exodus 3:20)

כֹּ֚ה אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה בְּזֹ֣את תֵּדַ֔ע כִּ֖י אֲנִ֣י יְהוָ֑ה הִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י מַכֶּ֣ה ׀ בַּמַּטֶּ֣ה אֲשֶׁר־בְּיָדִ֗י עַל־הַמַּ֛יִם אֲשֶׁ֥ר בַּיְאֹ֖ר וְנֶהֶפְכ֥וּ לְדָֽם׃

Thus says the LORD, “By this you shall know that I am the LORD.” See, I shall strike the water in the Nile with the rod that is in my hand, and it will be turned into blood;

וְהַדָּגָ֧ה אֲשֶׁר־בַּיְאֹ֛ר תָּמ֖וּת וּבָאַ֣שׁ הַיְאֹ֑ר וְנִלְא֣וּ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִשְׁתּ֥וֹת מַ֖יִם מִן־הַיְאֹֽר׃ (ס)

and the fish in the Nile will die. The Nile will stink so that the Egyptians will find it impossible to drink the water of the Nile.’” (Exodus 7:17)

וְשָׁרַ֣ץ הַיְאֹר֮ צְפַרְדְּעִים֒ וְעָלוּ֙ וּבָ֣אוּ בְּבֵיתֶ֔ךָ וּבַחֲדַ֥ר מִשְׁכָּבְךָ֖ וְעַל־מִטָּתֶ֑ךָ וּבְבֵ֤ית עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ וּבְעַמֶּ֔ךָ וּבְתַנּוּרֶ֖יךָ וּבְמִשְׁאֲרוֹתֶֽיךָ׃

The Nile shall swarm with frogs, and they shall come up and enter your palace, your bedchamber and your bed, the houses of your courtiers and your people, and your ovens and your kneading bowls. (Exodus 7:28)

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָה֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁה֒ אֱמֹר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן נְטֵ֣ה אֶֽת־מַטְּךָ֔ וְהַ֖ךְ אֶת־עֲפַ֣ר הָאָ֑רֶץ וְהָיָ֥ה לְכִנִּ֖ם בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron: Hold out your rod and strike the dust of the earth, and it shall turn to lice throughout the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 8:12)

כִּ֣י אִם־אֵינְךָ֮ מְשַׁלֵּ֣חַ אֶת־עַמִּי֒ הִנְנִי֩ מַשְׁלִ֨יחַ בְּךָ֜ וּבַעֲבָדֶ֧יךָ וּֽבְעַמְּךָ֛ וּבְבָתֶּ֖יךָ אֶת־הֶעָרֹ֑ב וּמָ֨לְא֜וּ בָּתֵּ֤י מִצְרַ֙יִם֙ אֶת־הֶ֣עָרֹ֔ב וְגַ֥ם הָאֲדָמָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֥ם עָלֶֽיהָ׃

For if you do not let My people go, I will let loose swarms of insects against you and your courtiers and your people and your houses; the houses of the Egyptians, and the very ground they stand on, shall be filled with swarms of insects.

 (Exodus 8:17)

 כִּ֛י אִם־מָאֵ֥ן אַתָּ֖ה לְשַׁלֵּ֑חַ וְעוֹדְךָ֖ מַחֲזִ֥יק בָּֽם׃

For if you refuse to let them go, and continue to hold them,

הִנֵּ֨ה יַד־יְהוָ֜ה הוֹיָ֗ה בְּמִקְנְךָ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֔ה בַּסּוּסִ֤ים בַּֽחֲמֹרִים֙ בַּגְּמַלִּ֔ים בַּבָּקָ֖ר וּבַצֹּ֑אן דֶּ֖בֶר כָּבֵ֥ד מְאֹֽד׃

then the hand of the LORD will strike your livestock in the fields—the horses, the asses, the camels, the cattle, and the sheep—with a very severe pestilence. (Exodus 9:2-3)

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוָה֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֒ קְח֤וּ לָכֶם֙ מְלֹ֣א חָפְנֵיכֶ֔ם פִּ֖יחַ כִּבְשָׁ֑ן וּזְרָק֥וֹ מֹשֶׁ֛ה הַשָּׁמַ֖יְמָה לְעֵינֵ֥י פַרְעֹֽה׃

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Each of you take handfuls of soot from the kiln, and let Moses throw it toward the sky in the sight of Pharaoh.

וְהָיָ֣ה לְאָבָ֔ק עַ֖ל כָּל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְהָיָ֨ה עַל־הָאָדָ֜ם וְעַל־הַבְּהֵמָ֗ה לִשְׁחִ֥ין פֹּרֵ֛חַ אֲבַעְבֻּעֹ֖ת בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

It shall become a fine dust all over the land of Egypt, and cause an inflammation breaking out in boils on man and beast throughout the land of Egypt.”

וַיִּקְח֞וּ אֶת־פִּ֣יחַ הַכִּבְשָׁ֗ן וַיַּֽעַמְדוּ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י פַרְעֹ֔ה וַיִּזְרֹ֥ק אֹת֛וֹ מֹשֶׁ֖ה הַשָּׁמָ֑יְמָה וַיְהִ֗י שְׁחִין֙ אֲבַעְבֻּעֹ֔ת פֹּרֵ֕חַ בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָֽה׃

So they took soot of the kiln and appeared before Pharaoh; Moses threw it toward the sky, and it caused an inflammation breaking out in boils on man and beast.

 (Exodus 9:8-10)

וַיֵּ֨ט מֹשֶׁ֣ה אֶת־מַטֵּהוּ֮ עַל־הַשָּׁמַיִם֒ וַֽיהוָ֗ה נָתַ֤ן קֹלֹת֙ וּבָרָ֔ד וַתִּ֥הֲלַךְ אֵ֖שׁ אָ֑רְצָה וַיַּמְטֵ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה בָּרָ֖ד עַל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃

So Moses held out his rod toward the sky, and the LORD sent thunder and hail, and fire streamed down to the ground, as the LORD rained down hail upon the land of Egypt. (Exodus 9:23)

כִּ֛י אִם־מָאֵ֥ן אַתָּ֖ה לְשַׁלֵּ֣חַ אֶת־עַמִּ֑י הִנְנִ֨י מֵבִ֥יא מָחָ֛ר אַרְבֶּ֖ה בִּגְבֻלֶֽךָ׃

For if you refuse to let My people go, tomorrow I will bring locusts on your territory.

וְכִסָּה֙ אֶת־עֵ֣ין הָאָ֔רֶץ וְלֹ֥א יוּכַ֖ל לִרְאֹ֣ת אֶת־הָאָ֑רֶץ וְאָכַ֣ל ׀ אֶת־יֶ֣תֶר הַפְּלֵטָ֗ה הַנִּשְׁאֶ֤רֶת לָכֶם֙ מִן־הַבָּרָ֔ד וְאָכַל֙ אֶת־כָּל־הָעֵ֔ץ הַצֹּמֵ֥חַ לָכֶ֖ם מִן־הַשָּׂדֶֽה׃

They shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land. They shall devour the surviving remnant that was left to you after the hail; and they shall eat away all your trees that grow in the field. (Exodus 10:4-5)

 וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוָ֜ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֗ה נְטֵ֤ה יָֽדְךָ֙ עַל־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וִ֥יהִי חֹ֖שֶׁךְ עַל־אֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרָ֑יִם וְיָמֵ֖שׁ חֹֽשֶׁךְ׃

Then the LORD said to Moses, “Hold out your arm toward the sky that there may be darkness upon the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be touched.”

וַיֵּ֥ט מֹשֶׁ֛ה אֶת־יָד֖וֹ עַל־הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וַיְהִ֧י חֹֽשֶׁךְ־אֲפֵלָ֛ה בְּכָל־אֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם שְׁלֹ֥שֶׁת יָמִֽים׃

Moses held out his arm toward the sky and thick darkness descended upon all the land of Egypt for three days. (Exodus 10:21-22)

Saltwater Painting (Rashi School Online Lesson)

Hello everyone! It's Mrs. Smiley at The Rashi School. It's almost Passover and I don't know about you, but I'm getting excited. This year's seder is sure to be different, but I know that it will also be wonderful in many ways.

Today, I'm going to teach you how to paint in a way that I call "salt-watercolor." Why salt water, you may ask? Well, it's on the seder plate to help us remember that a long time ago, when the Jews were slaves in Egypt, they were very sad, and they cried tears- which are salty! You simply sprinkle salt on watercolor paint, and it makes it look extra beautiful.

Click Here For Video Directions and a Demo!

For this lesson, you need:

• Watercolor paint (Don't have them? See below for ways to make your own paint)
• A big, soft paintbrush
• Watercolor paper or a thicker white paper- but most papers will do just fine
• A cup of clean water
• A salt shaker

Don't have watercolor paint? Make your own!

• Soak old markers in a little cup of water for a few hours
• Make paints from vegetables or fruits (Parents- click here for directions)
• Make paints from spices Spice Painting Video

The Ten Plagues: Digital Art Edition (Rashi School Online Lesson)

Hello Middle Schoolers! This is a lesson for my middle school students at The Rashi School.

This is a fun, challenging digital art project for you to create for Passover. You'll be using an online drawing program, Myoats, to create abstract art with radial symmetry.

Here's what to do:

1. Read through this entire post. 
2. Watch the Myoats video tutorial. Click here to see the MyOats video tutorial
3. Go to the Myoats webpage
4. Create an abstract design for each of the ten plagues. Choose colors, shapes, and lines that you think express what happened and/or how it makes you feel. (The ten plagues are listed further down in this post)
5. Plan to spend about five minutes on each design, or more if you need it. 
6. Download each design after you finish it, create a document with all of your designs and label which is which, in order.

Here are some examples I created.

"The Nile is Blood"

"Darkness in Egypt"

Skills reviewed in the tutorial:

• Mirror 
• Changing brush colors
• Choosing number of axes
• Darkening/lightening colors
• Changing brushes
• Varying brush size
• Varying opacity
• Creating dots
• Undoing work
• Downloading finished work
• There is a guide to all of the functions on Myoats here

Vocabulary you will learn:

• Opacity
• Radial Symmetry

Here's a list of the ten plagues. For detailed descriptions of each one click here:

1. Blood
2. Frogs
3. Lice
4. Wild Beasts
5. Cattle Disease
6. Boils
7. Hail
8. Locusts
9. Darkness
10. Death of the Firstborn

Here are some ideas of what do do with your plague art:

1. Print it out and assign family members to each hold a few up during the reading of the ten plagues
2. Put the printouts in a sheet protector and use them as placemats at the seder
3. Use them as a decoration on the wall near your seder table. 

Op Art for Passover! (Rashi School Online Lesson)

Hello everyone! This is a great project for Passover. We're doing it here at The Rashi School. It is a drawing project, and there are many possibilities about how you can use it as a part of your celebration. If you think of another way to use it, let me know!

1. Use it as a decoration to hang on the wall next to your seder table
2. Put it in a plastic sheet protector and use it as a matzah cover
3. Mail it to family or friends as a Passover gift.

So, here we go.

Today we're going to learn about (and create) a style of artwork called Op Art. Op Art began in the 1950's and 1960's. "Op" is short for "optical" which is a word meaning something that has to do with the eye. Op Artists used simple lines and shapes to create art that played tricks on the eye. Sometimes it looks like artwork is three-dimensional, sometimes it even looks like the art is moving! Here are two examples of Op Art:

Victor Vasarely, Sign Sculpture, 1977

Bridget Riley, Fall, 1963

Whoa... right?! 

Here's a sample of how ours will look. Don't worry, it's easier than it looks!

1. First, draw the Hebrew word for Passover in bubble letters. 

                           

2. Next, use a ruler to draw lines that cut through the letters. You can make the lines vertical, horizontal, or even diagonal (this one is a bit more challenging).

3. Notice here that my chet got kind of "chopped up." Sorry, chet. You'll look cool soon because of this. I promise. 

4. Now, notice that there are letters, and there is a background. 

As we work our way across, we will create a pattern. The pattern is:

Row 1: Color the background

Row 2: Color the letter

Row 3: Color the background

Row 4: Color the letter

And on, and on, and on until your page is full...

Confused? Keep scrolling down to see what this looks like. 

My first row is easy.  It's row one so  I color in the background.

5. In the next row, though, it's time to color in the letter. NOT THE BACKGROUND! 

                             

6. Whoa, now things get interesting in row 3. Color in the background, but NOT THE LETTER! Nooooooo! Don't do it! Danger!

7. Next row, color in the letter (not background)

8. Next row, color in the background (not letter)

Done! (Nailed it)

Add a second color, if you'd like!

Op Art Floating Spheres (Rashi School Online Lesson)

Hello everyone! This is a lesson for my students at The Rashi School, I hope you'll join us.

Today we're going to learn about (and create) a style of artwork called Op Art. Op Art began in the 1950's and 1960's. "Op" is short for "optical" which is a word meaning something that has to do with the eye. Op Artists used simple lines and shapes to create art that played tricks on the eye. Sometimes it looks like artwork is three-dimensional, sometimes it even looks like the art is moving! Here are two examples of Op Art:

Victor Vasarely, Sign Sculpture, 1977

Bridget Riley, Fall, 1963

Whoa... right?! 

So, here's what you're going to do:
Don't worry! It's easier than it looks. 

Materials: white paper, pencil, ruler, colored pencils or markers, large round object to trace (I traced a container of Lysol wipes!)

Time Needed: Three or four 45-minute sessions

1. Start by tracing your round object in pencil on the paper.

2. Now, use a ruler to measure and make small marks across the long side of the paper every inch. In other words, at the numbers.

 3. Now, use the ruler and line it up with the marks to make lines that are one inch apart. Don't go through the circle! If you do by accident- no big deal! Just erase it so the circle is clean.

 4. Now, draw horizontal (across) lines on the paper. But again, don't let them cross through the circle. Now you have a circle with a checkerboard, or grid background.

 5. Draw a straight(ish) line across the middle (ish) of your circle.

 6. Now, start on the top of your circle. Draw 2-3 curved lines from the top of the circle to the bottom. Make sure they are also bending like frowns, like below.

7.  Now, start on the bottom of your circle. Draw 2-3 curved lines. Make sure they are curved, and also bending upward, like smiles, like below.

8. Now, turn your paper long-side up (portrait) and draw a line through the middle (these are the same steps going the opposite way to create a grid in the circle)

9. Draw curved "frown" lines above the middle line. Cross over your other lines. See?

10. Now, draw 2-3 curved "smile" lines under the middle line, like this:

11. Start coloring! First, we'll color in JUST the checkerboard background. Just follow a grid pattern. I recommend outlining what you're coloring in; it helps you stay in the lines. Take your time!

12. Because of the circle, some of the shapes will not be squares.

13. Background done!

14. Time to start coloring in the circle! Follow the same checkerboard pattern, and continue to outline shapes so you can color in the lines. If you go out, it's not a huge deal. The finished product is so fun and confusing for your eyes, it is very difficult to notice mistakes.

15. Done!

16. Now, add a second color. Then hang up and enjoy!