Plenty to Appreciate

1st grade

Somehow it’s already November, which means that my art students have been creating cornucopia drawings for Thanksgiving. I explained to them about the symbolism of this curved horn: that it represents bounty in America. All of my students did this project, from Kindergarten through eighth grade, and that’s more than three hundred students. I had the youngest two grades color in shapes I drew, and they cut and glued the fruits and vegetables into their scene. 

1st grade

I won’t include three hundred drawings in this post but I thought it would be fun to show the variety in these drawings. I’m always amazed at how many interpretations of an idea the students have. They all used a photo as reference, but they were not required to copy the photo. I told them just to use it as a reference for layout or shading or ideas. Allow me to brag for a minute—aren’t these kids talented?! 

2nd grade--I like the playful feel this piece has

Younger kids don’t have the fine motor skills that older students do, and you can’t expect a first grader to draw like an eighth grader. But the younger kids have a charming style of their own. They aren’t inhibited and they sometimes feel more comfortable experimenting with color and scale than the older kids do. I think there’s something to appreciate in each piece of artwork.

3rd grade

3rd grade

4th grade

4th grade--I love this student's free use of color

4th grade

5th grade--the continuous "spill" of color delights me

6th grade

6th grade

7th grade

 

7th grade--such a beautifully-drawn scene

7th--I like how this student filled so much of the page

8th grade--wonderful use of shading

Our country isn’t perfect—no place, no person and nothing is—but I’m so grateful to live here. Happy Thanksgiving to everyone…

8th grade