#secondgradeart

Second Grade Meals on Plates

Above is a selection of the fabulous ceramic meals on plates that second grade students made in art class as part of their World Course studies of food. 

Second Grade Ceramic Plates and Meals

Second graders have been hard at work in the last few months! 

After their explorations with clay, students learned about how to sculpt a plate from clay. They first rolled out a slab of clay and used this to make the plate. Once cut out and slumped over a form, the students had to make a foot for their plates and use a score and slip technique to attach the foot. 

In subsequent weeks, the students’ plates were fired, and during this time, the students looked at examples of plate design in art history.  They then created a radial design for their plates, building off what they had learned during their printmaking unit. Each student created a unique design, and transferred this in pencil to their plates. 

The students also learned about ceramic glazes and glazed their plate design according to how the glazes might change in the kiln. 

Following this, each student decided on a meal they like to eat, sculpted it from clay, and eventually glazed it. 

Exploring Clay

We have been busy with 3D work in the Lower School art rooms this past month! Students in all of Grades K, 1, and 2 have all completed projects in ceramics. In the first week, all three grades started out with a week of clay exploration. 

The students practiced making balls, coils ("snake)", flat pieces ("cookies"), and other simple clay forms. They then practiced joining the clay pieces to make whatever they wished, and were give the option to add other pieces. 

Second Grade Personal Stamps

After their project using found materials for stamping, second grade students continued their printmaking unit by creating their own personal stamps. Each student received a 2x2" piece of easy-cut rubber, and designed a stamp by drawing on this square on the diagonal.

The students then cut their lines out using a v-gouge printmaking tool. Each student learned how to cut so they kept safety in mind!

In the following weeks, students used marker to ink their stamps, and then printed them in grids of four. In this way, they each created a unique and beautiful patterns which had radial symmetry.

Second Grade Stamping

Just before the winter break holiday, second grade students began a lengthy printmaking unit. They first explored stamping, the simplest form of printmaking, using found materials: small pieces of cardboard, corks, paper towel rolls, the ends of boxes, and cut sponges.

Self-Portrait Figures in Motion

This past week, second graders completed their self-portraits of an activity they enjoy doing. Most students used pencil, Sharpie, and colored pencil, and some also used watercolor.