Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Summer Art Courses for Primary Teachers - Part 1

Summer Art Courses for Primary Teachers

This post is a work in progress at the moment and I will continue to update it over the next few weeks with art courses on offer around the country.

I have only completed one art summer course and it was a face to face course in my local teachers centre. I came away with lots of ideas and the week flew by!

The first course to grab my attention is being run by The Lewis Glucksman Gallery.

Summer Course for Primary Teachers

1. This August The Lewis Glucksman Gallery, UCC is offering a Summer Course for Primary Teachers called Learning through Creativity. The five-day

course will examine how art can be used to increase student participation

and understanding of subjects when looking at other strands of the

curriculum such as Math, Language, Science, History and SPHE. Led by the

Glucksman curatorial team, this course will encourage participants to engage in class discussions, exercises in narrative and storytelling as well as practical art making sessions. Each day participants will work with a different professional artist in a different medium to learn new

art making techniques suitable for the classroom. Set in the beautiful gallery settings, surrounded by contemporary art this is a unique opportunity not to be missed!

I teach infants is the course suitable for me?

Last year we had teachers from every age group, from senior infants to a

secondary school art teacher. Although the projects relate directly to 5th/6th class curriculum, the techniques and skills taught are transferrable across all age groups. Also we keep the group small so teachers can get sufficient time to work through their own ideas and build

skills for their own practice.

How is the course structured?

The morning sessions are spent with the Glucksman curatorial team and we look at artists, art movements, projects and ideas that combine art with other strands of the curriculum. The afternoon sessions are practical art making workshops with the professional artists.

Monday - Art and Language - Collage with Cassandra Eustace -

http://backwaterartists.ie/artists/cassandra-eustace

Tuesday - Art and Math - Printmaking with Dominic Fee -

http://www.dominicfee.com/

Wednesday - Art and History - Painting with Paul McKenna -

http://paulmckennaart.blogspot.ie/

Thursday - Art and Science - Drawing with Angela Gilmour -

http://www.angelagilmour.com/

Friday - Art and SPHE - Sculpture with Fiona Kelly - http://fionakelly.co/

How much is the course and how do I book a place?

Learning through Creativity

Monday 22nd August to Friday 26th August 2016

10am – 2:30pm

Cost: €75

Target class groups – 5th/6th class

Booking is essential and can be made through info@glucksman.org or

021-4901844

The course has been approved by Drumcondra

Education Centre on behalf of the Department of Education, participants of the course will be eligible for EPV days as outlined in Primary Circular 37/97.

Wednesday, 20 April 2016

Fields of Flowers

I have been so busy lately and have neglected the blog! My apologies to anyone who has missed me!

I finally got to use a lesson from Hervé Tullet's 'Art Workshops for Children'. Not only did I throughly enjoy it but I am so happy with the results too. Bright and beautiful flowers to adorn the class walls.

I set up a row of tables across the class (no seats needed) and covered them in newspaper. I placed A3 white paper in a line down the table but I didn't tape the pages together as I needed to place the sheets on racks to dry.

Each child was given a paintbrush and pot of paint (any colour except green). Once I had explained the idea and rules (to keep us safe as there is lots of moving around) we got started.

The teacher leads the lesson by calling out instructions and guiding the children.

Here are some of the instructions I gave -

1. Paint a dot

2. Paint a bigger dot

3. Paint a circle

4. Paint a dot in a circle

5. Paint dots around a dot

6. Paint a circle in a circle

After each instruction I asked the children to change places. Remember you can repeat instructions as often as you see fit. Keep an eye on the work in progress, if you think a page is full remove it. If you see white space that needs to be filled point it out.

Once all pages were nicely covered in flowers I collected the pots, cleaned the brushes to be used again, and gave out pots of green paint. Now the kids set to work adding stems and leaves to our flowers.

As before if a page is done remove it. Less is more :)

This lesson was lively and fun. I can't wait to try another one from the book!

I only photographed one page, but isn't it lovely!

Give it a try :)

Wednesday, 9 March 2016

Easter art egg-spiration!

I apologise for the cheesy post title! I couldn't resist!

The run up to Easter break is going to be busy with Seachtain na Gaeilge, St. Patrick's Day and Easter to prepare for. I have a post on St. Patrick's day / Irish inspired art up and below you will find some nice Easter art ideas.

http://www.katiescrochetgoodies.com/2014/04/easy-easter-craft-for-toddlers-bunny.html

http://ideesnanoug.canalblog.com/archives/2012/03/05/23882829.html

http://www.designmom.com/2013/03/diy-salt-dough-eggs/

http://cleliablagoev.canalblog.com/archives/p30-20.html

http://ecm-saint-martial-chateauroux.tice.ac-orleans-tours.fr/dotclear/index.php?tag/Escapage

http://clemenceg.typepad.com/blog/artistes_en_herbe_courroux_en_suisse/

http://jamestownart.blogspot.com/2015/04/hatching-chicks.html

http://cahierjosephine.canalblog.com/archives/2014/04/07/29565431.html

http://lesptitsbricoleurs.jimdo.com/p%C3%A2ques/

http://sphotos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/521916_463180817085784_20760107_n.jpg

I adore those hats! So cute 😊

There are so many cute ideas on Pinterest that I can't choose one to do!!

Lots more on my Easter Pinterest board https://www.pinterest.com/IrishPrimaryArt/easter/

Friday, 4 March 2016

Hattie Peck! Art Egg-spiration!

As yesterday March 3rd was World Book Day I bought a new book. Not that I need a reason to buy a new book but anyway.... Hattie Peck came to live with us.

To be honest I didn't read it until I got home (I don't usually do this!) as I was in Aldi getting my shopping. The cover caught my eye and I thought even if the story wasn't great the illustrations made it worthy for the bookshelf.

I was pleasantly surprised when I got home. It is a lively and heart warming story about a loving hen desperate to be a mummy. Hattie has so much love to give but no egg to share it with, so she sets off to find herself some eggs! The ending is very sweet and presents a great opportunity for further investigation into creatures that lay eggs!

My senior infants class painted hens, chicks and eggs a few years ago and I think this story would work really well with that lesson. The children could paint their own Hattie (in any colour) surrounded by her eggs of all colours and sizes.

I used a mix of cream and yellow paper but I think the brighter yellow paper looks better. When we created our painting we started by using pencils to draw the outline of a hen, 3/4 eggs and 3/4 chicks. We then painted them in white/lemon/cream. Once dry we used black oil pastels to trace over the outlines and add details such as eyes etc. Some hens were given red beaks and tail feathers.

I would love to see your versions of Hattie with her eggs if you give this lesson a go.

It is perfect for Easter and they really brightened up our corridor. 😊

Monday, 29 February 2016

Mother's Day Art - Part Two

This poem has hung on the fridge in my parents house for about ten years. My little brother made it for Mum when he was in school. Not only do I love the poem but I really like the field of flowers on which the poem is written. I am sharing my version of it with you and I hope you like it as much as I do.

Only One Mother

by George Cooper

Hundreds of stars in the pretty sky,
Hundreds of shells on the shore together,
Hundreds of birds that go singing by,
Hundreds of lambs in the sunny weather.

Hundreds of dewdrops to greet the dawn,
Hundreds of bees in the purple clover,
Hundreds of butterflies on the lawn,
But only one mother the wide world over.

I mixed up four different colours of paint with a little water (you want it to run) and used a teaspoon to drop blobs of paint onto the page. I then held the page so the paint ran downwards. Make sure you have your work surface covered!

Once the paint is dry you can use oil pastels, crayons, chalk or colouring pencils to turn the blobs into flowers. It is really nice to flick some paint on the page, these can be turned into bees, butterflies or more flowers.

This was my first attempt, I couldn't quite remember what to do!

Thursday, 25 February 2016

Mother's Day Art Ideas

I try to do art rather than craft for my lessons but some occasions call for a craft! Having your little boy or girl come home to you with something made from their handprint is truly lovely and it is something you will treasure forever. So for Mother's Day I think handprint/footprints/fingerprints all the way!!!

1. http://karewares.blogspot.com/2012/05/diy-mothers-day-flower-pot-card.html

2. http://www.craftymorning.com/fingerprint-sheep-mothers-day-card-idea/

3. http://www.craftymorning.com/fingerprint-sheep-mothers-day-card-idea/

4. https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Mothers-Day-Card-Book-Craft-1795822

5. http://intheplayroom.co.uk/2015/03/16/drink-it-all-in-with-twinings-and-tea-cup-cards/

1. A string of flowers in a pot

A mother's love
and tender care
makes happiness
bloom everywhere.

Four flowers - I - love - you - and a photo on the last flower.

2. I love you, Maaaaaa-m!

Use white paint to make fingerprints for the sheep.

3. Mothers are like buttons, they hold everything together.

Kids can draw the body or make it with scraps of wrapping paper/fabric.

4 & 5. Beau-TEA-ful Mother's Day!

A cup of tea to say thank you

For everything you have done

Enjoy, relax, and have a day

Of happiness and fun!

______________________________________________________

Here is a gift

for Mother's Day

I'll try my best

in every way

But if you get

Upset with me

Relax and have a

cup of tea!

______________________________________________________

Here is a gift

for Mother's Day

I'll try my best

in every way

Sent with love to you

From me

So relax and have a

cup of tea!

______________________________________________________

I'm not always just perfect,
Even though I try.
Sometimes when I'm not so great,
You give a little sigh!

On days like that I wish
I could give you cause to smile
And have you put your feet up,
To rest a little while.

So the next time you're tired,
And it's because of me,
Please sit down and relax a while,
And have a cup of tea!

1. http://kerrykeelns.scoilnet.ie/blog/files/2014/10/School-football-team-010.jpg

2. http://littlemisskindergarten.blogspot.com/2015/05/mothers-day.html

3. http://cantstopsmilinginsecond.blogspot.com/2014/03/art-and-poetry-for-mothers-day-or.html

4. http://stjosephsprimarymacroom.scoilnet.ie/blog/?p=4276

5. http://www.artforsmallhands.com/search/label/ages%203%20to%206

1. Wishing stone / Stepping stone

This beautiful wishing stone,

From our Irish shore.

Health, wealth, happiness

Love, luck and more!

Hold it in your hand and make a wish!

Happy Mother's Day!

______________________________________________________

When you step upon this stone
Just think about how much I've grown.
I made this in my own special way
To show you my love on mother's day.

Happy Mother's Day!

2. I love you to pieces!

A heart covered in torn paper pieces, works as a card or a gift.

3. Georgia O'Keeffe watercolour flower with a poem written along the outline.

http://cantstopsmilinginsecond.blogspot.com/2014/03/art-and-poetry-for-mothers-day-or.html

4. Handful of flowers

This could be done with a handprint or children could trace around their hand and cut it out.

Just one little wish for you, Mam,

But it's loving and happy and true -

It's a wish that the nicest and best things

Will always keep coming to you!

5. Portrait of mother and child in the style of Mary Cassatt

Mary Cassatt focused on the private lives of women and the close bond that forms between mother and child. A perfect artist to look at and respond to for Mother's Day.

More to come!

St. Patrick's Day - Art & Craft Round Up

Here is a quick round up of some art (and some craft!) ideas for St. Patrick's day. As always these are for inspiration and you can allow your class be creative! A lesson on tints and shades would work well. The children could then do paintings in 50 shades of green!!!