1. Artist Trading Cards Moore Public Schools

2. Need something to add fun to your classroom but that also gives your student a challenge? A little bit of art could be just the answer! First, start with the art lesson…all you need is a name of an artist and a google search and you are on your way. Let’s start with an easy one: Van Gogh….

3. A Starry Night What is the focal point of the art? What is the background? What is the style? What was used to make this art? What do you notice about it? Look at the smallest details… Then learn about the artist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qv 8TANh8djI Always start with the art: Look at the art and ask questions!

4. How to Make Artist Trading Cards Give students small card size paper. Even your most reluctant artist can do this small size art. Decide what type of media they will use: crayons, chalk, markers, paint, etc. Have the students try to copy A Starry Night. Have them write their name on the back of the card with the date. After they do A Starry Night, have them make more cards that are in a similar style of this artist. Make sure they put their name on the back of the cards. Take the cards up and keep them in baggies labeled for the students. Once a month, every nine weeks, or once a semester you will have the students do the trading of cards. Once way to do this is to have half the class display the cards they are willing to trade. The other half of the class will walk around and look at the cards that they can choose, they will barter with the students for the cards that they are willing to trade.

5. Pictures of students trading Artists Cards…

6. Why do Artist Trading Cards? First it is FUN! Students will love it! It will give you an opportunity to teach something you might never have tried before and that is FUN! Students like to collect things and they think that trading is FUN! It cost you very little and it is FUN! Did I mention that it is FUN?

7. But Are they Learning? Yes, recent research says that bringing art into the regular classroom invites critical thinking, collaboration, and communication which all encourage creativity. When a child is creative, their brain is engaged and they are more involved in other areas inside the classroom. Taking at least one hour each week to be creative is critical to helping students become independent thinkers. There is no right answer in art. Students are encouraged to take chances and to explore new areas. Additionally, using art in the classroom requires decision making, inventiveness, and a cultural awareness that many children have never experienced. When I taught at a very low income school, my students loved when we would study an artist’s painting. We would talk about the artist, the painting, and all that they noticed about the painting. They also loved trying to imitate the artist. Finally, arts learning can also improve motivation, concentration, confidence, and teamwork. Arts education enables children from a financially challenged background to have a more level playing field with children who have had those enrichment experiences. Using art in the classroom is a win-win!

8. You can start super simple: Scribble Art! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVOxfLxGPmM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZqP92VQV- I&ebc=ANyPxKp7rg0N23HpDs30bFsXm6ATvm_1IeLZX- WS0ZRqZQqAGZWQMcXrccJROYVnlTZoLI4LWUC-10FmogKXzQOvdjtXI3yIeQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZqP92VQV- I&ebc=ANyPxKp7rg0N23HpDs30bFsXm6ATvm_1IeLZX- WS0ZRqZQqAGZWQMcXrccJROYVnlTZoLI4LWUC-10FmogKXzQOvdjtXI3yIeQ The links above are videos of scribble art…it doesn’t get simpler than this! Do the small cards even with scribble art because they can make several and even the most reluctant artist will do scribble art.

9. Now, just choose your artist or your art forms that you want to present. I like choosing artists that have interesting life stories and often have secrets about their art that kids will find it fun to learn about. How about Henri Matisse ? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLgSd8ka0Gs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLgSd8ka0Gs Student Samples

10. Claude Monet French Impressionist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ah5g2M14oUM Try watercolors to imitate Impression art.

11. Leonardo Da Vinci https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm0qszPJnc8 Use pencils or colored pencils to copy Da Vinci’s art.

12. Rembrandt https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NR5sC5fu8-8 Try doing self portraits or choosing one person to draw their face and neck.

13. Piet Mondrian Abstract artist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkq5jQhH0WE

14. Kazimer Malevich Abstract artist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWofzvBCnLc&ebc=ANyPxKoyX72ZIwp hBwJRkn-Ci_GR_-LCRECSm00Nxg- QF555tXQm6KuVP01eg3pPfY1ClrUPVRTWT9Zn0ekOcoVa_4AQtvFgvA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWofzvBCnLc&ebc=ANyPxKoyX72ZIwp hBwJRkn-Ci_GR_-LCRECSm00Nxg- QF555tXQm6KuVP01eg3pPfY1ClrUPVRTWT9Zn0ekOcoVa_4AQtvFgvA The abstract artists are good times to talk about the subjective nature of art. Is this really art because it is so easy to do? The black square was quite controversial in its day.

15. Obviously, this subject could go on and on. And, this particular unit is missing women artists, Latin artists, Black artists, Asian artists…I always tried to include these in my lessons on art but I am having a hard time finding videos for them. You can use books and google their art to present those. Another thing you need to be cautious of is presenting art without previewing first because of the naked aspect of art! You will get a big reaction if naked people make it into your video or on your smart board! I always start by explaining that sometimes artist will paint the human body. It is not nasty or gross…but it is best to avoid this if possible.