7th grade interior spaces with perspective looking outward

This project was based on the "aquarium perspective" project that probably hits your pinterest feed at least once or twice a day. All of the seventh graders started out the same way. They had to have a back wall and checkered floor that followed one-point perspective. After that the students could choose what they wanted to do with their interior and exterior space. 

The challenge was for the students to create a space that then went beyond the space. 

I showed them examples of mostly aquariums with viewable ceilings and walls as well as solariums and greenhouses where you could see beyond the windows:

Most students used watercolor, watercolor pencils, colored pencils, sharpie, or magazine collage. Some students experimented with masking fluid. 

The entire Artsonia gallery can be viewed here. 

Grapevine color studies

Second grade analogous color study with grapevines and now pumpkin vines too!

Oil pastel, crayon rubbing, and watercolor. 

Some final products for you following my post the other day.

recycled paper flowers

Kindergarten Garden

featuring recycled papers (you'll notice the cereal bowl tops and scraps from previous projects)

They came out pretty well the first day so the kinder students 

got another go at it so they could take one home as well.

Cherry Blossom Trees

It's that time of year again... Cherry Blossom time!

Last year I did collages with kindergarten using tissue paper bunches and cut paper strips.

This year I did a one day painting lesson.

1st- thin brushes to paint with brown for the tree trunks and branches

2nd- q-tips for the pink cherry blossoms

3rd- painted with bigger brushes using green and blue tempera cakes for the ground and sky.

They came out really lovely!

A Special Garden

When I finally get four extra seconds I am going to write a post about how I did this garden project and some reflections on the end of my school year. (In addition to my school facing tragedy I actually had my last day in my district and am starting a new job very soon.)

But I thought I would share with you this article about the community garden I pioneered at my school from start to finish in 48 hours this week to celebrate the life of a very sweet first grader we tragically lost in a car accident last week and also to help my students have a therapeutic experience for understanding this loss.

Root Vegetable Gardens

Together my third grade students and I investigated root vegetables, their parts, how they grow, and all the colors they can be.
The students watercolor painted the dirt and the sky as they created a horizon line.  (Some students included little tunnels and such for insects.)

On separate papers they drew various root vegetables, taking special note of the shapes of the leaves and swerve of the roots.  They colored them with colored pencil and outlined them with black pen.  (I was initially inspired by tradition botanical drawing.)

They glued the vegetables on to their gardens- and as a special bonus we put a bit of glue along the bottom and brought our papers outside to add a little real dirt for texture and effect.
They came out beautiful!