The Little Ballerina

At the end of Art class in kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade, I have been reading The Little Dancer. It is the story of Marie, the young ballerina who posed for Degas' famous statue. Then students line up in the little dancer pose: hands clasped behind your back, mouth closed, chin up. They have learned some new vocabulary, like clasped, chattering and tailor. 

2nd Grade Mural with Media Experiments

I can use art media in a variety of ways.

2nd Graders explored art media like scientists. Which ones will smear? Which ones will blend? What happens if you paint over oil crayons? What happens if you paint water over pencil? Over marker? Which media can you use to make secret writing?

Mural on display at Sherman Elementary

We cut media experiments into circles. We mixed them up and glued them onto a colored paper. Looking carefully, we put light next to dark or bright next to dull for an interesting combination. We cut these circles into quarters. We glued them back into whole circles. This was truly a collaborative art project!