Activities for elementary school art shows
Many art teachers compile student creations throughout the year and present each student's accomplishments in an end-of-the year art show. Others supplement the curriculum by teaching various art techniques to coincide with the lessons, building each year on the children's knowledge and creativity. Creating projects that exemplify what the student has learned in the classroom helps reinforce the student's learning of the subject.
Kindergarten to First Grade--Self Portraits
Kindergarten and first-grade students learn about their physical bodies and keep them healthy. Build on this by creating an art show project like this simple one,which has three parts. First, children draw a colored self portrait including facial features, arms, hands, legs, feet, and clothing. Next children create an "x-ray" of themselves by drawing the outline of their bodies on black construction paper using a white crayon. Have them include lines to display where ribs and bones would be. Finish the project by asking the students to each bring in a black T-shirt; paint the chest portion of the "x-ray" portrait on the T-shirt using white paint. At the art show, have students wear the shirts and stand next to their portraits, bringing the art work to life.
Second Grade--Visual Arts
Second grade is a good time to introduce students to visual arts through dance. As children become aware of their bodies' movements, they can use simple concepts such as walking, skipping, and jogging to create a masterpiece of interpretation. Introducing this kind of movement involves having students look at paintings and discussing the shapes, colors, and line symmetry in them. Tell the children to imagine they are a paintbrush and discuss ways they would use their arms and legs to act out the shapes, colors and lines in the painting. During the art show, the students can use movement to interpret a painting for the audience.
Third Grade--Computer Slide Shows
By third grade, most students have a firm grasp of the basics of operating a computer and its programs. Creating a slide show of a book report showcases the third-grader's artistic skills as well as computer knowledge. Slides may include characters, story scenery, synopsis and student reviews. At the art show, open up the computer lab to display each student's slide show.
Fourth Grade-Dioramas
Creating dioramas makes a great fourth-grade group project. Divide the class into groups with equal participants and assign a theme to each group. Science themes, for instance, include insects and dinosaurs; history themes should concentrate on real-life characters or events; state themes could emphasize state symbols such as the state flower, tree and bird. During the art show, have students dress up and participate in real-life dioramas concentrating on these themes while showcasing their group projects.
Fifth Grade--Picasso Masks
Teaching fifth-graders students about Pablo Picasso's abstract art enables them to explore the dynamics of using the tools he employed to create their own Picasso masks. Create the masks using paper plates, cardboard or paper mache. Once the mask is drawn, use vibrant colors to add facial features. At the art show, have students wear their masks, dressing in matching colors to enhance their presentation.
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