Paper Lizard Sculptures

These were a lot of fun.  I did these with 2nd grade, as well as pre-k and kindergarten.  Pre-k and kindergarten took a lot more prep work.  For 2nd grade, I started with large triangles, and showed them how to fold and cut the triangle to make the lizard body.  We focused on color and patterns.  They made their own arms, legs and heads and then we put everything together.  For pre-k and kindergarten, I pre-cut most everything and had them glue and put the lizard together.

Warm and Cool Fish

We went over warm and cool color "families" and then drew warm colored fish.  We then created cool backgrounds, while reviewing different types of lines. 

Shape Paintings

I did this lesson with my special ed class, but it would easily work with pre-k and kindergarten.  They gadget printed using shapes and black tempera paint.  Then they did a watercolor wash over top.

Clay Coil Lizards

Clay! We talked about lizards, and then created these lizards out of basic coils.  Since I didn't have glaze, they painted them with watercolor and I added a clear shiny coat on top.  Turned out great!

Printed Bugs and Grass

Bugs and grass! We talked about grass, and printed it using cardboard.  Then they used q-tips to make the bugs.  Later, the kids drew in legs for their bugs.

Zebra Printing

I did this with my class for students with autism.  Marble rolling and stamping with cardboard. :) They really liked the zebras.

Giant Tree/Fall Leaves

Here is the giant tree from my second school.  I did the leaves mostly with pre-k/head start and kindergarten.  One of my 4th grade classes finished a lesson early, so I had them make leaves as well.  It looks pretty good in the hallway!

Name Collages

These name collages started by looking at Romare Bearden artwork, so students could see examples of collage.  I then introduced warm and cool colors and texture plates. 
Steps:
1. Write a word/name across a long strip of paper and fold into sections like an accordian.
2. Using warm or cool color scheme, use a texture plate on each section of the paper. 
3. Paint over with opposing color scheme, using a watercolor wash.  The crayon texture will resist the paint.
4. Collage names over the paint and texture. I had them choose either black and white, warm or cool for the letters.
5. Go over the border of the pieces with crayon.

Giants in the City

Giants in the city take a while to finish, but they are really cool when they're done.  Students looked at examples of cityscapes and landscapes to begin understanding how things can look when they are far away or close by (perspective).  They then brainstormed 4 ideas for a "giant in the city", and picked their favorite idea.  They drew everything out in pencil, outline it in fine line sharpie.  I made sure to tell them to add a lot of details to their cityscape, to make it interesting.  They then went over everything with watercolor.  For a group that is higher skill level, this is challenging but fun.  Watercolor is hard because it mixes easily.  Some of my other classes had more trouble with using watercolor, but this class did pretty well! I love how funny they are, and imaginative. I also had them write a short story about their giant in the city, and those were great as well.

The story that went with this mouse painting was great. :)

"The Leading Mouse" by Sage
There was a little, tiny, brown furred mouse with blue eyes.  He was wandering when he heard a big bang.  He followed the noise.  It led to a creepy old lady.
She said "Hi little mouse.  Want something to drink?"
The mouse squeaked.
"Here you go."
She gave the little mouse liquid of some sort.  The mouse drank it.  He got bigger and bigger. He crushed two houses, ate a building, and fifteen trees, eight dogs and last but not least he crushed the old lady.

Color Square Self Portrait

Kindergarten lesson...turned out okay, but probably could have been better if done on a bigger scale.  Had them glue down different color squares, and then draw their self portraits on the little people.

Moody Weather Cityscapes

With my 2nd grade classes, we talked about types of weather and using tints and shades.  We did a lot of brainstorming, thinking of different types of weather.  Then we gadget printed on painted paper, and added cut paper skyscrapers to our cityscapes.  Each student got to pick their own type of weather they were portraying.  These are almost finished. They just need a bit more time to add crayon details, but I'm pretty happy with how they turned out! Colorful, fun and each different depending on the student. :)

Also, sorry about the photo quality.  I've been lazy and haven't had my camera with me at school so I've been using my phone camera.

Giant Tree/Fall Leaves and Butterflies

I'm at one of my schools (CM) for only half a day, which accounts to 3 classes (an Autism class, Pre-k and Kindergarten class).  Today, they finished the big tree for their school. 

I like the way it turned out- really colorful and fun.  My other schools will have a bigger variety of materials used on their leaves.  I let the kids put the leaves wherever they wanted, after we talked about why the leaves are on the branches, on the ground, etc. 

My class for students with special needs (Autism) has 4 students who are all very sweet, but have very limited motor skills.  I am often challenged to find things that are appropriate for them.  I had them create leaves as well, and they also made printed paper to make butterflies for the trees.  Half of the class was out when we made the printed paper, but everyone was here today to add the tissue paper.  They had to scrunch up the paper (to work on motor skills) and place it on the gluey paper.  I am usually not a big fan of having pre-cut shapes and papers, but for their skill level it is what works best.  They can create some beautiful things with a bit of help.

Giant Tree and Fall Leaves

This is a work in progress.  I created the big tree, and the kids are currently making leaves and bugs for the trees. Most of the bugs will be from printed papers, Eric Carle style.  Each of my schools has their own tree.  Older students will look at leaves and draw their own, while Pre-K and some kindergarten will have a paper with pre-drawn leaves that they can trace and then color.  Each grade level will create a different kind of leaf: 
- crayon resist with tempera paint
- tissue paper
- oil pastel
- watercolor

 Will update this when it's completed!

Contour Line Self Portraits

Contour Line self portraits using fine line permanent markers and watercolor in cool, warm and neutral colors.  Pretty interesting! Start with drawing blind contour and contour lines, and then move into portraits.

Kandinsky Circles

Kandinsky inspired circles using oil pastels and watercolor paint.  I did this with my METS class, which is composed of a really wide range of skill levels, but this could easily be used for any grade.

Textured Fish Bowls

These underwater fish bowls can take awhile to create, but it covers a lot-- texture, watercolor resist, drawing, cutting and gluing.

Students cut out their own fish bowls (symmetry and math!), then draw their underwater habitat (science!) using crayon.  Everything is drawn in except water and fish.  They then do a watercolor wash over everything.  They do four texture rubbings using texture plates and crayon, and then create their fish from those rubbings.  I've done this before, using a "stained glass" effect where instead the fish are drawn into the scene, their fins are cut out and replaced with tissue paper.  That looks really neat as well :)

Rainbow Fish

Rainbow Fish! Sure, it's been done a lot, but the kids love Rainbow Fish.  I read them the story, then let them draw their own fish. I start by having them draw a large oval on their paper, but then let them go wild with adding fins, and other underwater creatures.  They each got their own silvery scale to glue onto their fish. 

Miro Inspired Line and Color Watercolor Resist

Kindergarteners have a lot of fun with drawing lines, especially if you make it into a game.  I go over different types of lines with them, making lines with our arms and finding lines in the room.  Then, I give them paper, and ask them to draw a certain kind of line.

One catch is to make sure they draw from one side of the paper to the other ("Make the ends of your lines touch the sides of your paper!") and switch colors after every line!  Then they get to paint using watercolor, and they turn out really beautiful.  It's awesome how even really young kids seem to have this great ability to use color and sense what looks good together.

Hand Trees and Fall Leaves

Traced hands and fall leaves using "special paintbrushes" for Pre-K classes.  Most kids will need help with tracing their hands!