Learning in Junior Art

A Colourful Start!  

Foundation In Term 1, our newest students at Pakenham Springs Primary School explored the Visual Arts room, learning expectations, routines, and available resources. Their first lesson introduced them to what it means to be an artist. 

We read A Place for Art to Start by Emily Arrow, discussing the many places art can be made. Students then created self-portraits as artists using black pastels and watercolours. 

Their main project, Three Chickies, was a mixed-media collage where they learned about primary colours and practised tracing, cutting, and gluing. Their dedication and demonstration of respect, responsibility, and resilience were truly impressive! 

Grade 1 & 2 this term focused on colours and lines. Students began by reading Mixed by Arree Chung, exploring how colours and emotions connect. They created dot people and experimented with colour mixing, loving the story so much that some requested it be shared in their classrooms. 

Next, they met Larry the Line and learned his poem, helping them explore different types of lines—straight, curvy, zigzag, bumpy, and wavy. Using paint sticks, ink daubers, and printmaking, they experimented with various materials to enhance their skills. 

For their Bad Hair Day project, students explored emotions in art. They listened to different music styles and observed how their feelings changed, translating these emotions into expressive line drawings. They read texts about emotions and associated colours, then created portraits featuring expressive facial expressions. Their hair, drawn with chalk pastels on black paper, emphasised blending techniques and vibrancy to enhance emotional expression. 

I’m so proud of the students' creativity and work ethic. I can't wait to see the incredible artwork they create this year! 

Mrs Bobbie Darwall

Visual Art Teacher