Laura Courtright

5th Grade Lessons

My approach to 5th grade art is to refine and expand their fine arts skills. I firmly believe that hard work will always beat talent. I hope to teach my 5th graders techniques that I wished I had known when I was young, so that when they go into middle school they can practice these techniques and hone their technical skills before they really dive into their own artistic style.

 

Sample of 5th Grade Lessons

 
 

Student Work

Modified Mona Lisa Grid Drawing

Students are introduced to Grid Drawing to start off this project. We do a few practice drawings together where they have to learn to go square by square to recreate a sample drawing, then they are given a paper with marks on it to “connect the dots” to create their own grid. Students then must copy a smaller version of Mona Lisa onto their grid to recreate the Mona Lisa. Afterwards, they are checks for accuracy and then allowed to make changes to their drawings leading to “Modified” Mona Lisa. They are also taught new ways to use colored pencils to create blending and richer colors in order to add color to their pieces.

Split Face Portraits

In this lesson, artists are taught about facial proportions and shading. To begin students choose a photograph of teachers and staff from around the school that have been cut in half down the middle of the face to allow the students to make the drawing symmetrical. Students will then draw out the other half of the face using proportions. After it has been checked, and to add character and customization, students add funny backgrounds and additions to the faces. Finally the students add shading to show depth and form in the drawing.

Student Work

Student Work Second Place 2024

Bringing Our Missing Children Home Poster Contest

Each year, fifth graders are invited to submit their entries for the annual National Missing Children's Day Poster Contest. Put on by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the project “invites fifth graders each year to participate in the National Missing Children's Day poster contest…The contest creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and child advocates to discuss the issue of missing and exploited children with youth and their families and to promote child safety. Each state hosts its own poster competition and submits the winning entry to OJJDP for the national contest. The winning poster artwork inspires the National Missing Children's Day logo design for the following year's event.”

In 2024, my students won 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in the Ohio State’s level competition. An awards ceremony was held where the students were celebrated for their achievement.