3rd Grade Clay Masks

We began this project before Christmas, but with some explosions and a 2 week break, the completion of these masks has been delayed a long time! Anyway, here they are, finally getting painted.

We discussed African masks...celebrations...identity....transformation....

I also squeezed a day of color theory into this project. It's the project that never ends! So at the end of these photos are some pics from the "Dali-inspired Long-legged Birds..."
Roy G. Biv.... that kinda thing. I actually prefer these to a color wheel...so fun!

Great Resource!

http://museumchick.com/2010/04/museumkid-free-coloring-book-pages.html


Could be great for sub plans!

 

Dali's Long-legged Elephants

I did this project with 4th graders a couple of years ago...really wanted to try it again last year and ran out of time so I squeezed it in early with this year's 3rd graders. We practiced drawing elephants in our idea books and then went for it on the 9x18 paper. We outlined with black washable marker and drew the background in crayon. After the background is complete, we marker washed the elephants. Can you tell I'm on a marker wash kick lately?

 

 

 

 

Tie-Dye Fall Leaves

I tried this project right before fall break with K, 1 and 2 cause I needed a one-day 'fally' project and these are just beautiful!

 

 

We used coffee filters, drew a large leaf in pencil, then outlined in color sharpie adding designs and patterns for veins.

 

I cut out several large leaf templates for them to trace out of thin cardboard...originally I cut them for the kindergarteners but the other grades ended up using them..which was fine...because it got them to draw the leaves big enough. :)

 

We discussed realistic vs. abstract designs...and don't forget to write your name inside the leaf with sharpie.

Cut the leaf out after the sharpie outlining is done...

The 1st graders did a quick 'observational sketch' in their idea books to add some meat to this lesson.

After the outlining is complete, we colored with washable markers using fall colors.

Then wash with water! Make sure to get all of the coffee filter wet for the full effect.

This is the paper we used underneath to protect the tables...and they are soooo neat. I called them "bonus art"!

 

After they dried, I strung them on a long piece of yarn and hung them out in the hallways like a garland...so pretty for fall decor!

2nd Grade Literary Landscapes

I needed a calming project that would keep these kids busy for a few days so I found this project...can't remember where...maybe Artsonia? But anyways it was great and also incorporated some vertical planning into the lesson.

We talked about adjectives and nouns, landscapes, foreground, middleground and background, and marker wash technique. So it was a well-rounded and meaty lesson great for an observation!

I would recommend not doing the marker wash and just coloring in with crayons instead since the 'marker wash' washed away some words...that took forever to write. :)

Kinder Robot Collages

Well, these happened a while back, but I have been so pre-occupied with the auction and life in general that they have yet to make an appearance...so here they are!

Kindergarten Robot Collage (2 day project)

Day One: We talked about shape, parts of a robot, played with at least 2 different compositions before gluing down and only did the major parts: Head, neck, body, 2 arms and two legs...

Day Two: Adding the eyes (at least 3 layers of color-big, medium, small) and the rest of the features.

The quiet tables got 'googly eyes' for their robots!

I took a hole puncher around for extra 'buttons' and they could use the hole-punched paper for other decorations...

Kids who finished early could create a 'mini-me' robot companion!

I tried to set the objective for buttons/designs/patterns on each major part of the robot...clearly this person followed directions!

Pinterest Day:Wooden Blocks

We've been trying to meet about once a month afterschool to make something...teachers only of course. :)

At our last gathering we painted wooden blocks (2x4's cut by the nice people at home depot)....
This was before Halloween so some people made "Halloween people" and others just did pumpkins.
They turned out really cute!

 

And then I had so much leftover wood, that i had the 4th graders use this idea for their auction project...