Kusama Inspired Dot Sticker Artwork

Here is a throwback lesson to last school year when I taught my elementary classes via zoom from my classroom to theirs! I introduced each grade to a modern or contemporary artist and 3rd grade learned about Yayoi Kusama. I read them a book about her but for the life of me I can't remember which one! I will share this resource from the Tate about her- https://www.tate.org.uk/kids/explore/who-is/who-yayoi-kusama because it would work really well.

I came across a big bunch of dot stickers like people use for garage sales when I was cleaning out a drawer so those became the special material for this lesson. I gave each student a sheet of orange, yellow, and green and a piece of drawing paper. Then they were allowed to use the dot stickers however they wanted with the school supplies they had in their bins! It was interesting to see the different solutions they came up with. Some students even used the stickers as masks and removed them after coloring.

Sometimes we find materials and ask each other what project could be done with it, but I'd encourage you to present them to your students and see what they think of!

Kindergarten Initial Dots

This year I decided to do some more structured lessons to start off the year with Kindergarten. I was trying to cover lots of basic skills and now we've started getting into more choice. For Kindergarten's first project, they traced a circle (a dot for International Dot Day), drew their first initial, traced with markers, learned about and created lines and patterns, practiced scissor skills, and practiced using a glue stick. This project gave me a lot of information about my students' beginning of the year abilities so I can tailor instruction and see what we need to work on the most.

 Day 1- Name on papers, trace circles, write first initial, trace initial, start talking about lines

Day 2- Review and practice different kind of lines, draw lines around initial with crayon, cut out circle, glue to square of construction paper, add designs to construction paper if time allows and student chooses.

 

2nd Grade Dots

 My primary students don't start off the year with full "choice". We spend a good amount of time just getting used to seats, procedures, etc. and I also try to do some projects that help me gauge where the students are and what I might need to cover to help them. The first project of the year for K-3rd was a "dot" project for International Dot Day. 2nd graders start off making a painting with a "dot" theme. However they interpret "dot" is up to them. In the second class period, the students have pretty much free reign when choosing other materials to add to their dots. Paper, oil pastels, markers, crayons, and yarn are popular. This year several students took advantage of the paper strips I had cut for weaving and used them in interesting ways.

I know that some more structured teachers probably see these photos and think of the mess... I used to worry about that as well! The students really do a pretty good job of cleaning up their supplies when they finish. That's one reason I call a single table at a time to line up. I don't call a table until they have everything cleaned up and put away correctly.

Bingo Marker Art

I stopped at a Dollar Tree last week and on a whim, threw a bingo marker in my already too full basket, thinking it might work well for some Dot Day artwork with my kids. It was a big hit! My youngest (15 months old) had fun playing with it until almost 4 year old saw it and wanted a turn. 

"Look, mommy, it's prickly!" (It does make super cool splatters)

"I'm drawing flowers. Now I'll draw a stem."

"Should I make a road?"

I gave him another piece of paper since he had pretty much filled the first.

"I'll make a fence. I need boards to hold it up. Now I'll make boards that go up and down."

"Now I'll make more flowers."

"Should I make a truck? A big truck. I need lots of wheels for the heavy load."

This age is so fun! I love the narration as he works. The next time I can swing by a Dollar Tree, I'll be checking for bingo markers in other colors!

3rd Grade Dots

The 3rd grade dots for International Dot Day were inspired by Celebridots (www.celebridots.com). The students planned in pencil, traced with sharpie, and painted with watercolors.

2nd Grade Dots

I'll keep this short (for once) since I've already written lots about International Dot Day (see search HERE). My 2nd graders started off painting circular designs with tempera cakes then used oil pastels to add details. We talked about radial symmetry and looked at some examples before the students did their thing. Some students ended up adding collage elements and even REAL YARN! They get so excited about yarn and always throw in the "real" adjective. Pretty cute. :) 

These circle guys were made in another 2nd grade class that didn't have time for paint. They were inspired by the color wheel.