1st grade: Symbols from other cultures

1st graders are learning about signs and symbols in their classroom for How We Organize Ourselves, so I am trying to incorporate multicultural art projects that relate to symbols.  We examined the art of the Aborigines, who created wonderful dot paintings and used symbols to communicate.  1st graders made their own animal dot paintings and decorated the frames with aboriginal symbols and symbols of their own.  

1st Grade: Patterns

1st grade students are examining pattern in all forms of art- including sewing and weaving, which is a  simple A-B pattern- over, under, over, under!

How We Organize Ourselves: The Function of Pattern in our World

During a unit about pattern, 1st grade students created these lovely radial designs that we called "Magic Carpets."  We examined the artful patterns in Arabian carpets and even had a critical discussion about whether or not these are considered art!  The best part about this lesson is students got to learn how to tie double knots- an essential life skill!