Thursday, March 31, 2016

Art Class for Special Needs

Art Class for Special Needs - Cardboard Sculpture


Last month, I took a long-term sub job for a friend of mine.  Twice a week, kindergarten and first grade age students who have autism, came to art for a half-hour each time.  When they arrived, we watched the video from YouTube to "Shake the Sillies Out."  After that, we went over to the demonstration table and I showed them how to glue a tower of cardboard shapes.

Early in my art teaching career, a special ed teacher requested that I do a lot of 3D lessons with her students.  She told me that this was something the kids rarely got to experience.  So, I've kept this in mind over my career and tried to incorporate more sculptural experiences in their art classes.
box of precut cardboard shapes for art class for special needs students

       


cardboard sculpture made by special needs studentBefore they arrived at the art room, I had chopped up a large corrugated box into a variety of shapes.  I had styrofoam trays full of glue.  I also had cut cardboard squares for sculpture bases.

The students dipped the surface of the cardboard shapes into the glue and stacked them upon each other.  They stacked them any way they liked.  Overnight the sculptures dried and the next day the students painted them.



cardboard sculpture created by student with autism in art class



Monday, March 14, 2016

Art Sub Plan - A Home with an Onion Dome

Art Sub Plan with Architecture Theme

This art sub-plan is one that I created and taught recently.




This art lesson focuses on the architecture of onion domes. It talks about the beauty and uniqueness of this architectural element and shows how architects from the past and present have used this element in a variety of ways. It includes such classical structures as the Taj Mahal and St. Basil's Cathedral as well as an avante guarde creation of Hundertwasser. Many other buildings that have onion domes are featured as well.

This lesson was created with an art sub in mind but could be taught by a classroom teacher or art teacher. As a retired art teacher who subs now for my friends, I want to be able to teach good lessons that engage the students. The lessons that I use when I sub are the ones that I sell here. They are proven to engage students and help them create a work of art that is satisfying and original.

This lesson may be shown in two ways. It may be projected or it may be printed out and shown up close. All the teacher needs to do to teach this lesson is to read the script and ask the questions. All instructions are included.

The materials needed for the student artwork are simple: paper, pen or pencil, ruler, and crayons or markers.

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Art Sub Plan - Aliens Love Underpants

Kindergarten Art Sub Plan - Aliens Love Underpants

Here's a super cute idea from the kindergarten blog, The Very Busy Kindergarten.  It is based on the book with the same name by Claire Freedman.

As you can see from the pictures below, this lesson was done with cut paper, but it certainly can also be done with crayons or marker.                                                                                                



If you like this idea, you might like this lesson from my Art Sub Lesson shop on TeachersPayTeachers.  This art sub lesson is fun for elementary students and can easily be taught by substitute teachers with no prep. It would be perfect to keep in your art sub tub or emergency lesson plan folder. This drawing activity requires only simple materials to do: paper and crayons or markers.  Art Sub Lesson: Robot Roundup