Paul Klee's Castle

Objectives:
Students will learn about the artist Paul Klee. Students will also learn about symmetry and use this to build a castle

Language:
Symmetry, shapes, foundation

Skills:
Building a foundation and developing a vertical castle with symmetrical cuts only.

Literature/Photos:
Image of Paul Klee’s “Castle and Sun” (shown below)



Materials:
Black construction paper (12x18 or larger if class time allows)
2”x 2” construction paper squares in many different colors
Orange or yellow construction paper circles – 2”or 3” diameter
Gluestick
Oil Pastels in Gold or Silver

Introduction:
Spend as little or as much time as allows on Paul Klee’s history and artistic influences.
Review Paul Klee’s painting “Castle and Sun”:
What shapes do you see?
What colors?
What time of day is it?
Where is the door? Is there a door? Drawbridge?

Demonstration:
1) Write name on back of 12 x 18 black construction paper.
2) Start with the foundation of your castle. Glue a row of 2”x 2”squares across the bottom, choose any colors you like and leave a small space between each square.
3) Beginning with the second row, you can create many new shapes by making SYMMETRICAL cuts in the 2”x 2” squares.
4) Take a moment to see how many shapes you can make:
a. Try cutting the square in half – you get two rectangles, now cut those in half, you get four small squares and so on.
b. Try cutting diagonal, you get two right angle triangles.
5) Continue to build up you castle with all your new shapes, be sure to lay out your castle towers before you glue it down.
6) Once the castle is complete, glue your sun in the sky.
7) Now outline your castle and the sun in either silver or gold oil pastel, your castle will glow and shimmer just like Paul Klee’s.

After demonstration, review steps and allow students to begin creating. Some students forget to begin with foundation of castle, be sure they glue this down so they have something to build their castle towers on.

Wrap Up:
Share work as much as time allows, gallery walk around tables. Ask the group to share their experience building a castle.

Ice Cream Tints

Objectives:
Each student will learn to mix tints and secondary colors using the primary colors and white tempra paint.

Language:
Tints, secondary colors, shapes

Skills:
Mixing primary colors to create secondary colors and then mixing again with white to create a tint of each color.

Literature/Photos:
Ice Cream Cones For Sale
Images and fun facts about ice cream cones (ie: World’s Tallest Ice Cream Cone was 13-in)

Materials:
Range of brown and or tan construction paper in small rectangle shapes (4”x6” or so)
Markers in range of browns
Gluestick
Fingerpainting paper
Tempra Primary Colors and White
Paper towels
Introduction:
Read book. Make note of pastel color scheme of book. Talk about how does ice cream feel, cool and slippery.

Demonstration:
1) Write name on back of fingerpainting paper.
2) Begin with making the cone: cut or tear out a triangle cone shape.
3) Glue cone at the bottom of fingerpainting paper.
4) Use left-over construction paper or markers to make a design on your cone.
5) When cone is completed each student will receive a palette with red, blue, yellow and white – quarter size amount.
6) Using two fingers only begin to mix your secondary colors – green, orange and purple.
7) After colors are mixed begin to mix your six colors with white to create a pastel color of each – remember two fingers only.
8) Start your first scoop of ice cream at the top of the cone. Continue with different colored scoops one on top of the other – how tall will your ice cream be?
9) After all scoops are done students can add “goodies” to each of their scoops: ie: use end of paint brush or popsicle stick to create swirly designs, use paints to create polka-dots, sprinkle on bits of construction paper remnants. And don’t forget the cherry on top!


After demonstration, review steps and allow students to begin creating. Some are very creative and jump right in, some need encouragement especially with getting their fingers “messy”.

Additional:
Emphasize that two fingers only, proper color mixing (we are not making mud), use paper towels to keep your fingers clean between mixings. As students are working ask them what flavors they are mixing, how many scoops do they think will fit, what kind of goodies will they add, how does the paint feel?

Wrap Up:
Share work as much as time allows, gallery walk around tables. Ask the group to share their experience making ice cream.

Project of the Week - Decorative Pinch Pots

Materials:

1. 1 tennis ball size lump of air dry clay
2. water bowls
3. newsprint to cover tables
4. texturing items (tools and things found in nature) for imprinting patterns


Make a ball shape out of your lump of clay. Once the ball is smooth and round, stick your thumb into the center of the ball of clay, make sure you don't go all the way through the bottom of the ball. Keeping your thumb in the clay ball begin to create a pinching motion with your hands while turning the pot, pinching from the bottom while continuing to rotate. This can take some practice, just re-shape your clay into a ball until you create a hollow bowl.

If the edges of your clay begin to crack while you are working with it, wet your fingertips in the water and work it into the cracks, smoothing them out. Just a few drops only, you don't want your clay to be soaking wet.

The goal with the pinch pot is to create a uniform thickness. Tap the bottom of the bowl on the table to get a flat bottom.

Once the bowl is formed try out some texturing tools to add patterns, lines and designs.

Let the pots dry overnight.

Use markers or paints (watercolor or acrylic), allow the textures to come through.

Enjoy!