Clean Up Map!

Revamped Clean up Map! Created in Notebook for the Smart Board!
Clean up can be a difficult time in the art room. Recently I started using a clean up map that I can project on my Smart Board to show students the steps they need to take to clean up. Having a visual really helps student's understand what to do during this time. If they can't remember what to do next they just have to look at the board.
When students hear the music they know they need to follow the steps on the map. If they finish they go to their seats and dance! That's my favorite part! We have so much fun! I love being an art teacher!

Here's how it works:
I keep the file projected on the SmartBoard throughout the day and change the supplies to meet the needs of the class. Early finishers have to follow the rules before they get out a free choice center. When it's time to clean up I press one of the blue circles with the play button to play the music. I have two different songs on it right now (I am going to try to change it up every once in awhile).

The purpose of the box is to have a place to keep all of the images so I can quickly grab them!

When I introduced this to the kids we discussed what each image represents. For instance, the 1st step on this map is a drying rack, this means the kids need to put away their art. The 2nd step is to put away all materials, 3rd wash hands, 4th wash tables, 5th sweep, and the last step is to meet me at the carpet (3-5th grade find their seats so i would change the carpet to the chair).


When they finish they go to their seats and dance to the music! That's the best part! We pull out all our best moves!

Art Centers/Free Choice Art

Kindergarten started out the beginning of the year with Art Centers. I got the idea from several different art teacher blogs. I am so appreciative of all the work that other art teachers have put into sharing ideas through their blogs. I use the advice and experience of so many other teachers when planning out my curriculum. 

After seeing some of the art center activities, some of the older grades started asking if they could get them out when they finished a project early. 

Kindergarten Art Centers

When Kindergarteners enter the art room they get  an animal to put around their neck. They then find the same animal at one of the centers.They switch centers every 7-10 min. depending on the project. 

To switch centers I just rotate the animal picture and they have to find theirs once again. 

There are various rules at each center. When the bells ring the first time they clean their center and sit quietly, when it rings the second time they can move to the next center.

We spent the first couple of classes working on just getting to know the centers. After that I started incorporating the more fun, exciting, artsy lessons.   

Blocks:

Kids love to build! Even some of the 4th graders choose to use these when they finish a project early. I only wish that I had more. This center stays on the carpet, students must work together and only take one block at a time. Sharing is key to this center. 

 Transparency Character Dry-Erase Drawing Sheets:

 

I love these. The kids have so much fun imagining and creating a world for some of their favorite characters. They can draw a world around the character, give them props, even deface them (The Boys love giving Justin Beiber funny glasses and missing teeth.) I have a whole box full of different sheets. They are really simple to make and so much fun to draw on! You just print out some of your favorite characters,slide them into a page projector sheet, and start creating!

Usborn Activity Cards

Another classroom favorite. I just recently found these in a baby store in a town nearby and knew the kids would love them. I was right. They are Dry-Erase activity sheets. Front and back they each contain a challenge. From making monster cookies, adding funny hair styles to the creatures, finding your way through a maze, to creating texture on your creatures and showing symmetrical designs (it's  like they were made just for the art room). 

Check out some of the other Activity cards that Usborne carries!

Velcro and Popsicle Sticks

These can be arranged to make shapes, letters, or just let your imagination run wild. This idea came from Tot Treasures Explore the Art of Play

Tracing Shapes

Kindergarteners pick a shape sheet and practice tracing it with their yarn. 

I got this idea on Teach preschool

Free Draw

Patron Artists and Table Organization!

Each table has a Patron Artist and each 

seat has a number associated to it. I use this management tool for a couple of different purposes. As you can see in the photos, the tables have their very own art supplies and shelf in the room. That means that they can find their supplies quickly and are responsible for keeping them nice (since they will be using them all year). The seat numbers each have a captain job that switches every week. Whether its getting supplies for their table, in charge of floors, drying rack, recycling, washing tables, etc.

Our Art Rooms!

Balancing three Art rooms requires an organized Art Teacher! Creating and keeping organized Art rooms have been an ongoing process, but I enjoy the challenge! In college, my methods professors taught me that even though a lot of Art rooms may look chaotic and unorganized, most art teachers have a method to their madness and have unique style of organization. This is very true. My organization even varies from room to room. It all has to do with the space and tools provided in each building. Being a traveling art teacher and traveling from one school to another in the same day means that I have to start my day with everything ready to go, so before I can drive to the next school, I need to make sure that I have everything ready for the next time I will be in the building. Below are some photos of the three Art Rooms that I share with my students!

Cresco