High School Lessons

I had several lessons that I worked on while I did my student teaching in a high school. Below are a few images and explanations of the projects:

Relief Carving-3rd Year Art (Ceramics & Sculpture)



For this lesson we used plaster casted into meat trays and used wood carving tools. Students looked at artist Maya Lin and classical reliefs. They were able to pick their own subject matter, but I think it would have been more successful if students had a big idea to use imagery for on this project.

Art II- Identity Cups


On this project I challenged students to look at classic and contemporary cups and use the cup form as a metaphor for who they are. The outside was to represent who they show the world, what the world sees, or some stereotype they think others think of them. The inside was to be treated as what fills their lives and makes them who they are. They had to answer the question, "What fills your cup?" Students considered texture, form, content, and contrast in the composition. These examples are unglazed and unpainted (students had a choice of either).

Art I Value Portraits

Students each had their photo taken using dramatic lighting from a light source on one side of their body. I printed the pictures using a laser printer and students had to consider value from the lightest light to the darkest dark out of the newspaper. They cut organic shapes and glued them to the value on the photograph. This completely eliminated the need to have correct proportions, something that can be frustrating for an art I class. Students were allowed to do whatever they like with their likeness. They could put it on a different background, invent a background, or do the background just like their portrait.

Art II Motion Emphasis




Students tried to show movement in these artworks and experiment with 2-D texture. We watched several time lapse and slow motion clips on Youtube.com and drew gesture drawings of each movement. Students use an oil pastel watercolor resist to give emphasis and color to their drawings. Then they collaged their pieces using a pleasing and balanced composition.

I'm tired, but this is so worth it

Wow, the last few weeks have been terrific! Ms. B. has welcomed me into her classroom with open arms. The kids are typical teenagers with typical teenage issues. Navigating that is a challenge, but I am settling in well. In fact, I don't want to leave! I think that is an excellent sign, considering hopefully soon I won't be!

My Art I class just finished a nature & technology project in which they explored contour line, hand drawings and thought about the effect (positive or negative) that technology has on nature. Soon we will begin one of my projects: Newspaper Self Portraits. Every kid talks about his or her ability to make a photo-realistic image. We are going to look at value and use text collage to create dark medium and light tones on their self portrait. They won't be drawing, though. The students will be using a black and white printout of their image and building the collage directly on top. The result should be pretty awesome.

Art II is working on Identity Cups. Students will think about what they show the world and create a 3-D texturized cup to represent themselves. They will also think about what they "fill their cup" with-friends, faith, fun, etc. It should be challenging for them to think in terms of a metaphor and also controlling the clay. I just pray that they don't get frustrated!

Speaking of frustrated, my advanced class is pushing my limits. I believe they are used to their teacher and see me as a "substitute". It has been a challenge keeping them focused on their plaster carving project that I developed for them.

I am tired now. I am going to take a deep breath, pack my bag, and head home for a hot bath!

Until next time...thanks for visiting Ms. Meggles Art Room!!!