All students have been learning about different types of line. Line is one of the seven Elements of Art. All artist use lines to compose works of art. Some are implied, straight, wavy, diagonal, zig zag, and more. Lines are everywhere!
Third through sixth grade made their own Collection of Lines.
First, students brainstormed different types of line. We listed them on the board and drew some with our fingers in the air. Second, I showed the students how to divide their paper into 9 boxes using a ruler. Students divided their paper and then I instructed them that we would fill each box with different types of line to make a collection or museum of line. After all our lines were drawn in pencil, the students went back with crayon and traced over all the lines. Depending on the class, some students painted over their lines with watered down tempera paint (this technique is called a crayon or wax resist) or colored their background a different color than the line with color pencils or crayons. They really turned out beautifully and we all learned one of the 7 elements of design!
Kindergarten through second grade experimented with line in a different way.
Again, we brainstormed ideas on line and drew them in the air. I had cut different lengths and colors of yarn for them to use as their line. Students practiced making different types of line using the yarn on their paper. Once they had time to make different types of line, I showed them the next step: applying liquid starch!
Students then dipped their "line" into liquid starch and arranged them on their paper in different designs and ways. The "lines" dry over night and become hard and stick to the paper. I encouraged them to use as many types of line as they could think of and name them as they went. It was fun for the students to get their hands "dirty" and actually manipulate the yarn into different types of line. It was a great success!
