Grade 3 - Fiber Art Embroidery Lesson

I remember learning to sew and embroider at a very young age, stitching gifts for my grandmother or dresses for my dolls. This valuable skill can be taught in an artful way and I find that almost all students enjoy sewing, even those who struggle at first. I start teaching simple sewing early on so that by third grade my students can master the embroidery stitches used in this art project. Find the lesson here: Embroidery Lesson

Second Grade - Kente Cloth Inspired Paper Weavings

This week's featured lesson is part of the second grade Tour the World unit. At this stop they visit the country of Ghana on the continent of Africa where they learn about the importance of kente cloth designs, the symbolic use of color, and the inclusion of patterns. Find the lesson here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grade-2-Kente-Cloth-Inspired-Paper-Weavings-3395679

First Grade Color Mixed Cats Painting Lesson

This week's featured lesson is part of the grade one curriculum map. This lesson builds upon students' learning of color theory, specifically mixing secondary colors. Students also explore visual texture and patterns as they create their paintings. Each time I have taught this lesson students have loved it and found success. You will find the lesson here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grade-1-Color-Mixed-Cats-Painting-Lesson-3395647

Students look at how artists use color in their paintings, specifically looking at Andy Warhol's cat-themed work and listening to the book Uncle Andy's Cats.

Mosaics for All Ages

Mosaics are so much fun for students as young as kindergarten and all the way up to adults! Younger learners enjoy discovering that mosaics are all around us, while older students take pleasure in the stress relief of smashing tile before creating unique designs.

Now, all of the mosaics lessons I have shared in the past have been bundled together in one place - my teachers pay teachers store "Studio Smart."

Download the complete collection here: Mosaics Comprehensive Unit Bundle

Each lesson includes:

Lesson objectives
Materials list
Suggested resources
Suggested vocabulary
Introductory information
Step-by-step directions
At least one visual of a completed project

Kindergarten students make Pressed Clay Mosaics

First grade students make Mosaic Cities

Second grade students make Mosaics Cubed

Third grade students make Subway Style Mosaics

Fourth grade students make Ancient Mosaics

Fifth grade students make Islamic Inspired Mosaics

Sixth grade students all the way up to adults make Marvelous Mosaics

Grade 4 - Romare Bearden Collages

This week's featured lesson is part of the grade four curriculum map. The theme for grade four is American Artists. In this lessons students learn about the artist Romare Bearden before using multiple approaches to creating their own collages. You will find the lesson here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grade-4-Romare-Bearden-Inspired-Collage-Lesson-3638733

Grade 3 - Panama Inspired Molas

This week's featured lesson is part of the grade three curriculum map. The theme for grade three is Craft as Art. Students learn about the cultural importance of Mola designs in Panama. Then they create their own versions using layers of construction paper. You will find the lesson here: Panama Inspired Molas

Grade 2 - Monet Inspired Painting Lesson

Each week I am sharing a featured art lesson. At least that will be my goal. It will also keep me on task to make new content available on my Teachers Pay Teacher store page.

This week's featured lesson is part of the grade two curriculum map. The theme for grade two is Tour the World of Art. At this stop on the tour students visit France and study the work of Claude Monet before emulating his style in their own work. You will find the lesson here: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Grade-2-Monet-Inspired-Paintings-4071761

End of the Year Art Show Extravaganza!

Whew! Another big art show successfully done. This year every piece of work by each and every student was on display. Do you know what that adds up to? One very tired art teacher and thousands of pieces of art. But, the students and families enjoyed the show, taking part in the scavenger hunt, participating in art making activities and taking their chance at the raffle table.

This video gives you a glimpse into the many works on display.

Saint John's School Art Show 2018

Easy Drawing Sub Lesson - Fun With Food!

The nice thing about this lesson is that it uses very limited materials, requires little to no direct instruction, and has limitless creative possibilities.

Give students a 9" x 12" piece of drawing paper. If you are in a pinch copier paper will work, too. Let them use any available drawing materials like markers, crayons or colored pencils.

The assignment: Think of a type of food that you can personify. Draw this food in a group doing some sort of activity. Give it plenty of personality.

In my example, jelly beans are performing in a rock band at a big rock concert.

This drawing lesson comes from 2011, back when I worked as a substitute teacher. At that time I would be called upon to sub for art teachers with no plans left for me. This was because the districts knew I was licensed as an art teacher and could sort of wing it.

Grade 4 - Calder Inspired Wire Figures

My fourth grade students were super excited to work with wire (Twisteez brand works best) to create their own wire figures after viewing and discussing images of Alexander Calder's Circus.

The lesson plan is available here: Calder Inspired Wire Figures

As an easy follow up, especially if some students finish early, I like to use a drawing lesson inspired by Calder's graphic work. It uses the same primary color palette that pervades his mobiles. The drawing lesson is available here: Calder Abstract Faces

Sugar Skulls - Grade 3

My third grade students are continuing to learn about the arts and crafts of other cultures. So, for October they are studying El Dia De Los Muertos. We discuss the significance of the holiday, its history and any personal connections the students can make to their own celebrations. As part of that discussion we watch a short video, read aloud a book and make our own sugar skulls from model magic. Once my students finish decorating the skulls they may choose to write the name of a departed loved on on the bottom as a remembrance for that person.

You may find the lesson plan at my Studio SmART shop at this link: Sugar Skulls Lesson

Natural Science Illustrated Pine Cones - Grade 4/5

In the past I have taught this lesson with 5th grade, but this year I have decided to try it with my 4th grade artists. Most of them have done an amazing job making careful drawings from observation, but for those who are struggling I have made this little demo video. Its actually the first time I have ever recorded myself drawing. I made a makeshift camera stand using a plexiglass frame and two canisters, so its not the best, but it will do the job.

Here is the video:

And if you are interested in the lesson plan, you can find that here: Pine Cones Lesson Plan

TInga Tinga Begins Second Grade's Tour of the World

My second grade artists tour the world as they learn about artists and cultures from across the globe. With each new lesson they earn a passport stamp (sticker) in the passports they made the first week of school.

Our first stop on our journey was the continent of Africa, specifically the country of Tanzania where they learned about the style of art called Tinga Tinga. The lesson plan is available here: Tinga Tinga Lesson

Love Monsters - Grade 1

The first month of school whizzed by so fast! My students have been so busy creating work for our annual Square 1 Art fundraiser and I have been busy writing lesson plans for my new teacherspayteachers.com store.

Here is the project that first grade made for Square 1 Art. It goes along with the book Love Monster by Rachel Bright. As a beginning of the year lesson it is great because it reviews proper paint and brush handling and cleaning. You can find a copy of the lesson plan at: Love Monster Lesson

Student Art Show 2017

Wow! What an exhausting month or so that its been with making sets for the school musical and putting on this art show. The art show went up in less than 24 hours, was viewable for just a few days and came down in less than an hour the following Monday. After seeing all the work my students did this year I can understand why I've been so tired. But I love teaching art and seeing what my students can accomplish!

Saint John's School Art Show 2017 - Kizoa Movie - Video - Slideshow Maker

Voting Is Open: Pet Portrait Contest

Please consider voting for my pet portrait entry in the Blick Art Materials contest. I chose something a little different than my usual pet portrait style. It is a rather modern style painting I did of my cat back in undergrad (not so long ago) that is actually the first painting I ever sold. Since this one elicited an unasked for offer to buy, I figured it might have some appeal and get some votes.

Here is the painting:

And here is the link to vote:
http://bit.ly/27fonMD

You can vote once every 24 hours.

Much thanks if you do!

April Vacation Week Art Camp At Holten Street Creative Spaces

This super fun vacation week camp was designed to encourage artistic growth, creative problem solving and personal expression. Young artists will explore drawing, painting, printmaking and textile arts through intensive studio work.

Space is extremely limited to only 15 young artists so registering early to get into the lottery is important. The deadline to be considered is March 25th.

Two New Workshops for February Vacation Week

These classes will run at Holten Street Creative Spaces in Danvers.

Call 978-549-8831 to register.

If Picasso Went to the Zoo Is Available!

Why am I so excited that a book by Eric Gibbons is available? Because it isn't just by him, not really. He invited lots of fellow art teacher to contribute illustrations and I was one of those lucky ones to be included. This is the first time an artwork of mine has been used as an illustration and it is in such a terrific book.

The premise of If Picasso Went to the Zoo is that many famous artists see animals at the zoo and depict them in their known style. Well, in this case the artists are actually a group of art teachers emulating the styles of different artists. My artist was realist Gustave Courbet and my animal was a chimpanzee. Gotta love the alliteration (Courbet's Chimpanzee).

Courbet's Chimpanzee 14 x 14 Oil on Panel Copyright Margaurita Spear 2015

Truly I have been sitting on this secret project for so long because the book was not yet published, but since it became available last month I can share.

The book is available at select retailers, as well as Amazon at this link: If Picasso Went to the Zoo - Buy on Amazon

Each animal is accompanied by a poem (tie in to literacy) and includes leaves to represent its status (endangered, etc.).

This is the second book in the series. The first was If Picasso Had a Christmas Tree. And there are more in the works, but that's still hush hush.

If you get the book be sure to share a rave review.

Online Booking Now Available Through Wyzant

You can now book lessons with me in drawing or painting, as well as tutoring in art history.

Follow this link:

ArtWithHeart