Pattern Tee Pees

Its been rather hectic in the world of the art room the last few weeks. To update I'm going to share a few lessons that we have been working on.

First, my kindergarteners have spent the last two weeks working on Pattern Tee Pees. These are turning out sooo well!

We began by viewing examples of Native American costumes, historical black and white photos, and tee pees. Then we discussed patterns and how we could find them on many tee pee examples.

(Student examples of their patterns)

 

I pre-cut paper bags from the grocery store down into quarters. It don't have example measurements, but you can use most any size you feel most comfortable with.  Then I had students draw lines across their paper to create patterns. We said the lines out loud as we drew.

 

(Table set up for drawing then painting)

 

Students then painted all the same type of lines 1 color, then rotated to a second table to paint their next type of line. We continued that so on and so forth to paint all the lines in our pattern.

 

 

The second week when the patterns were dry, students cut out a large triangle from the painted pattern paper. (This could be predrawn from a template on the back if needed).

We cut a door from black construction paper, then used brown construction paper rectangles glued to the top for the support poles.

 

This took 2 forty minute classes.

Materials:

1. Brown paper bags (pre cut)

2. Tempera paint in varying colors

3. Brown crayons

4. Scissors

5. Glue

6. Black and brown construction paper

 

 

Silly Pumpkins are too fun!

 

 

I have seen these pumpkins before online from various locations. I thought they looked so fun I gave them a whirl with my kindergarteners this year.

We spent 2 weeks on this project.  The first week we read a book about the life cycle of a pumpkin. There is an assortment of books out there on the subject so most any one would do. Then students painted a 9 x 12" piece of white paper with orange and yellow tempera paint. We left them to dry.

(Front and back of paper)

The second week I pre-drew an oval on the back of each student's paper.
I also set up the tables with small pieces of white and black paper (2 x 2 inches), a 4 1/2 x 6 inch piece of black paper, and one small green piece of paper.

(Table set up. Pink box has pencils, red tray contains paper)

We began by cutting out our ovals. Students had to decide whether they wanted a tall pumpkin or a short and wide pumpkin.

Then we drew a rainbow across our 4 1/2 x 6 piece of black paper. We cut it out to create the mouth. Glue to the bottom of the orange oval.

Next, draw a very large circle or oval on two pieces of white paper.  Cut out and glue above the mouth for eyes.

Next draw a circle on two pieces of small black paper (2 x 2") for the pupils. Cut and glue onto the white paper.

Glue on a green stem.

Then lastly, I used white paper scrap from another project for teeth. These were pre-cut white squares.

These turned out remarkably cute and everyone was successful!  I will certainly do this project again!

Kindergarten Shape Mice

My kindergarteners have been learning about "pets" and families in their classrooms. I have a storybook from my childhood that is all about pets. Its called "At Mary Bloom's" by Aliki.

 

This book is nearly impossible to find. I've looked on Amazon for a new copy, but this one is out of print. If you find one anywhere hold on to it. You can tell my copy is a bit beat up.

 

The point of the story is this little girl has a mouse that has babies. She would like to share them with her friend Mary Bloom, but there are a whole series of pets at her house. It has super onomatopoeia and my students loved saying the sounds with me.

 

After our story, we created our own little mice using shapes.

 

On a piece of brown construction paper I had students trace a tear drop shape. Then draw or trace two ovals (depending on how capable you feel your students are thus far in the year).

 

Students cut out the tear drop and two ovals. We glued them together to create the body and ears. We cut out small pink ovals for the inner ear and glued them into the large ovals. Students then cut out a black circle for the nose and drew eyes on with black crayon.

 

The last step was gluing on a long strip of brown construction paper to the end of the body. I showed students how to create a curly tail by wrapping the paper around their finger or their black crayon.

 

(The mice have invaded!)

We allowed our mice to dry in the hallways outside of our classrooms. They all turned out so fun :)

This project took 1 forty minute class and used the following materials:
1 - 9 x 12" brown construction paper sheet per student
pink scrap paper
small square of black construction paper
glue
scissors
black crayons

Kindergarten Patchwork Color Mixes

In making up for lost time I will let you know what my kindergarteners have learned about the past few weeks.
We read the book "Mouse Paint" by Ellen Stoll Walsh. I adore that story about primary and secondary colors. Then we created our own mixed colors like the mice in the story.

As prep I pretaped 9 x 12" white paper with masking tape with three pieces that crossed to the other side. This created a window/patchwork effect.

 

Then at each table I placed a cup of liquid watercolor for each primary color: red, yellow, blue.

 

Students painted each primary color into 2 squares. Then we added another primary color to each box to mix the colors. Most students did well with this, but my kids who don't always follow directions did get all six colors we wanted to see. On a positive note everyone had a beautiful picture no matter the results.

 

 

As we prepared to leave I sprinkled a tiny bit of salt on a few squares of each paper and asked students to watch and see if "snowflakes" would appear on their paper. This they LOVED!  After papers dried I peeled off the tape and returned them to the students.

 

This project took 1 forty minute class with kindergarten students.

We used the following materials:

1. 9 x 12" white paper

2. masking tape

3. liquid watercolor in red, yellow, blue

4. paintbrushes and water

5. salt

 

**Issues I faced with this project was that taping is very time consuming... prepare way ahead of time. Secondly, the tape can tear the paper so a strong paper would be best or a weak tape. A few tore a little bit, but a piece of scotch tape across the back of the tear took care of those problems.

 

Happy Painting!

Sketchbooks!

This year I decided to start off my intermediates (3rd - 5th) with a project that could keep them busy for the next two weeks while we are taking creativity tests. We began sketchbooks. This idea came from another elementary school teacher in my district. I think it was quite ingenious!

We start off with the following materials: old manila folders (cut in half), pre-cut white computer/scrap paper, markers, and a stapler.

 

I give each student a pre-cut half of the folder and my one rule is to write their name and their teacher's name on the folder. But the rest of the decoration is up to them. I prefer them to create a sketchbook cover that describes themselves in some way.

We use markers to draw on our sketchbooks, but crayons or colored pencils could work great as well.  As students work on their covers (the cut manila folder), I circulate around the classroom sliding the computer paper into each cover and stapling across the fold of the cover to attach the paper. Students could staple themselves, but I only have 1 really decent stapler so I'll do that work.

 

They open and close perfectly.

 

Surprisingly enough all my students are very excited about their sketchbooks and want to take them home already. I'm planning to keep them in the school for a while so that if I have any early finishers they can go work in their sketchbooks instead of finding something less constructive to do with their time.

 

Many of our teachers throw out old manila folders each year so this is an excellent opportunity to recycle and save some of my classroom materials.

First Week Likes

1. I like what I've done with my classroom. I've worked in it for 8 years previously and it didn't change all too much. Now that I've moved to be there more full time I made some changes.

Before: Lots of stuff on the shelves felt cluttered to me

 

After: I put panels of fabric on the shelves with velcro. I can lift and pin up the fabric to access each shelf. I like it! It just seems a little more organized.

 

Also added fabric panels that are hung with curtain rods under the bottom window shelves. Woo! Less clutter visible and the kids have less interest in going over there.

 

2. I like the activity I chose to do with my primary kids this week. We did the usual rules and such then read the book Pete the Cat - I Love My White Shoes. My students then designed their own shoes that "stepped" in anything they wanted... stripes, polka dots, hey even pizza if they chose to. I'm starting to hang them outside my classroom next to my own Pete!

 



 
3. I like my sign that I use the first few weeks. Its terribly effective!

4.. I like my class incentive plan I'm going to put into place with my 1st and 2nd graders.

 

I found this on Pinterest! Great idea! Each class has a paper crayon box that will be adhered to the classroom wall with the teacher's name on it. Each week they work quietly in the art room I will add a crayon to their box. Each time they reach 8 crayons I will give their class 3 box tops! (Our school collects them and it has turned into a large competition).  At the end of the year the class who collected the most crayons over time will win a prize from me.
First week has been hard though. Kindergarteners are still learning the routines and are lost about 90% of the time. Any time you step out of my door you are more than likely to find a lost child. Thank goodness for our 1st and 2nd graders to help remind us all that there is an end in sight. :)

Gearing up for Summer with Watermelons

The last few weeks are winding down. In fact we have just 13 more student days (not counting weekends). Near the end I'm either completely overwhelmed by so many options of what to do, or completely out of ideas.

Today I did a one day project with my first graders that I absolutely LOVE! Its a fun way to think about summer while still getting in some art elements and principles.

We first looked at a print by Rufino Tamayo called Watermelons. This print came with our Harcourt textbook series. We discussed the strongest color, shapes, and overlapping in the painting. We created our own watermelons utilizing overlapping and repetition.

I first demonstrated how to create a watermelon with 1 horizontal line, then a curved line underneath, a second curved line, then dots for seeds. We started drawing in the middle with a black crayon. Then we slowly worked our way out to the edges. I reminded students that to create overlapping we wanted a watermelon in front and the other behind. **Make sure not to draw through the first watermelon.

My students then painted the rinds green and the remainder red with tempera cakes. (Oh how I love tempera cakes!) I can't wait to do these again next year. They look simple, but did require our thinking caps. The results are just excellent!

This project took 1 forty-minute class.
Materials:
Black crayons (you could also use sharpies, or any other color crayon if you so choose)
Tempera cakes in red and green (although you could any paint you wanted)
Paint brushes
Watercups

This project could also be done with other grade levels.

Please Don't Eat the Art

See those right there?  See 'em? What do they look like to you? Popcorn? White cheese puffs?

Well they are all natural. They are made of cornstarch, but I wouldn't put one near my mouth. These splendid little objects are the new bio-degradable packing p-nuts found in all sorts of packages. I have been collecting them for about two years and finally reached a large enough quantity that we are ready to do some sculpture. (Teachers have donated the majority from many science packages shipped to the school)

I start off students with a paper base. We use a circle, however you can likely use any shape you want.

I used this specific size because I didn't want them to work too small.

Cut them out and don't forget to write your name on the back!

Now how do you make sculptures? We moisten each p-nut on a damp sponge. The material melts a wee bit and becomes sticky.

Then press the sticky end onto the base. Repeat this process and begin to stack p-nuts on top of each other. They can be stacked horizontally, vertically, and even diagonally.

I let students use about 20 of these p-nuts and build however they would like to. Some sculptures are tall, short, round, curly, etc. Each one is unique. I also have them choose their 20 before I show them how to stick them together so they don't later lose count.

After their construction, I encourage them to use vibrant color markers to eliminate as much white as possible.

I've seen materials like this in catalogs, but they can cost A LOT.  I was able to get all these free by simply asking people to keep an eye out for those particular packing materials.

I love these because you can make all sorts of connections: recycling, architecture, abstraction, etc. So many options. Clean up is minimal, assembly is easy for any age level, and if someone tries to toss one it isn't going very far.

This project takes about 1 forty minute class and can be loads of fun for that rather wild end of the year.

Something Fishy Going on Around Here

The past two weeks my primary kids have been working on Ocean themed projects. There's a PTO program coming up and the halls are taking on a very nautical theme.

Last week kindergartners created Jellyfish sculptures. These were a huge hit! I know some people regard paper plates as a poor means of sculpture, but when I have zero dollars to spend on supplies and over 100 kids sometimes the paper plate is my best option. I try to do the most with what I have to work with. Besides, isn't this the prettiest little paper plate you have ever seen?

Students were asked to draw patterns with crayons onto the plate.

Next students glued long strings of tissue paper (purples, pinks, and whites) onto the straight edge of the plate. Students could even draw patterns onto the tissue paper tentacles. K students LOVE these! Especially the sound they make when we swam them back to the classroom.

This project took 1 forty minute class.

1 half paper plate, tissue paper in various colors cut into strips, crayons, and school glue.

One point I want to mention in regards to this project is the fact ALL my kindergarteners wanted to "Buzz" their jellyfish. I've discovered SpongeBob has lead our students astray into thinking jellyfish do in fact buzz. <insert a huge sigh here>

Then this week we have made Watercolor Resist seascapes!

We first drew the sand and seaweed together. But the rest was up to them. I had several posters of fish, whales, dophins, etc displayed on the board for reference. Students were allowed to draw any real sea creature or people who could also visit the ocean. Sunken ships and treasure were also options.

Look at the mer-couple! Even the crabs are holding hands. This is so cute!  When this child asked me "Can I draw a mermaid?" I asked her if that was a 'real' sea animal. She responded with "I believe in them." So I agreed to it. So glad I did!

Very alert crab!

(Love the Bermuda pink sand!)

Love when the page is filled!

Also the book fair is here this week, yay! These fantastic books made their way into my arms. I'm so excited about them.

Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin

You are My Work of Art by Sue DiCicco

Baby Bear Saw Blue by Ashley Wolff

Leap Back Home to Me by Lauren Thompson

Spring break is next week... finally.

Hoppameleon/Frogs for Kinders

This past week my kindergarten students were learning about amphibians in their classrooms. I try to be interdiscplinary when I can, so we did a project to correspond with it.  I cannot recall where on the internet I found this idea, but credit is due to someone out there! We created Frogs on a Log. I first read them the story "The Hoppameleon" by Paul Geraghty.

Then I showed students how to put lines and shapes together on their paper to create their own "Hoppameleon Frogs".

These are the steps from my lesson plan.

We drew in black crayon. Students then colored their frog's body green, the log brown, the sun yellow, and the eyes red or yellow. They could also leave them white if they chose to.  Lastly, we did a blue watercolor wash over the sky.

I had several compliments on these this past week and today. I'm not sure why since I find this to be a rather simple project, but its been a bit hit. This took 1 forty minute class to complete.

On another note, I have a piece of equipment in my classroom that my co-worker purchased for us. I... just don't think I am a fan. This machinery just isn't working for me.

Believe me... the idea is awesome. The execution... not so much at least on my part. If I have even a smidgen of paper on the crayon I'm sharpening in this machine the whole thing jams. Then getting in to clean it out is a messy and difficult process (especially with black crayons). Don't get me started on the stubby crayons and the ones that break while sharpening...

Until the day the crayons are made longer and less brittle, this is a piece of equipment that collect dust in my classroom. Perhaps I'm the only one who has issues with it, but this is one thing I won't buy for the other classroom I teach in at an intermediate school. Too much grief.

Winter Collage

Winter time is here which makes for excellent subject matter!

This week at the primary level I have students creating "Snovals". Typically one thinks of a snowman being created from circles, but we are trying to make our snowmen unique with an oval instead. This idea came from an Arts and Activties lesson I saw several years ago.

I like this project because its another opportunity to recycle. I love wrapping paper especially for the variety of prints and ease to cut.
We begin by reading Snowmen at Night. Excellent book! And I point out the variety of shapes in the snowmens' clothing. Then we then practice drawing an oval in the air by "stretching" a circle. When they have the hang of it in the air, then we draw it on a 9 x 12" piece of white paper (although smaller can work too). Students cut out their oval then draw two black circles for coal eyes and additional circles for the mouth.

After that students use a scrap of orange paper to cut and glue on a carrot nose (triangle). Then the fun begins. I tell all students to create special clothes to keep their snowmen warm on cold nights. This can include mittens, scarves, hats, boots, etc. Students use scrap wall paper and wrapping paper to clothe their snowman. Students could also draw on buttons with black crayon or cut out of color paper.
Each one is unique and incredibly fun! I did this with K, 1st, and 2nd graders.

Love the hat on this one!

Materials:
scissors
 glue
 white paper
black crayons
orange construction scrap and all sorts of fun printed papers (wrapping paper is great after the holidays)

This project can take 1 to 2 forty minute classes depending on how you present it.

Next week, I originally planned to create snowman portraits... but I'm thinking of changing it a bit. Polar bear portraits may add a bit of variety to our usual subjects. They appear very much the same other than changing the face and a few other details. Yes... Polarbear Portraits seems like a fun venue.

This looks great with construction paper crayons and white oil pastel. We draw out the shapes first with pencil, then trace with black crayon and color. This project is great for discussing portraits and perspective/view.