Linda Schober

Students add finishing touches to a Wayne Thiebaud–inspired gumball machine.

As educators, we teach skills that are valuable in the classroom as well as skills that can be carried into students’ everyday lives. Kindness and collaboration are crucial skills in all aspects of life. Throughout the year, my first-grade classes have practiced these skills while “coolaborating” on a variety of projects. The term “coolaboration” represents the synthesis of respect, problem-solving, and creating in the classroom.

In addition to creating individual pieces of art, students work together in various partnerships, helping one another while using respectful words and sharing ideas, workspaces, and supplies. This coolaboration has enhanced their classroom environment and their work. Conversations range from ideas about what to draw to compliments on one anotherʼs work.

Starting with Dinosaurs
Inspired by If the Dinosaurs Came Back by Bernard Most (Clarion Books, 1984), students drew dinosaurs and created imaginative environments with a partner on a large sheet of butcher paper. Practice improved their final drawings, and the collaborative brainstorming enhanced the unique environments they created.

Moving to Cityscapes
Introducing Pop artist James Rizziʼs cityscapes is a fun way to teach the concept of constructed environments and introduce watercolor-resist painting techniques. The collaborative aspect allowed me to discuss how city planners and architects work together when designing downtown areas.

The goal of coolaboration is to get students to work together to create a quality piece of art, regardless of skill level or personality differences.

When students were almost finished with their individual projects, I taped a clean sheet of paper between two paintings. I continued this until everyone had a partner. The pairing was based on how well the paintings looked together and how far along they were. Coolaborating with their partner, students created a cityscape design by combining their pieces of art. As a bonus, the noise level in the classroom was noticeably lower—a welcome respite in any art room!

Abstract Collaboration
The abstract, colorful nature of paper manipulation is always a crowd pleaser, especially following the tightness of the James Rizzi paintings. Students learned and practiced making tabs, accordion chains, pleats, curls, loops, fringes, and arches before applying them to one giant piece of black butcher paper that they later enhanced with white oil pastel.

Nora F., Nora W., Owen, and Justin pose for a picture with Dale Chihuly–inspired coffee filters.

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