No-No Board and the Colored Pencil Test

A while back I did a post comparing Prang markers to RoseArt...today's post will compare Prang colored pencils to Crayola's.

Yesterday was our first staff development day, and luckily our administration gave us quite a bit of time to work in our classrooms, which was a relief because I still have a lot to do!  Luckily, I crossed off quite a bit on my checklist (only to find that there was more stuff to do that I overlooked...go figure!), including putting away the remaining supplies in the high school room, cleaning out the last supply cabinet that I hadn't touched yet, and finishing up my No-No Board in my elementary room.

The night before, I pulled out the colored pencils to finish making the pictures for my board.  In case you haven't seen a No-No Board before, I just want to say that the idea is not mine...I found the idea over at Mr. E's blog.  Now, I've noticed there tends to be a bit of a debate whenever one of these shows up in a teachers classroom, but I think it will complement my craftsmanship rubric pretty well.  (Phyl did a post a while back about the controversial No-No Board as well...)

I concentrate in all grades on these drawing ideas ("Y" trees, using a horizon line, etc.).  Don't get me wrong, this is not here to squelch creativity, but particularly with the older students, they should be moving past these drawing cliches.  Unless a project or assignment calls for these "stereotypes" (like cartooning...it's okay to have words in your art!), I'd be more impressed if students were more creative and more mature in their depictions, which is what I aim for.  If you check out my craftsmanship rubric, you'll notice that the things on the No-No board correspond with the craftsmanship rubric descriptors.

Ok, enough of that...onto the colored pencils!

The first thing you'll be likely to notice is that the Prang pencils are thicker and more of a triangular shape...

Next are the colors.  Crayola has two greens, red-orange and a white, compared to the Prang which has a magenta, gold and silver.  I think you get a broader range of colors with the Prang, which is nice, especially with having the gold and silver...not having a white is the only drawback, especially if you like to do projects on dark paper.

Just for fun, I decided to pull out some of my own personal colored pencils, which also happen to be by Prang!  I bought these colored pencils years ago at an Office Max and I can't find them anymore, so I wanted to see how similar the Prang colored pencils were that I got in the mail.

The only colored pencil I'm missing from my personal ones is a black...I used that sucker till it was gone!  At the bottom of the page I did a quick value scale, Prang on top, Crayola on bottom.

Finally, I decided to see how the colored pencils would blend together.  Crayola -is on the left, Prang on the right.

 So, here are my findings:

Crayola
-thinner pencil & lead = easier to break
-thin pencils are harder for small hands to control
+thin pencils fit into most pencil sharpeners
-does not come with a pencil sharpener
-harder lead makes for harder blending
+comes with a white
$2.59 at Office Depot
$1.95 at Walmart (though current school sale puts them at 97 cents)

Prang
+thicker pencil and lead = sturdier
+thick pencils make it easier for younger students to hold and control
-thicker pencils that don't fit into all pencil sharpeners
+comes with a pencil sharpener in the package
+medium lead makes for easier blending
+comes with gold and silver
$1.96 at Walmart
$1.97 at Amazon.com

My Personal Prang Ticonderogas
+thin pencils with a thicker lead (fit into pencil sharpeners, less chance of breakage)
+soft lead makes for excellent blending (no streaky coloring!)

All in all, I'd say the Prang colored pencils are a pretty good deal.  Crayola is a good one to go with if you catch them on sale, but otherwise the price is comparable.  Once I go through the stock-pile of colored pencils I currently have in the next year or so, I may consider purchasing some of these Prangs for my younger elementary kids.  Now, if I could find the Prang Ticonderogas at a decent price, I'd definitely buy them for my high school students!  This year I am trying out Sarget colored pencils with them...

Studio Art: The Elements of Art (And Prang Markers!)

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a representative of Prang.  She asked if I would be willing to try out and compare some of their art materials and give a review of them in exchange for free materials...heck yes!  So, as I began planning my first unit for Studio Art, I decided to give the Prang markers a go, compared to the Rose Art markers they sent me as well.  So, here goes (I'm killing two birds with one stone here!).

So the first set of materials I decided to try out was the Prang vs. RoseArt markers.  As I continue through my post below, I'll show you some photos behind my notes here, but these are my thoughts about the markers:

• Prang
• 12 colors (+)
• Colors are more concentrated and solid (+)
• Bleed through 80 lb. paper when used heavily (-)
• White caps = no mixed up colors (+)
• Tips seem strong (+)
• Prang Power points! (+)
• $4.00 (Office Max), $2.89 for set of 8 and $3.95 for set of 12 through Blick
• Rose Art
• 10 colors (-)
• Less concentrated, more transparent (-)
• Don't appear to bleed through 80 lb. drawing paper when used heavily (+)
• Colored caps = mixed up colors (-)
• Tips seem flexible (-)
• $4.57 (Amazon), $2.20 through Rose Art

When it comes to markers, I have a few different kinds I generally use in my classroom.  I have the Crayola markers for everyday use in the supply bins in the elementary room.  I can definitely say that I agree with Mr. E. when he says the Crayola markers tend to be "sketchy" when coloring a large area.  That is why I let the kids use those ones for free draw.  I actually use the non-scented Mr. Sketch markers for specific projects that require a nicer marker (I prefer the chisel tip for thick and thin lines, though the younger kids do need to be taught how to use those markers correctly), and I use the obvious Sharpie marker for specific projects as well.  Currently, I'm not really sure where I'd stand on buying Prang markers.  If they were offered in a requisition cheaper than Crayola, I'd probably try them, but currently I've got a good stock pile of the others!

Now, they also sent Ticonderoga pencils, and there really is no contest there between the competitors brand.  I already purchase these through my Boces requisitions each year.  They're strong pencils, the erasers are good (while they last), and I appreciate that this pack already came sharpened, although the 12 packs I purchase are not sharpened.

So, onto the bulk of this post.  Because of the Common Core, I was asked if I had a textbook in the art room to use.  This Art Talk textbook is the textbook art teachers in St. Lawrence county agreed to use many years back, around 2000 I believe, as that is the copyright on this textbook, but at recent regional meetings, it's apparent that everyone does not use it anymore (granted, I'm sure that will now change again with Common Core rolling in).  It's an okay book, but I definitely don't plan on using it from start to finish for the entire year.  I'll use bits and pieces here and there as they fit what the students and I want to do over the school year and then I'll possibly look into a different textbook for next year.

My first unit is actually going to be pulled directly from the textbook, but with my own twist on the notes, quiz, worksheets and projects.  I know a lot of students tend to be bored by the elements and principles, so I want to get that out of the way right in the beginning, and hopefully make it quick and somewhat fun.  The projects suggested in the textbook to do all revolved around critiques and discussions in some way, which seems very boring for the beginning of the year, so I'm approaching it a bit differently.  Critiques will be handled more in depth in the second unit of the year and I'm going to incorporate an art project into the first unit.

The chapter is split into three lessons.  The first lesson discusses what art is (a form of communication) and why it is created.  The second lesson discusses where artists get their inspiration from, and the third lesson, the one I am going to concentrate on a bit more, is about the elements and principles, as well what is in a credit line.  We will spend a day on the first two lessons in class, taking notes in a note packet I've created and then the third day, students will actually read the chapter about "The Language of Art".  

For the elements, we are going to create this info-graphic type resource.  Lightly folding the paper in half to find the mid-way point, I'll have students fold the sides to the halfway point and then measure out seven equal sections.  From there, they will cut slits to the fold. 

On the front, they will be asked to illustrate the elements of art to help them remember what they are.  On the inside, they will have to write the definition of each element.

From this picture, you can see how the Prang markers bled through the 80 lb. drawing paper, which is 10 lbs. heavier than what I buy for my elementary room.

The lighting was really bad in this picture, but "shape" was colored with Rose Art markers and "Form" with the Prang.  You can sort of see how the Rose Art markers are a little streakier and transparent when coloring an entire area.

Also on the inside flaps, students will be asked to break down each element a little further with their illustrations.  For example, shapes and forms can both be geometric or organic.  They can showcase different shading techniques for value, different color schemes for color, and implied vs. actual texture for texture.  I didn't finish mine because I don't want any of the students to copy, but this is the gist of what they will do!

I only plan on having the students do this for the elements right now, as I think the principles are a little harder to illustrate right off the bat, but I'm thinking of offering an extra credit assignment where students can do this project at home for the principles as well to turn in.  I'll share some of my unit handouts in my next post and explain this unit a little more in depth then as well.