Read 3443 times

Do middle school students do art projects?
« on: May 27, 2016, 06:31:22 am »
I work at two middle schools and I would like to shift to teaching English through creating something and using art to do so, but I'm not sure how much art time the students get.

At one school, I see no art being showcased and I don't think the school has an art teacher. At my other school last semester, some art was displayed in the halls a little and at the end of the semester, the school showcased all the students art, but now I see nothing.

I struggle with one of the schools to get the students to be interested in learning (or anything for that matter), so I'm seeking some more...fun?....ways for my students to get engaged with the language.

One thing I am going to try over 2 class periods is to have them create their own Korean holiday (an idea I got from this site) and then make a poster board about it.


  • nebulasprout
  • Veteran

    • 133

    • October 04, 2013, 07:10:15 am
    • Wonju, Gangwon-do, South Korea
    more
Re: Do middle school students do art projects?
« Reply #1 on: May 27, 2016, 02:03:35 pm »
I work in a middle school, and I've definitely seen some art from my students. Whether or not they do art in school, I'm sure they'd really enjoy doing an art project in English class. I usually only do art during camps since it takes a long time and requires a lot of supplies, but I had my students make invitations this week and they went all out!

Anyway, I say go for it! Give the poor kids a chance to be creative.
“Don't feel sorry for yourself. Only assholes do that.”
― Haruki Murakami, Norwegian Wood

Check out my blog at
http://annyeongha-saywhat.tumblr.com/


Re: Do middle school students do art projects?
« Reply #2 on: June 27, 2016, 01:03:43 pm »
I teach middle school. The students have art class about once a week. While I rarely get the chance to do art projects with my students there are some  times when I am able to incorporate it in class time, outside of English camp. I recently taught students about feelings using traditional Korean masks, inspired by a trip to Andong. Each student got a blank mask they could paint.

Another time I taught a small personality lesson and had them each draw a house or scenery and tried to describe their personality through the drawing. This was also with my first year students. The teacher trusts me enough that she'll let me get a little creative in class. But obviously you would have to give your teacher a heads up so she can prepare any art supplies needed.


  • theheretik
  • Adventurer

    • 62

    • June 14, 2013, 03:20:52 pm
    • Pohang, S. Korea
Re: Do middle school students do art projects?
« Reply #3 on: June 29, 2016, 02:03:54 pm »
Definitely!  I do a word art lesson that spans two classes, closer to one and a half for some classes, so I have a few videos cued up.  The requirements are the students must produce a whole sentence, not just a word, and must put it inside a shape.  Okay, I made an exception for "Hail Hydra" because it was witty, but attached are the works produced by one of this year's classes.

I've never actually written the lesson down, but here's the short version:  Think of a sentence that goes with a shape.  I use "I love the sea" and a large wave.  Write the sentence on your paper/in your notebook, do not trust your memory on this!  Plan how to put the letters in:  S is a wave shape so do it large and first, 'the' is a relatively unimportant word so make it smaller than the rest. Put your outside letters in next, using them to break up the space into smaller units.  Do not try to go from beginning to end as this usually cramps up the letters at the end.  Planning is important here!  Cross off each letter as you use it so you don't miss any.  Once you've put down a rough draft, call the teacher over and let them check for grammar and proofread for transcription mistakes.  Once it's perfect hand the student a blank A4 and tell them to fill the page with it.  The following week students are to bring their coloring pens and pencils to complete the work.

And I'm a calligrapher, not an artist, so I promise you anyone can do this.

A different idea is to use this series and have them draw Disney characters.  I show the video once at natural speed and the second time slowed to 75% or 80%.  No prep on your part at all, just grab some paper.  https://youtu.be/bRTxku7j0xs
« Last Edit: June 29, 2016, 02:07:34 pm by theheretik »


  • adelle56
  • Veteran

    • 101

    • August 28, 2014, 09:49:49 pm
    • Korea
Re: Do middle school students do art projects?
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2016, 08:11:37 am »
Definitely!  I do a word art lesson that spans two classes, closer to one and a half for some classes, so I have a few videos cued up.  The requirements are the students must produce a whole sentence, not just a word, and must put it inside a shape.  Okay, I made an exception for "Hail Hydra" because it was witty, but attached are the works produced by one of this year's classes.

I've never actually written the lesson down, but here's the short version:  Think of a sentence that goes with a shape.  I use "I love the sea" and a large wave.  Write the sentence on your paper/in your notebook, do not trust your memory on this!  Plan how to put the letters in:  S is a wave shape so do it large and first, 'the' is a relatively unimportant word so make it smaller than the rest. Put your outside letters in next, using them to break up the space into smaller units.  Do not try to go from beginning to end as this usually cramps up the letters at the end.  Planning is important here!  Cross off each letter as you use it so you don't miss any.  Once you've put down a rough draft, call the teacher over and let them check for grammar and proofread for transcription mistakes.  Once it's perfect hand the student a blank A4 and tell them to fill the page with it.  The following week students are to bring their coloring pens and pencils to complete the work.

And I'm a calligrapher, not an artist, so I promise you anyone can do this.

A different idea is to use this series and have them draw Disney characters.  I show the video once at natural speed and the second time slowed to 75% or 80%.  No prep on your part at all, just grab some paper.  https://youtu.be/bRTxku7j0xs

I love this idea! Do you have a PPT for this? or do you just work with a whiteboard or something?
« Last Edit: August 09, 2016, 01:28:41 pm by adelle56 »


  • theheretik
  • Adventurer

    • 62

    • June 14, 2013, 03:20:52 pm
    • Pohang, S. Korea
Re: Do middle school students do art projects?
« Reply #5 on: July 17, 2017, 03:25:43 pm »
Karma.  It gets you.

Yes, there's a ppt with samples of finished work, and I came here hoping I'd posted it here because I can't find it on my harddrive.  Ugh.

If I do find it or rebuild it, I'll post it.


  • theheretik
  • Adventurer

    • 62

    • June 14, 2013, 03:20:52 pm
    • Pohang, S. Korea
Re: Do middle school students do art projects?
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2017, 02:00:46 pm »
Ppt found.  :) 


  • Aine Byrne
  • Adventurer

    • 35

    • October 23, 2014, 02:54:40 am
    • Ireland
    more
Re: Do middle school students do art projects?
« Reply #7 on: September 29, 2017, 01:52:12 pm »
Try tape art. Students can make words...or team sentences.
You need A4 paper, masking tape 1 per team, and colourful paint/colours.

Try positive statements focusing on simple sentence structures:

e.g.
Don't worry, Be Happy.
You Can Do It!
We Make Things Happen!
Dream it, Do it.
Love Your English Class.
YOLO - You Only Live Once.

So...... English can be taught through Art. If you need more material, please pm me. ^^  For the ppt you may need to fix the fonts and remove my personal information out of the ppt. Very simple step by step - Our students like this class a lot.
« Last Edit: September 29, 2017, 01:56:58 pm by Aine Byrne »
ABean


  • uuni
  • Explorer

    • 5

    • September 04, 2018, 05:51:03 am
    • Korea, Republic of
Re: Do middle school students do art projects?
« Reply #8 on: September 21, 2018, 01:47:52 pm »
Looks good. Thanks.