Fruit of the Vine Mobiles Level 2

Here is the description from the wall label:

Students in the First Communion class learn about the sacrament of Eucharist and the consecration of the bread and the wine. During the Last Supper, Christ refers to the wine, symbolic of his blood, as the fruit of the vine. In this instance it is both the grapes that grow on a literal vine and it is Christ as the fruit with God as the vine. The mobiles themselves were created with paper the students hand-painted using a sponging technique. From this paper bunches of grapes were cut and assembled. Fishing line, chenille stems, and bamboo skewers were also used to finish off the mobiles design.

Materials used:

• Tempera Paints (yellow, green, blue, purple)
• Sponges
• Brushes
• Oak tag paper
• Pipe cleaners
• Bamboo skewers
• Fishing line
• Foam squares
• Grape and Leaf Tracers
• Scissors
• Pencils
• Black Sharpies

Watercolor Resist Palms Paintings Levels K & 1

Here is the description from the wall label:

On Palm Sunday, students talked about why we receive palms and then created artwork where they experimented with the magic of watercolor resist. They began by drawing the palms branches with bight green and yellow crayons. Next they painted over their drawings with blue and purple watercolors and learned how wax and water do not mix.

Materials used:

• Crayons (greens & yellows)
• Watercolors (purple & blue)
• Brushes
• Watercolor paper

Fisher's Of Men Bottle Fish Levels K & 1

Here is the description from the wall label:

Jesus invites us to be fisher’s of men, just as He asked this of his apostles. We are all followers of Christ and compelled to share our faith through our words and our actions. In our missionary efforts we spread the word of Christ by talking about our beliefs. The early Christians, under the threat of persecution, did the same thing. However, they had a secret code that allowed them to know if the person to whom they were speaking was a Christian. Knowing that fish reappear in many of the gospels, they adopted the fish as a symbol of their beliefs. When meeting another person they would draw an arc in the dirt. If the other person drew a second arc, completing the fish symbol, then they could speak freely about their faith. Students were introduced to the Christian symbol of the fish in the making of their own fish using primarily recyclable materials.

Materials used:

• Empty water bottles
• Easter basket grass
• Wiggle eyes
• Fun Foam
• Fin & Tail tracers
• Scissors
• Pencils
• Hot glue (teacher use)

In God's Hands Birds Levels K & 1

Here is the description from the wall label:

Students talked about how God cares for all of us and for all creation. We are safe in His hands and that is why we have faith that things will always work out. With this concept in mind, students created their own birds of creation that rest in God’s loving hands. Those who finished early had the opportunity to create lilies using tracings of their own hands. Their fingers became the delicate petals.

Materials used:

• Crayola model magic
• Craft feathers
• Wiggle eyes
• Skin-tone fun foam
• Scissors
• Hand-tracers
• Pencils

Mixed Media Crosses Level K & 1

This is the description from the wall label:

The cross is possibly the most recognized Christian symbol. During the season of Lent students crafted crosses out of a variety of materials from buttons to sequins to polyester flowers. They had fun marbleizing the clay bases and blinging out the crosses.

Materials used:

• White and colored Crayola model magic (about 1/2 oz. per project)
• Colored large craft sticks
• Sequins, beads and misc. "bling"
• Elmer's glue
• Small craft flowers (cut from larger bunches)

Third Annual Sacred Art Show

These posts are long overdue, but here at last are the pictures from the Third Annual Sacred Art Show held at Holy Family Church this past May. The lessons span all grade levels, all mediums and a number of gospels. Many can be tweaked to be used in a non-religious setting. And a few have been used in secular settings and adapted to fit the gospels. Many can be expanded upon to teach specific elements of art and principles of design or to relate to other subject matters.

I will follow up with posts dedicated to each specific project, but here is the overview:

Mixed Media Crosses by Levels K & 1
(the backdrop was created by one of our middle school students)

In God's Hands Birds by Levels K & 1

Watercolor Resist Palm Paintings by Levels K & 1

Fisher's of Men Bottle Fish Levels K & 1

Baptismal Doves by Levels K & 1

Fruit of the Vine Mobiles by Level 2

All students created saints-themed projects. They were displayed together along the back wall. Levels K - 2 created Communion of Saints Puppets; levels 3 - 5 created Medieval Saints Trading Cards; and levels 6 - 9 created Saints Self-Portraits.

Passion Paintings by Levels 3 - 5

This Little Light of Mine: Votive Candles by Levels 3 - 5

Love Your Neighbor Community Quilt by Levels 3 - 5

Love Your Neighbor Although We Are Different We Are the Same by Level 2

We Are One World by Levels 6 - 9

Christian Logo T-shirt Designs by Levels 6 - 9

Things Are Gettin' Fishy Around Here!

Here are a few fish-themed ideas for lessons.

This first project was a drawing assignment that used fluorescent crayons and watercolor resist. It was a third grade lesson done while substitute teaching. The students had visual references to work from when drawing their own fish and ocean life.

This is my example:

And this second project was one that I did this year with the K/1 age group at the church. There it was linked to the "Fisher's of Men" gospel, but obviously a fish could just be a fish if done in a secular setting. The materials used were: plastic water bottles, Easter basket grass, fun foam, wiggle eyes, and hot glue/glue guns. I provided tracers for the fins and eyes circles.

Here is one of the many fish that I made (student fish will be posted with the art show images in May):

The Third Station

by the Confirmation Class
In this large-scale collaborative project students had to work carefully and with a great deal of faith in the finished product. The paper-Mache sculpture representing Christ falling for the first time began as a PVC pipe armature covered in chicken wire and newspaper. From there layers of paper-Mache strips were applied along with occasional plaster-infused gauze strips for more detailed elements like the face and hands. After several layers, the sculpture began to take form and could at last be painted with a subdued color palette. A wire crown of thorns was added and the base was finished with a pebble mosaic technique.
In congruence with this project students walked the Stations of the Cross within the church. Students were also asked to reflect upon their experience making the large sculpture and their feelings about the Passion.

Materials:
PVC Piping
Plywood
Screws
Chicken Wire
Aluminum Wire
Masking Tape
Wire Cutters
Scissors
Newspaper
Cardboard
Copier Paper
Elmer's Art Paste
Acrylic Paints
Brushes
Plaster Gauze Strips (pastr' craft)
Water
Aquarium Pebbles
Mastik Adhesive
Gloss Spray

Many Mysteries

by Levels 6 – 8
Students embarked on an in-depth study of the rosary, learning to pray the rosary and becoming familiar with the many mysteries of the rosary. Then they crafted their own prayer beads using air-dry clay strung on yarn. They had to pay careful attention to the number of beads created in each decade so as not to make too few or too many. When the beads were dried they were illustrated with symbols of the mysteries the strands represented: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious or Luminous.

Materials:
Model Magic
Yarn/String
Plastic Weaving Needles
Extra-fine Point Sharpies
Gloss Spray

Sand Dollar Sculptures

by Levels 3 – 5
Students read and considered the Legend of the Sand Dollar and its meaning to them as Christians. They then created their own sand dollars using air-dry clay and relief carving techniques. The finished pieces were given some sparkle with a touch of glitter on the students’ selected favorite sides. Some students opted to not use glitter, but just leave their pieces with a glossy finish.

Materials:
Crayola Air-Dry Clay
Toothpicks
Gold Glitter mixed with mod podge
Spray Gloss