Jamestown Elementary: 2nd Grade Native American Totem Poles!

2nd Grade artists added to their knowledge of Native American Art and Culture when they looked at why the Pacific Northwest tribes made Totem Poles, how they created them, and what significance totems had to their culture. We had wonderful discussion around a totem pole slide show, sketched some totem pole ideas, read a fiction book about totem poles (Called "Totem Tale"), and created our own 3D (form) totem poles.

Download Native American Overview Slide Show Here

Download Native American Totem Pole Slide Show Here

After discussing the slide show on Native American Totem Poles on the first day, students sketched multiple ideas for their pole. We though about which animals we could tell a story about like the Native Americans did. After they chose their best sketch, we began our own animals for our class pole.

On the second day of our project, we read the book "Totem Tale" and looked at images of totems from the internet and from our other resource books. 

Students were proud to display their fabulous creations in our school library!

Learning Goals:

Students will be able to discuss why Native Americans used Totem Poles

Students will sketch multiple ideas for a totem pole of their own

Students will create their own totem pole

Students will understand the difference between form and shape

Students will practice with their knowledge of warm and neutral colors

Bauer Elementary: Second Grade Leaf Prints

Second grade students at Bauer Elementary learned about printmaking by viewing examples of print art, and discussing where we might see prints in everyday life. Some examples the students mentioned include footprints in sand, fingerprints on windows, and animal tracks along a trail. 

Next, they demonstrated this technique using realistic leaf stamps. Students carefully painted the stamps, turned them over, and “tip-toed” with their fingertips to ensure the print was evenly transferred!

Once the prints dried, we identified and discussed warm colors. Second graders used "warm" colored pencils, plus a touch of brown, to create a few colorful leaves adding a nice touch to their beautiful print art! 

To complete the project, each child took turns visiting their peers' tables and complimenting them on their artwork. Students were encouraged to use art vocabulary from the lesson. They did a fabulous job and enjoyed this very much! A few compliments I heard were, "I like how you used different warm colors on each leaf," and "This is my favorite leaf print on your paper." Way to go second graders!

Learning Targets:
I can create print art using stamps.
I can name warm colors and use them in my artwork.