Visual Arts Prep - Year 3

Welcome back to another edition in the Visual Arts Curriculum. Here are some examples of  our learning over the past 2 weeks. Our students continue to grow and thrive in their learning as they produce some fantastic work.

FOUNDATION

Over the past couple of weeks students in Foundation have begun to inquire into 2D shapes. We began this unit by discussing what a 2D shape was and where 2D shapes are found within the school, classroom and home environments. Students were asked to look around the Art room and focus on spotting items that had common shapes such as circles, squares, triangles and rectangles.  

It was pleasing to see that most students were able to use their knowledge of shapes and found a circle within the clock face, a rectangle in a window frame, a triangle around a light and a square in the framework of the shelving. Some students ventured a little further and saw a rectangle around the outside of the friendship bench! 

After making these observations, students were asked to think and make connections between the shapes and the objects they saw and draw these objects in their art journals. 

Following on from our shape lesson, students continued to consolidate learning and began to create a ‘shape monster’ Each student was given a common 2D shape and were asked to collage the shape with coloured paper. They cut out square coloured pieces of paper and thought about arranging the pieces into a pattern. This activity was challenging however it was a great activity for developing fine motor skills such as cutting.

Years 1& 2

In years One and Two students were introduced to the term ‘Ephemeral art’. This term describes art that is temporary, a snapshot of an event or something that is ‘happening’ at a particular moment. Ephemeral art is created only to last for a short time. The artwork is usually photographed to record the moment. Examples of this art are chalk drawings on a pavement and arranging a collection of leaves and twigs from a garden. See below. 

After reflecting on Jimmy Pike’s artworks and on previous class discussions, students were asked to work in pairs and create their own ephemeral artwork. They were given items such as wool, pebbles, feathers, felt, sticks and buttons to create their art. They had to think 

about collaborating with one another as well as communicate their ideas on how to arrange the materials they chose into an art piece while taking. There was lots of rich discussion and lots of excitement happening in the art room and some wonderful creations were produced. 

Year 3                                           

In the past couple of weeks students in Year Three have been focusing on their major work ‘My Family’. They have almost come full circle and have almost completed their art project.  Students have made inquiries and connected with the work of Sarrita King to that of their own creations. They have added the dot designs depicting their special place and memories with family and are now up to creating and adding miniature pieces representing interests that each family member is fond of.