A couple examples of gifts that students make at the fiber center 

Blocks

 

 

 

 

 

Bigger room=more space for block building!

I am in a larger classroom this year, which gives my students more space to build interesting structures. Students of all ages enjoy working with blocks at our architecture center.  

A second grader, thrilled about being an aunt, worked for four weeks to sew this stuffed animal for her nephew's birthday. The amount of effort, time, and thought put into this was wonderful.

Green owl

A little green ceramic owl painstakingly painted.

I wish I could've gotten a better photo of these pieces. Two third graders have been working on these on and off since their first day of art this year. They are pillow pets, complete with tabs that you tie to transform them into pets.

What a lively painting! The second grade artist added layers over the course of three weeks.

Living room

A tiny living room, crafted from clay. "I painted a smiley face on the rug; I've always wanted a rug like that."

Construction center

Craft sticks and cardboard transformed by a first grader.

Engineering

Fifth grader created this boat, complete with rudder. "I got the idea to make a boat when I saw my friend make one. It was going to be a Viking ship, but it changed. I'm pretty happy with it!"

Gift making

A common theme in our artroom is giftmaking. I'm quite delighted with the results! This first grade artist made a pillow for his baby brother

Creations

Busy Artists!

This softie was made by a second grader. He used some beans as well as stuffing, the beans were used, "to make it so he can stay sitting up on my bed." He's got a cape tied around him.

"These two people are sitting on the couch. They're happy."

It's hard to see from the photo, but this sockpet has high heeled shoes, a skirt, and even a handbag!

"The Eye" painted by a fifth grader

"It's a puppet guy, Puppet Master, from a show. He's just in the egg carton while he dries, it's not part of him."

"It's a germ, made out of clay, and he is in a cage."

This little sock softie was sewn by a second grader. "She's a girl, her name is sockie."

"This guy is made of fruits. I did it because I'm really hungry and was thinking about food." Of course, after I saw this, I was able to squeeze in a mini art history lesson about Arcimboldo. The second grader's eyes lit up when I showed him examples of Arcimboldo's work.

Another sock softie. These guys are just too cute, and the kids aren't showing any signs of slowing down. I'm impressed with their diligence, especially because sewing the button eyes on is very challenging.

The fifth grader who created this had never worked with clay before. He explained to me that he wanted to make a head, and I told him that it would need to be hollow. I demonstrated how to make two pinch pots and attach them. He caught on right away. I was impressed with the result.

"My mom's taking me to a farm and this is what I think it will look like. Horses, people. This side is daytime, and this side is night time."

-second grader

After amassing dozens and dozens of worn out/mateless socks (donations from Bountiful Elementary families), I opened a mini center yesterday--sock softies. I did a short demo on how to cut the sock, using this great diagram that I found on pinterest. (Unfortunately, I haven't been able to track down the creator of this diagram)  Many kids dove right into making their own sock creatures.

This softie, named Billy isn't finished yet, according to his fifth grade creator, "I want to give him some hair. Yarn hair, maybe black or blue."

 I asked the first grade artist about this ceramic piece, "What can you tell me about this?" He looked at me with a pitiful look in his eyes, "Tell you about it? It's a car! Don't you see? There's the windows, and that's the door."

Two first graders painstakingly sewed pillows. One told me, "I've never even sewed before! My mom and dad will be so s'prised! They don't know I can sew! And this pillow [top] will be for my doll that sleeps in my bed." The other told me, "I wanted to make this pillow for the poor children that don't have toys or anything. But first I hafta finish this one for my brother. I already gave him one and he slept with it, but it got lost. And he was sad. So I'm gonna give him this one, and then, next art time, I can make more to give away."