Realm of the Renaissance

To introduce the subject, we began with a short video depicting the fresco technique used by Michaelangelo.  We had hoped to demonstrate how he made his colors, but didn't have all the necessary resources (pigments, egg yolks) or the time.

Video: Michaelangelo Fresco Technique

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cej4Ggq5nQI

Craft: Fresco

Before the kids arrived we prepared Plaster of Paris surfaces for them to use.  This was time consuming and used up an entire container of Plaster of Paris.  We poured the plaster into small, square plates that had a defined edge.  We selected two different medallions for them to trace and then they used tempera paint to decorate their fresco.

Tracing the medallion

Defining the lines using pencil

Painting with tempera

Craft: Printing

At this station kids could use letter stamps and create a document similar to that done by a printing press.  They could also use the calligraphy pages to hand letter the same words, thereby comparing the two styles.  Most kids preferred the stamping!

Craft: Weapons of the Renaissance: Make Your Own Cannon

This craft came from: http://highhillhomeschool.blogspot.com/2014/10/weapons-of-renaissance-make-your-own.html.  It is an easy craft, requiring water bottles, corks, paper towels, baking soda and vinegar.

First the kids taped small dowel rods to their bottles and added cardboard wheels.  Then, they inserted their gunpowder (a tablespoon of baking powder wrapped up in a small piece of paper towel) followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar.  The cannon ball (cork) was inserted into the bottle.  The kids gently swirled the vinegar in the bottle, placed the cannon on the floor pointing away from all kids and waited.

Unfortunately this AWESOME craft, was an epic fail!  It sounded so simple and when we tested one out worked so well.  However, it needs corks that did not have the corkscrew go all the way through.  If there were any corkscrew holes, the pressure couldn't build up enough to pop the cork out.  Also, many of the corks didn't fit snuggly into the bottles (they were way too loose), even though it did in our sample.  If you can find enough working parts, this would be an awesome and super fun addition to any STEAM program.  

Taping on the wheels

Testing the cannons

Patiently awaiting the cannons to fire.

Craft: Sistene Chapel Art

This was a huge hit with many of the kids.  We had a few boxes placed on their sides.  The kids could tape a piece of paper to the top, lay down on the floor and draw just like Michaelangelo did when he painted the Sistene Chapel.

Attendance: 29, 11

Evaluation: Overall this was a super fun program.  The frescos all turned out well and was something many of the kids had never done before, so it had a wow factor.  The cannons, although a failure, were still fun and when they worked, thrilled the kids.  They all went home and kept trying to make them work.  I definitely want to make them again, but will test every cork beforehand to make sure they will fit in the bottles and don't have holes in the ends that release the gas prematurely.

Mo Willems

While we figured most kids attending our program were familiar with Mo Willems and his work, we decided to start the program with a short interview to give the kids some background.  We then went on to show Knuffle Bunny as one of the projects the kids could work on was art similar to that found in that book and its subsequent sequels.

After, the kids had a chance to work on a few different projects (of which they could finish all as time allowed).  They could also use an iPad to play Don't Let the Pigeon Run this App.

I only wish there had been enough time to share the various stories the kids created!

We printed off Elephant and Piggie and Pigeon 3x5 images and the kids got the chance to create shrinky dinks.  This is always a huge hit, although time consuming for one staff member who needs to run the toaster oven to shrink all the images.

Waiting in line to shrink their images!

Shrinking in progress

The kids could also create their own Elephant and Piggie comics, found at:  http://amykincaidlibrarian.edublogs.org/files/2014/09/Elephant-and-Piggy-15ycwqr.pdf

They also tried drawing their own pigeons.

And the final activity was creating art similar to that found in Knuffle Bunny.  We located images on google for the kids to use and gave them lots of scrap paper so they could add their own details.

Attendance: 41, 9

Evaluation: We were pleasantly surprised by how popular this program was even with the older attendees.  I was a little concerned they would feel the topic was baby-ish.  Luckily the activities we chose were spot on for our wide age range and the kids loved it.  We had planned on doing a relay using an egg shaker and paper bag nest, but there was so much else to do we just didn't have time!  There are lots of great event kits online which helped as we also had some other fun activity sheets available for the kids to use.  I can see us doing this program again in a few years.

Picasso

For this program I put together a power point containing a brief overview of Picasso's life and work.  We used the SlideShark app to show this using our iPad.  The presentation ended with the image of Cadavre Exquis (Exquisite Corpse, 1938) by Andre Breton, Yves Tanguy and Jacqueline Lamba.

We used the image as a jumping off point for an expressionist/surrealist art game.  The kids formed groups of three and each one was given a pencil and a piece of paper folded in thirds.  Each person started with the top fold, drew something (head), then folded it over and passed it to the person on their left (who drew a torso without looking at what was drawn before).  This person folded their contribution over and passed it to the person on their left, who drew legs/feet.  When they were finished everyone opened the finish products to see their new creations.

 Afterwards the kids were able to go to three stations.

iPad app: MOMA Art Studio
This app is free and lots of fun for a wide range of ages.

Craft: Paper Bag Picasso Faces

 We gave the kids brown paper lunch bags, oil pastels and a worksheet detailing how to draw a Cubist portrait.

Our sample

Some of the kids were very talented!

Our set up

Craft: Cubism Still Life Collage
From the book Hands-On: Art Projects by Sue Lacey

We explained how Picasso created the concept of collage, but took the images, cut them apart in straight lines, and re-positioned them in a cubist way.

Our sample

Hard at work

Unfortunately the kids didn't quite get the concept and their creations weren't exactly cubist, although they definitely represented modern art.

Evaluation:

Overall this program worked well, even though the collage project was better suited to older kids.  It was something completely different for us and our second group really got into the art depicted in the power point.  They especially liked the Equisite Corpse, discussing the various different objects they saw in the picture.  Originally we were going to use brown grocery bags for the Picasso portraits but didn't get enough in time for the program.  The lunch sacks worked better as the kids were able to complete it during the program.  If we had used the larger sacks, they might only have had a chance to do the one craft instead of also trying their hand at collage.

Attendance: 31, 16

Ancient Egypt

Video: Introduction to Ancient Egypt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdtgX9ORiW4&safe=active
This is a fun, brief introduction to Ancient Egypt and was the perfect way to set the tone of our program.

STATIONS

iPad App: Archie Potts Egyptian Adventure (Muddy Boots Media)
We locked our 5 iPads to this app.  The kids took turns playing around with it.  We had to limit them to 5-10 minutes each in order for everyone to have a turn.

Craft: Mummy and Sarcophagus
From: https://blogs.princeton.edu/popgoesthepage/2014/03/11/pyramid-party/

Completed product--image from above blog

Wrapped their mummy with white paper strips.

 

Decorating their sarcophagus lid.

Craft: Cartouche and Hieroglyphics
Kids tried writing their names in hieroglyphics on paper cartouches.

Craft: Egyptian Masks
We created Tutkanhamen-like masks on poster board, which the kids then decorated with oil pastels.

Idea from: http://imagineexplorecreate.blogspot.com/2011_11_01_archive.html#8386823379393999525

Evaluation:

This program took a lot of prep time due to the two crafts.  However, the kids had a blast making their masks.  Each one turned out unique and allowed for lots of creativity.  This was the first program in which we allowed the kids to use the iPads.  It went surprisingly well.  Our first group was so large it was hard to keep track of who had the iPad for how long.  In the future, we'll write down the time each child took the iPad from us so they each got the same amount of time to play with the app.

Attendance: 36, 14

Spring Into Art

This program focused on modern, abstract art.  We started with a brief explanation of abstract art and then let the kids get to work creating their own.

Craft: Tape Resist
We gave each child a 6 x 8 canvas panel and some masking tape.  They could create any design they desired on their panel.  They then came up and selected 3-4 colors of paint to use.

Taping a canvas panel

Starting to add color

Adding additional colors

Sample shown to kids

Made by Miss Sandy

Made by Miss Jennifer

Craft: Duct Tape Pencil Pouches

We started with regular slide-open sandwich bags.  The kids chose their first piece of duct tape and placed it on the bag directly under the slider. They overlapped a second piece of tape directly below the first.  Then, they cut off the excess bag and ran a third piece of tape along the open bottom so that half was on one side and half on the other.  The did the same with the sides.  

Idea and instructions from: http://www.makeiteasycrafts.com/2012/08/duct-tape-pencil-pouch.html

Our sample pencil pouch

Some chose different tape patterns for each step.

Craft: Tin Foil and Yarn Art

This was a surprising hit with the majority of the kids starting with this project first.  Kids began by cutting slits along each side of a 6 x 6 inch square piece of cardboard.  Then, the wrapped a 4-5 foot long piece of yarn around the cardboard, catching the yarn in a slit along each side as they wrapped.  Once all the yarn was wrapped, a piece of tin foil (8 x 8) was wrapped over the front and secured to the back with tape.  The kids glued a 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 piece of card stock over the back to hide the extra yarn and tin foil edges.  On the front, they smoothed the foil carefully over the yarn to make the pattern stand out.  They decorated each section with permanent markers.

Idea and instructions from: http://www.piikeastreet.com/2012/04/modern-tin-art/

Getting started

Adding designs

Sample

Craft: Watercolor Circles or Kaleidoscope Painting

For our final project we prepared paper ahead of time (stamping overlapping black circles of acrylic paint across a piece of watercolor paper).  The kids used watercolors to paint each section a different color.

From: http://www.chrissiegrace.com/summer-series-2013-week-3-2/

Sample made by my 5 yr old daughter

Hard at work

Evaluation:

For a spring break program, this was well attended and the kids really liked the variety of projects.  The duct tape was hard to work with and cut, but the kids did really well and were patient.  As stated above, the tin foil and yarn art project was a huge draw.  It was so simple, yet they really got into it and even the parents were amazed.  The painting projects were fun and no two were alike, which made for interesting, fun results.