Color theory with Tie Dye t-shirts

On a warm sunny day in early September, 8th grade exploratory students went outdoors for art class. Primary colors, secondary colors and complimentary colors were explored with a tie-dye project. Numerous buckets of Rite dye were laced along the front lawn of SAMS. Students learned about warm and cool colors, contrast and design. All classes were given various methods of tying the shirts:
1. “Bull’s eye” or “star burst”-in which colors are centered and radiates outward.
2. “Striped”- in which the shirt were rolled up and tied every @ 4” apart.
3. “Spiral”- in which you twist the shirt from the center, forming a spiral and tied with elastics.
4. “Random”- in which students wrap/tied elastics all over the shirt.

MLR (Maine Learning Results) content areas with this Tie Dye activity:
1. Aesthetics & Criticism-compare effectiveness of selected media and techniques. Students selected their own color combinations and methods of “tying” their shirts.
2. Application of creative process- Students chose various methods and combination resulting in originality and uniqueness.
3. Interpersonal skills- working as a team
4. Making meaning-demonstrate knowledge of visual art concepts
5. Elements & principles of art- elements of color, principles of design. Were explored when students use line (tying the shirt), color, shape and texture in their tie dye shirts.