Third Grade Art News
The third grade students have been creating great pieces of art work this fourth
quarter. Inside your child’s portfolio, you will find an Aboriginal bark painting, a coil
pot; a Southwestern inspired scratch art, an ocean landscape with an animal printed
border and a rose window. I am very pleased how well the students have been working
this last quarter.
During the Aboriginal bark painting project, students were exposed to the culture
and people of Australia. The students learned about Australian habitats, animals,
prehistoric artworks, and contemporary Australian art. The students created a line
contour drawing of their animal. The students picked patterns and designs to decorate
their animal and background. The students were then able to use Q-Tips to paint the
colors onto their piece of “bark.”
The coil pot project and the scratch art design project integrated the Southwestern
region, which the students learned about in social studies and the art work that is created
in this region. The students learned about symbolism and motifs that are popular in
Southwestern art. The students picked at least two symbols to draw on their
scratchboards. The students learned how to make their own scratchboards by first adding
a thick layer of crayon followed by a layer of black paint. The students then scratched
their symbols onto their scratchboard with a stylist.
The students learned about the artist Maria Martinez, clay, clay colors, and how to
construct the vessel. The students were read the story The Pot That Juan Built. This story
explains the whole process of making pottery. They read a story about Maria Martinez on
how she created her special pottery that became popular in New Mexico. The students
then constructed coils out of Model Magic. After creating the coils the students spiraled
the coils around a disk at the bottom of the pot. The students picked out clay colored
paints to paint their pots.
The ocean project integrated ocean life and habitats, which the students studied in
science. The students were asked to pick out at least two of their favorite ocean animals
and place them into an oceanscape. Some students chose to have some of their animals on
land near the ocean and some students wanted their animals in the ocean. We talked
about different plant life and things they might see in the ocean. The students also created
a block print border of an ocean animal.
The last art project of the school year was the rose window. We talked about
lines, shapes and how stain-glass is created. We also looked at several pieces of
architecture that includes stain-glass windows. The students created different designs and
patterns on a black construction paper circle. The students then cut the shapes out to form
an area where they placed their pieces of tissue paper, also known as the glass.
I am very pleased with the students’ hard work, good attitudes and creativity. It
has been a pleasure to be able to teach, grow, and learn from a wonderful group of
children. I want to wish you all a great summer break! Thank you for your time and
support!
-Ms. Blaser