Math Article for the Calculus Student

Since I wrote an article on how to solve limits in Calculus, many students have viewed this article. So, to be more helpful, and to create more views, I wrote an article on how to find the derivative. This should be helpful to the high school student struggling or the university student lost in the world of college professors.
See if it helps you. How to Find the Derivative in Calculus is the article with a media file of 25 examples to help apply the rules of derivatives at Derivative Problems and Solutions.

Anime Characters, Anime Faces, Anime Drawing - Lessons to Use

Anime is fascinating and not that difficult to get students to draw. I teach it in grade 8 because a student who was good at it doodled anime characters all the time. It gave him a chance to shine. So now its lessons on anime drawing for everyone. I wrote an article on the progression of lessons I use to teach this topic in art. Check it out at Anime Lessons for Art Class: Anime Drawing Made Easy. I don't think many teachers do it. There are many anime drawing lessons online and help people can get.
Some people are natural at anime drawing and their style shows through even without demonstrating they used all the different forms and facial features taught.

After the drawing lessons, I usually have them paint a character and then create an anime mask. These are fun if you have big bright eyes painted on and foam hair to glue on for big sparkly hairstyles. Students are usually happy with their results. Here is the lesson on creating an anime mask called  How to Create Anime Characters Using Plaster Mask Making .

I display all the masks together for everyone to look at the different styles. The blue hair and blue eyes are fun to see as well as green and red too!

THE DIGITAL STORY OF NATIVITY - ( or Christmas 2.0 )

November and December Projects

Grade 7 Human Faces Project involves sketching the human face, sketching a self-portrait, painting a self-portrait on canvas and finally painting in 2 minutes a self-portrait with no paintbrush!
Mask-masking of the human form is next. The students love to create a mask with beards, mustaches, noses, ears and other lumps on the mask. Once painted (with eyes closed), they are allowed to glue on various accesories such as hair, earrings, glasses and caps to cover the head.

As tough as it is to direct the students to create a human form rather than a more creative creature, they like making it look realistic with the accessories. So, I try to buy cheap hats and glasses at liquidation stores and doll hair for hair rather than yarn.

Grade 8 Anime Project involves sketching anime faces, anime facial parts such as different noses, eyes and ears, anime bodys in exagerated proportions and finally an anime character. After painting the anime character, the students then make a mask from a human form. They must build up the eyes and minimize the mouth by painting the mask skin color and the eyes bright black colors. Then they attach foam hair in sparkling bright colors to create the pointy block hairstyles of anime.

The results are amazing and once again, the students have fun realizing art can be achieved through different mediums.

Mask making is a lot of prep work but is rewarding to the students. They love seeing their displays of their creations.

Fall Leaves Projects

Every fall I try to paint using the influence of nature. I paint on leaves, with leaves and this year made leaf pictures. I also do a leaf watercolor project. It is easy and the students find success doing it. Here is the link to how it is done: Easy Watercolor Project For Fall.
When using leaves for pictures I used leaves from strawberry plants, peonies and geranium petals. They turned out lovely. All students needed were glue sticks. Some tried to make animals out of their materials. They only last a few days on the display wall but it was worthwhile to do.
Finally, I made rice paper with students using leaves. Also used strawberry leaves in this project with chrysanthemums and gerianium petals. Looked great on the Grade 4, 5, and 6 windows!

Textured Drawing Teaching Tips and 10 Easy Tips for Teaching Drawing

Here are some simple drawing techniques for you to use with grade 4 and 5 and beginners at drawing. Drawing Lesson on Textured Drawing.  They are simple practice lessons to help you find an art activity. They are part of an article on Tips for Teaching Drawing which include lessons for grades 1 to 8.

 Try them as you see fit! Don't forget to post any questions or comments you have to me here at this blog or at the article's site.

Mountain Dew Bench is complete!

After promising to update the pop art park benches in the school's park, I was able to finally paint the bench on the top of the hill. It was easy to complete the theme - a Mountain Dew on the mountain. So in July when there seemed to be 2 consecutive days with no rain, I went to update the 5 benches my students and I had painted in the spring of '08. It took 7 hours to repaint, repair and revamp them before I could begin the last one. At 7:30 at night with clouds looming I went home to rest. The next day my mind was set and I completed the last bench. It only took about 4 hours as I had painted the background shape the day before.  I was happy with the results and satisfied that I had completed the job. I hope it will leave a lasting impression on the school, the park, the community. The benches really pop!