Lessons on Expectations can be fun
Fun Lessons for Rules, Routines and Reminders
Alright so when I get told I must teach expectations at the beginning of each year it seems so dry! So my natural response is to get as fun and creative in the delivery as I can. As we all know engaged kids are kids who are ready to learn. They are also going to be doing this in every classroom, so you want your lesson to be the fun one- because art is by nature fun and so each lesson should be! So here are some of the projects I’ve started with in past years, to inspire you to get down to kid level and work out what they are going to find super fun and engaging.
Rat Reminder Posters
Be inspired by Banksy and create these stencil rat posters
For the junior students F-2 I cut out cardboard templates from old cardboard boxes for the to trace and colour in with crayons.
For my seniors Grade 3-6 I cut out plastic stencils and got them to use foam brushes and acrylic. We looked at spatial planning with the lettering and composition- where the rat was going to go. They worked in small groups to produce the posters. The lettering was created with pencil to check spacing and spelling and then markers.
Growth Mindset Superheroes
This comic book inspired work is a fun way to get kids to tap into their understanding of positive self-talk in the art room. Super heroes are brave and heroic- great at helping us through challenges and disasters. There great connection to Pop Art and current Pop cultural references from Marvel Movies, DC comics, Manga and Anime.
Pop Art
Pop Art reminders. Sun Bursts, Ben Day Dots, Speech Bubbles, Bright Colours, Onomatopoeia, it’s all a fun way to create posters and reminder signs
School Values
Creating video role plays of how the school values can be displayed in the Art Room context is a great way for kids to role model and learn from each other. Have the kids demonstrate supporting and helping perform tasks in the art room. We had a cool line up of kids tying aprons behind each other’s back, someone handing a classmate noise cancelling headphones or sharing their colour of paint. Offering to wash someone’s paintbrush for them, giving positive and encouraging feedback on their artwork. The kids were great at coming up with the ideas and once I’d directed them a bit to capture it clearly on video we filmed it on my phone or an iPad and I edited it together.
Claymation
Getting the kids to show a short example of one of the school values in a Claymation. It didn’t have to be in a school context- we had some creative imaginary characters like trolls and animals in them, as long as the value shone through. The kids worked on a storyboard.
Artworks with Meaning help to consolidate school values and personal capabilities
Collaborative art works are a great way to learn to work together.
Resilience Tigers
Tigers are known for their courage. So we created tiger art that was about trying something new, being persistent and working through and solving problems while creating art. This would work with any powerful animal, which brings me to this year.
2024 is Year of the Dragon. In Chinese culture Dragon’s are a symbol of power, good luck and strength. All great characteristics to tie into values, growth mindset and resilience. See my blog post on my Year of the Dragon lesson ideas here.
