Maasai Necklaces

Image via http://www.onevillageoneworld.org

These paper plate necklaces were made by grade one students who were learning about Africa. For centuries, beaded jewellery has been a mark of beauty and prosperity among the Maasai tribes of Eastern Africa. 
The idea for this lesson came from Mrs Brown's Art Class. Students cut out the centre circle from a paper plate and used this spare piece to cut a rectangular piece which was stapled to the bottom of the necklace piece. Students viewed many photographs of Maasai jewellery then drew and painted designs on their necklaces. Coloured pieces of wool and beads were added to complete.

South African Inspired Pottery

These gorgeous little pinch pots were made recently by my grade one students after admiring the South African guinea fowl pot (pictured left), which I borrowed from a parent and staff member. (Thanks Mariette!).

The students were shown how to use pinch and pull methods with clay to create a small, round pinch pot which was glazed with orange inside and later painted with black and white paints on the outside.

Students were given a choice of white on black, or black on white and the rows of dots were made with cotton buds.

I think these pots are just perfectly imperfect and look amazing all together. Perhaps I will never let the kids take these home!

African Mask Collages

 

 These collages were created by Grade 1 students who are creating African inspired art works this term. The idea for this project came from this image and I thought it could work as a Notan-type project. 

After viewing images of African masks, students were given two pieces of coloured paper of their choice which were folded long-ways down the centre. A semi circle (with an ear) was drawn on the fold and cut through both layers to create two identical head shapes, one of which was then cut vertically down the middle. The cut piece then became the piece the students drew shapes on for the facial features and patterns, flipped over and glued to the other side of the face to complete the shape. We also used hole punches to make dots to glue on as decoration or details.

This was an ambitious lesson to do with grade 1s, but I'm glad I did as they understood it a lot better than I had anticipated!

Giraffe Portraits

 

A group of grade ones did these giraffes with me a few weeks back as part of their study of African animals. This lesson seems to be a popular one, based on the art work of U.S painter Jennifer Mercede. I have seen similar lessons at a few blogs including BlueMoon Palette, again the wonderful Georgetown Elementary Art Blog and MaryMaking (where I also go the idea for the borders). I had the children follow a simple step-by-step drawing process, similar to the cows I did with students of the same age. We used oil pastels and tempera paints to add colour and then printed a simple border using found objects like pieces of cardboard and blocks etc.

Zebras

OK, I think this has been my most favourite project I've ever done with my students. 

I love these zebras so much! Got the idea here at 'Manuales' (this is my also favourite blog - gives me heaps of ideas for lessons so thank you!)

As done in the 'Manuales' project, I had made my own little horse but changed the pegs on the legs so they could remain moveable. I then decided zebras rather than horses would be lovely for my students as they would fit with my current Grade One theme of Endangered Species.

So, we painted everything white then copied zebra patterns with black markers.

My three grade 1 classes all completed this lesson. In the first lesson I had older classes 'buddy up' with us to help with the cutting out of the thick cardboard, knotting the tail etc.

Changing the position of the pegs means you can train your zebra to stand, walk, sit and even talk! :)

I had the children colour  this African savannah type mural I drew with chalk pastels before adding zebras.