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Mrs. Houghton, Art, 2nd

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Semester 2

Welcome back to 2nd Grade Art! We’re excited to start Semester 2 by continuing to learn about the Elements of Art while exploring fun new materials and ways to make art. Get ready to create, experiment, and use your imagination as we grow as artists together!

Spring Rotation Schedule (By Advocacy):

  • Reeder (January 12th – February 6th)
  • Keating (April 27th – May 29th)

Spring Semester Curriculum:

  • Project 1: Pinch Pot Turtles
    • In this project, students create a turtle sculpture using the pinch pot clay technique. By shaping clay with their hands, students learn how to form a hollow vessel, add details like legs, a head, and shell texture, and securely attach clay pieces. This hands-on process builds fine motor skills, creativity, and an understanding of basic sculpture techniques
    • This project aligns with the National Visual Arts Standards for 2nd Grade, including:
      • VA:Cr2.1.2 – Experiment with different materials, tools, and techniques to explore personal expression
      • VA:Cr1.2.2 – Make art or design with various materials based on personal interests.
      • VA:Re7.1.2 – Describe what an artwork represents and how it makes you feel.
    • Through this clay project, students gain confidence working in three dimensions while creating a playful, expressive animal sculpture.
  • Project 2: Kandinsky Circles
    • In this project, students create abstract circle paintings inspired by Wassily Kandinsky’s exploration of color, shape and emotion. While listening to music, students respond to rhythm and mood by choosing colors, sizes, and placement of circles to express how the music makes them feel. This process encourages emotional awareness and creative freedom.
    • This project aligns with the National Visual Arts standards for 2nd grade, including:
      • VA:Cr1.1.2 – Brainstorm collaboratively multiple approaches to an art or design problem
      • VA:Cr2.1.2 – Experiment with various materials and tools to explore personal expression
      • VA:Re7.2.2 – Describe how visual elements in artworks communicate feelings or ideas.
    • Through this experience, students learn that art and music can work together to express emotions in powerful and imaginative ways.
  • Project 3: Still Life
    • In this project, students create still life drawings by carefully observing everyday objects and focusing on basic shapes and light and dark values. Students learn how shapes fit together and how shading can show form and depth. This drawing process builds strong observation skills and helps students understand how artists use value to make images look more realistic.
    • This project aligns with the National Visual Arts standards for 2nd grade, including:
      • VA:Cr1.2.2 – Make art or design with various materials based on personal interests
      • VA:Cr2.1.2 – Experiment with different materials and tools to explore personal expression
      • VA:Re7.1.2 – Describe what an image represents and identify visual details
    • Through this still life activity, students strengthen foundational drawing skills and gain confidence in using shape and value to represent the world around them.
  • Project 4: Value Landscapes
    • In this project, students create winter landscape drawings that emphasize value by exploring light and dark tones to show snow, sky, trees, and shadows. Using simple drawing tools, students learn how value helps create depth, contrast, and mood in a scene.
    • This project aligns with the National Visual Arts standards for 2nd grade, including:
      • VA:Cr2.1.2 – Experiment with various materials and tools to explore personal expression.
      • VA:Re7.2.2 – Describe how visual elements, such as value, are used to communicate meaning.
      • VA:Cr3.1.2 – Share and reflect on artwork, identifying successful elements.
    • Through this winter landscape project, students build foundational drawing skills while learning how value can transform a simple scene into a more realistic and expressive artwork.

2nd Grade Art Class:

Welcome to 2nd Grade Art! This year, students will explore their creativity through drawing, painting, collage, and more. They'll learn about the elements of art—like color, line, and shape—while discovering how to express ideas and tell stories through their artwork. Projects will encourage imagination, build fine motor skills, and introduce students to artists from around the world.

 

Fall Rotation Schedule (By Advocacy):

  • Reeder (August 4th – August 29th)
  • Okestrum (November 17th – December 19th)

 

Fall Semester Curriculum:

  • Project 1: Farm Landscapes
    • Inspired by American artist Grant Wood, students create colorful farm landscapes using markers to emphasize rolling hills, barns, and patterns in nature. This project teaches perspective, pattern, and rural American themes while encouraging creativity and observation.
    • This project aligns with Art Standards, including:
      • VA: Cr1.1.2 – Brainstorm ideas and select subject matter for artwork.
      • VA: Cr2.1.2 – Experiment with materials and tools to create works of art.
      • VA: Re7.1.2 – Describe what an image represents.
    • By exploring landscape through Wood’s style, students learn to recognize patterns in nature and express a sense of place through their artistic lens.
  • Project 2: Zentangle Hands
    • In this creative project, students trace their hands and fill the shape with unique Zentangle-inspired patterns. Behind the hand, they paint an abstract background using color, shape, and movement to create visual contrast. This lesson encourages fine motor skills, creativity, and self-expression.
    • This project aligns with Art Standards, including:
      • VA: Cr1.1.2 – Brainstorm and sketch ideas to make art.
      • VA: Cr2.1.2 – Experiment with materials and tools to express an idea.
      • VA: Re7.2.2 – Describe what an image communicates about ideas and feelings.
    • This project allows students to explore pattern, texture, and color while celebrating individuality through art.
  • Project 3: Pablo Picasso Self Portraits
    • In this playful project, students create expressive self-portraits inspired by Pablo Picasso’s abstract and cubist style. Using bold lines, geometric shapes, and bright marker colors, students experiment with showing different facial features from multiple angles—just like Picasso!
    • This project aligns with Art Standards, including:
      • VA: Cr1.1.2 – Brainstorm and sketch ideas for art-making.
      • VA: Cr2.1.2 – Experiment with materials and tools to express ideas.
      • VA: Re7.2.2 – Describe what an image communicates about personal or cultural meaning.
    • This project encourages imagination, self-expression, and a fun introduction to modern art concepts at an early age.
  • Project 4: Still Life
    • In this project, students create still life drawings inspired by the colorful, simplified style of artist Samantha Bell. Focusing on everyday objects, students learn to observe shape, size, and placement while using bold outlines and vibrant color to bring their compositions to life.
    • This project aligns with Art Standards, including:
      • VA: Cr1.2.2 – Make art or design with various materials based on personal interests.
      • VA: Cr2.1.2 – Experiment with different materials and tools to explore personal expression.
      • VA: Re7.1.2 – Describe what an image represents and how it makes them feel.
    • Through this still life project, students strengthen observation skills, explore artistic choices, and gain confidence in drawing from real life.