As a part of our unit on lines, our 2nd and 3rd grade students created active line leaf art. Active lines include zig zag, curved, and diagonal lines. 
      Students first used leaf shaped tracers to create their fall leaf shape. Next we began creating our unique active line sections. Students were given creative freedom to explore the many ways to use and create active lines in the many sections of their leaf. Once the leaf was complete, students used contour lines to outline the leaf over and over and complete the background.

During the months of September and November students explored the art element line. First we studied directional lines ( vertical & horizontal) and how we can use them to create realistic landscapes using a watercolor resist technique. Next we began studying abstract expressionism and how it relates to active lines (zig zag, curved, and diagonal). During our abstract expressionism project we learned about famous artist Wassily Kandinsky, our artist of the month! Students were given the chance to dissect Kandinsky's artwork in search of active lines and deeper meaning. We learned that Kandinsky named his works of art after songs and took turns identifying aspects of his work that sounded like music! Then, we listened to music and created our own work of abstract art using active lines to the sounds of smooth jazz, abrasive rock, and instrumental hip hop. Student were given the opportunity to use new material such as metallic colored pencils and construction paper crayons to experiment with their effects on black paper.

After the first part of the project was complete, students used scissors to deconstruct their project into smaller puzzle pieces and glue them back together showing larger active lines on colored construction paper. This multi stage process allowed students to fully  examine the use of active lines within a work of art in addition to fine tuning our motor skills.