iPad Scavenger Hunt Critiques with 4th grade!

This past spring I had the amazing opportunity to be part of a pilot program for iPad's in Education. We worked with Fordham University to analyze how beneficial (or non beneficial) iPads would be for student learning. I was so impressed! Student retention of vocabulary and skills increased. Not only that, but as we transitioned to doing everything on the iPads, they were actually asking for opportunities to write and take tests! I love using this technology not only for creating art, but also for classroom management, writing, researching, and even fun ways to study and take tests. 

Recently I adapted my art history lesson on masks to include a scavenger hunt with their QR reader and critique writing in Evernote! A QR reader will scan bar codes that will send students to either a file, image, or website. I set them up to send my students to images on the web of masks from around the world. Evernote is an internet based notebook style program that can be used as an app on iPads or as a program downloaded on a PC. It will sync back and forth between devices so you can always access the most current version of whatever you have worked on in either place. My theory was that I could have them write in Evernote on any iPad device and it would sync to my computer to look at later. I would then get the added benefit of being able to to run the lesson paperless!

Left side shows folders organizing classes. Right side shows different notes students created in Evernote

Students were to select a QR code to scan and view then open Evernote to write an aesthetic response as a group. They were shown how to switch back and forth between the image in the QR reader and Evernote to write. After finishing their critique, their next activity was to open a new camera note and take a picture of a mask. Evernote has a great feature that allows you to annotate on the image. Students were able to then demonstrate to me where they could see examples of line, shape, color, and other fun details about the mask that they liked. They could select color options (they "ooo" and "aaah" over this) and tool options, such as arrows (super fun!) and text for annotating. My special needs students and severely handicapped students loved being able to leave a voice note instead of writing. 

Writing Sample in Evernote

Management included: 

• One iPad per group of 3-4 students (for special needs students a 1:2 ratio would be better)
• Using class Dojo rewards system to reward students 
• Setting up the iPad a week before the lesson 
• Checking everything worked before they arrived
• Setting up a class iCloud email address (any email would be fine) and using this class email for the Evernote account  on each iPad
• In Evernote, creating a 4th grade notebook stack 
• Each class having their own notebook
• Inside their class notebook a group note with their writing example-they wrote below the example
• A voice note with directions for each class

I am truly loving having the opportunity to freshen up old lessons and see the students love writing about art! 

Let's Design a Room!

 The fourth graders LOVED designing their own rooms! They thought it was "Magic" when we made the rooms have long hallways that showed two more rooms behind! Below you will see the steps to making this simple enough for our fourth graders!

Gumballs For Sale!

 

Gumball Machines! We just started this last week with two of the seven fourth grade classes I see, and as you can see they sure are adorable! When they were in third grade we worked with Wayne Thiebaud, making delicious desserts that mimicked his style and use of the elements of art. This is a follow up

Snowmen Decorations by Art Club

The beautification/decoration committee asked me to help add in children's artwork for the holiday decorations. I had them purchase large over-sized poster board for silly snowmen to hang from the ceiling tiles, and things to make snowmen ornaments with to hang with the snowmen! 

Do You Have Special Needs Artists Too?

Now, as art teachers we've always had to work with every child in the building. They all get to come and enjoy learning about art. It's that one subject that seems to be the least stressful for those children who have attention problems or dyslexia and struggle in their classes. There is movement, they can stand up, there are "No Mistakes, only New Opportunities". Creativity seems to be their strongest point!

Adaptive Multistep, Pre-cut Homes

Then there are those very low functioning students. Do you have them too? I have them about three times  a week- each.  Since they can't learn a new language, as they are still learning their native English, and they can't research or follow in the Media Center, and they cause more distractions in Music as they don't speak or sing but play- they are left with art and P.E.!

Adaptive Snowman

Now, I want them to feel successful and participate in class. However, they

Ready Leaders; Take Over!

Aren't their smocks cute too?

I have to thank a fifth grade teacher for inspiring me into having leaders in my art room! The kids get so excited to get their chance to wear their leader tag, and I make sure every child gets a turn throughout the year.

I know many of you have systems of giving clean up jobs to your kids and other various classroom responsibility jobs are handed out on top of that in some fashion.  I also have special systems in place for clean up and odd jobs. This leader tag system was my way of managing everything that happens in my room on top of the clean up system.

Every time the class arrives for art

Encouraging Self Reflecting Artists

Remember those days when children would walk up to you, poke your shoulder, and ask if they were done? I'm proud to say I have nearly eliminated that, just by posting these signs!

Jasper Johns Fabulous!

Don't you just love it when their eyes light up when they have discovered a new magical art material!  Here's a new take on a scratch art extension lesson that just gives them that "aha!" feeling.  

Right before this lesson we worked with our traditional scratch art boards and tools enjoying the gold paper that shines through when scratching away the black surface. Now they learned how to make their own scratch art surface, while I snuck in some art history on Jasper Johns and little color theory! Sneaky, sneaky art teacher! 

It really is a very simple project, but with a very beautiful final product. I love fourth grade! 

Just in time for Halloween!

"Spooky Silhouettes!"

 Yay! One class finished their spooky silhouettes in time for  the Halloween bulletin board! I'm going to have to take a picture of them all mounted on orange paper and hanging on the bulletin board- but let me tell you- they are awesome! 

We painted a spooky harvest moon sky reinforcing the

We Love Tribal Art!

Every year I start with a cultural unit for fifth and fourth graders. Fourth graders truly love making masks!

I've done this project in numerous ways. My favorite