Winter scenes in pastels and crayons

The kindergarten and 1st grade have been working on their drawing skills in addition to getting to use pastels in creating these winter scenes. The 1st  grade class was told to draw a box for a window and the draw the winter scene outside the winter. I did one on the board with them suggesting what might be outside the window. They were to draw in crayon then use pastel to paint the picture blending with their fingers and a wet q-tip. The results were wonderful. Of course a trip to the handwash location was in order. The kindergarteners got to draw another snowman with cuing on what might he have: hat, arms, mittens, etc. They then got to add lots of color. Pretty good job on including details and using the whole paper.

2nd grade bat bridge in pastels

All of the classes this month are getting to try out pastels. I had done an example for the afterschool group and decided to use it for this group as well. Last week several of the students helped draw the bridge on regular manila drawing paper. It has enough tooth to work for the chalks and is easy to run through the copier (sometimes) The class studied about bats and we discusses the way bats fly. Some had been downtown to see the bats leave from under the bridge. They used mostly their fingers for blending and q-tips. Great versions of the sky and a chance for us to talk about how reflections work.

Congress street bat bridge in pastel

This was a challenging for the group but as they got into blending the chalk pastels, they found a medium to   really love. It is a bit messy and rushing them to do the drawing and painting in one session elicited some grumbling. We are planning another one after the winter break to keep the momentum up. 

Harvest moon with a tree

This was a very challenging project for the students to take on but gave them a chance to learn a variety of skills and produced a frame-able artwork at the end of the month. 


We began by using circle stencils to draw the moon and outline the area for the moonglow. They then painted in the moon and first area of glow with brushes and had to move into a bit of a new area for them. We created the remaining glow and the background sky using foam stampers made from meat trays and dowels. The students mixed the colors on the tray with the stamper and applied them to the canvas. It was a bit labor intensive and time consuming but produces a great result. At each days end they dried their project. 

 We next added some color splashes of  red, purple, orange and darker yellow to the sky. Some skies were very dark blue, some were much lighter. We left an area in the right lower corner for a hillside to ground the tree.

They had gotten pretty good with the stamping when they switched back to brushes. Some of the trees have more delicate branch tips than others. 

In this paining the student decided to make a wintry hillside with while which suited her idea of the ground and tree.

Pastel chalk drawings challenge K-1

Hands around the world seemed a good way to expose the 1st grade to chalk pastels and give them a bit more complicated project that required group sharing and coordination. I drew the circle in the middle of the page and the Americas onto it. The students had to trace around both of their hands ( or help each other get 2 hands on the page) around the globe. They then were to use colors of different skins on the hands and color the world blue, green and brown. Some got a little tempted but the colors available and the hands must be wearing gloves but they had an interesting time working together. I planned to work on a bit of shading but the enthusiasm in this group runs high and the parent volunteers are few. After they were done I sealed it with cheap hair spray.

The kindergarten class has been studying the seasons so a chalk pastel snow picture seemed to fit well with their lessons. They are also working on more realistic bodies for people with appropriate clothing and such. We started with blue paper to make sure our snow showed up then reviewed the person that would be in the snow scene then added a snowman. They really were excited to have the richer colors to use. We worked a bit on preventing smudging as they worked. I shot only  a few as they were curling from the spray fixative.  

Islamic art: Painting Eid Mubarak signs, Kaabas

We decided this year to spend November focusing on Islamic art with the kids. The first week we made folded Kaabas in the 1st & 2nd grades and a flat picture in Kindergarten. The students had the opportunity to talk about this symbol while making it. We used black poster board which did not glue as well as I had hoped, necessitating taping. We also used gold curling ribbon which needed a bit of tape but the results were quite nice.
Our second project was to paint a sign in Arabic saying Eid Mubarak. It also gave them a chance to use the metalic pastel tempera paints. Although we used a computer template for the phrase, all the classes were encouraged to decorate the remainder of the page. Some added their names, various symbols, and a few even painted a mosque or kabba on their page. The kids had a fun project to top off their Eid parties and managed to get a little skill work in too painting inside lines.

Painting fruits and vegetable in vivid color

These paintings gave us a great way to talk about colors and use the primary and secondary colors while tying to some of the 1st grade lessons. We discussed making the secondary colors then had to paint a red fruit, an orange one, etc. They did an great job on them too once they thought about what could be which color. I did not get any purple carrots or other odd things this time.

Learning about artists and artwork @ school

All of the classes worked the last 2 weeks on learning about artists then producing an art project like that artist. The 1st week we studied Vincent VanGogh and his work. The 2nd grade made a windsock and were asked to create a scene that showed the wind blowing like the swirls in his "starry, starry night" painting. Some did day scenes and some did night scenes but all of them had great swirls and clouds. Some included trees or people and some did not. We did not get pictures of these but they seemed to enjoy doing it. The 1st grade also made a windsock using the sunflowers theme. I brought library books about VanGogh to use for reference and to give them a story. Both groups were able to demonstrate how the windsocks worked at the end of class.
The kidergardeners drew and colored a pot of sunflowers. It was a good lesson on size in drawing and what a pot looks like.

The second artist we studied was Eric Carle and his tissue paper creations. The 1st and 2nd grade each got 7-8 different pieces of painted tissue paper and a drawing from A House for Hermit Crab so they got lots of practice using his construction technique. we discussed how he painted the papers and cut the pieces to create the illustrations for his books.  

The kindergarten got to use Draw me a star as their project and had to cut the tissue into several different shapes to do the project.  This was a great way to end the month of paper projects. The afterschool art club made painted tissue paper too. It is a great technique to learn and fun to work with the papers.

Columbus ships from cardboard egg cartons

In keeping with our theme this month of doing paper projects, the Columbus day ships fit the bill. The 2nd grade had to cut the cartons a bit and shape them to form the bow, add a back deck, then add the masts and sails cut  from paper and mounted on BBQ sticks. Of course they had to decorate them so he must have had a very colorful armada of ships to discover America.








The 1st graders made all 3 ships using the cup part of the egg carton and BBQ sticks for the large mast with wood axles for the small mast and styrofoam "S" peanuts for the sails.  We used homemade clay to secure the masts. We wrapped strips of paper around each cup to make it look more like wood. This was a bit challenging for the group but we were able to complete them with beaming faces by the end of the class.

Using paper to create trees and other plants

The 2nd grade got to make fall trees from brown paper bags and tissue paper and what great trees they turned out to be! They had to follow rather complex instructions and get their tree branches in balance but it worked out well. We tried this with younger groups before and it was very difficult for them. It is great when the kids feel accomplished at the end of their projects.










The 1st grade was studying plants so we used paper strips, tissue paper and a bit of fuzzy yarn to create a flowering plant complete with seed pods and seeds (fennel) worked great and were visible. We practiced twisting the paper to make a "squashy blossom" and a few buds. Interestingly, critters also appeared in the form of bees, caterpillars and what seems to be ants. Never know where paper will lead a creative mind.






The kindergarden group got to draw a tree then fill it in with paper strips and tissue paper leaves. Of course giving them colored paper punch got lots more color into our trees. We have been working on cutting and gluing skills this month with most of the projects while trying to make the skills interesting to practice. Not sure what fall tree has pink leaves but she was very precise in the design with a dot in the center of each tissue piece.

Kindergarteners create colorful leaf people

Making leaf people is a great way to encourage creativity but the leaves this year are just plain dull. I figured I would take a chance with the kindergarden as I have lots of help and let them paint the leaves once the picture was completed. It was great fun and watercolors & tempera are good to work with as they are color dense but don't stain the kids.

Working with paper brings out the creativity in everyone

I wanted the kids to use a variety of textures to create a design of their own choosing. 2nd & 3rd grade was given cardstock, bubble wrap, sandpaper, corrugated cardboard, foam, fuzzy yarn, felt, glitter square, foil, paper plate edge, glass& plastic beads, wood shapes, scrapbook paper, curling ribbon, and paper shred to work with. It was a bit slow at first but once they "got" what they were supposed to do, there was no stopping them. There were a number of 3D designs too.

For the younger groups I limited the materials a little and had them do a quilt type design and identify each texture. Probably not as much fun but they did not seem to mind at all. 

Kindergarten garden art/ 2nd grade bird nests

Trying to include a variety of cutting and pasting projects while making them fun is sometimes a challenge but not this week! We reviewed the story of Peter Rabbit and his adventure in the garden then drew our garden with the rabbit family and Mr. McGreggor. For the garden we did a cut and paste project using seed cataloges to supply the vegetables. They did a great job and had a pretty good time. Not a bad way to build a skill too.

In trying to make a 3d project interesting for the 2nd grade and help them learn a bit a too we came up with the idea of making nests and luckily I found speckled colored candy eggs to finish the project. They used a cardboard base and 2 kinds of paper shred for gift bags to make the nests. They had to construct them in such a way that they eggs did not fall out. We glued in the eggs but I heard that almost all of them got eaten before they left the building. Candy can be that way.

Doing Picasso 3D art for after school class

This was a challenge as our final project for the year. First for the background, we used texture medium and paint to create designs supplimented with a variety of tissue papers. Then each student cut out a guitar from denim and applied it to the back ground and added elements with buttons, bells, cords, ribbons and what-ever-else was in the decorating bag. Lots of very pleased students as each project was completed.

A K recycled project for Earth day

I was a bit afraid this would be too hard for the kindergarteners but they jumped on the idea of a project that moved. We talked about futuristic craft but it was clear to most of them that this was a helicopter. They were given a tp tube, a panel from an egg carton, a tooth pick, and some tissue paper. They constucted the crafts then decorated them. Another project using fine motor skills while keeping their imaginations going.

Texas Longhorns stampede 1st grade

We started with a book about the Chisholm trail then talked about longhorns we had seen before launching into creating our own from paper bags. First we stuffed torn newspaper into the bags to give them some shape and scrunched the end into a nose finishing with a staple. We added ears and faces then made the "long horns" out of a chenille stem and taped it onto the top of the bag. A few of the students added mouths and other details that they felt the longhorn needed to have. We ran out of time before the bags got tails. Interesting way to focus on the history of Texas.

3rd grade shares thoughts on Earth day

We began with a box of items that had the potential for some kind of new life or a quick toss into the green bucket. It is really interesting to hear what common items could be reused as according to the class. Each table then was given a blank sheet of poster board and the fun began--everyone's mind when blank as the board then they created signage which made its way to the front hall. They were able to envision old fashioned telephones, flowers, garden boxes, helicopters and a decsion that some things are just "trash."

Sculpting clay dragons is a bit harder than we thought!

Everyone in the class has been begging to try sculpting and was not too excited about doing a simple basket so we tried our hand at dragons. It took 3 weeks of classes to create them but we had to work for it. Next week we paint them. We had quite a few things to learn about the clay process so it was a really great project to do. We had to find the "exactly right" amount of moisture to use to form the shapes and attach one to another. We had to figure out how thick or thin the parts could be and still hold their form. We used toothpicks as supports to keep heads balanced while drying. It was a bit hard to get past the ugly stage for most of the little ones but when we add paint they will really come to life.

Recycling egg cups results in flowers for Kindergarten

I did this project last year with the kindergarten and it is hard to start but once they get going we get bouquets. We used styrofoam egg cups, fun foam pieces, tissue paper, and chenille stems. It is a complicated finger project for most of the kids to push the stem end through the various pieces and they struggle a bit. Although I show them how to punch the egg cups, it is an AH! moment when they do it themselves and it works. I heard all kinds of directions from one student to another as they worked on the project and showed off what was working for them. The flowers are colorful and a real hit.

Wildflowers bloom in 1st grade

 
 This was a popular project everywhere this week. With wildflowers just popping up on the hillsides, we made our own blooming display.
This was a group project where each table created a page for the wall. I drew the flowers and lettered the names so the class could paint. And paint they did! 




They did multi-colored lettering for the names then got into the flower painting. When we completed the flowers they added bees, birds, butterflies and caterpillars. This is always an enjoyable painting project where everyone puts their own touch on the flowers.

2nd grade creates sock critters

This is a 3 week project that pushes their ability to follow directions then allows them to creatively use any of the materials to make the project their own. We had 3 colors of socks available and a supply of colored felt, pom poms, fun foam shapes and yarn to use. Each student had to cut out a mouth and the 2 piece eyes and assemble them gluing them to the socks. They were then offered the other items and directed to create their creature. It was slow for about 10 minutes then magic began to happen as they tried out various items to see if it fit their ideas.

1st grade Lady Liberty monuments

This has proven to be a popular project this year. The kindergarten made them a month ago and the 1st grade did them today. We had more time to talk about the Statue of Liberty, her history, and information about her. 


The project is simple with tp tubes, egg carton sections, straws, tissue paper and green paper crown. This group was much more concerned about being sure she had a face--even hair in some cases.

Painted cookies are a treat for the 3rd grade

To work with colors and textures can be a bit boring but not if the surface is a cookie. I baked sugar cookie rounds and bought windmill cookies. We used sparkle gels and several colored frostings. Each student was told to design the round cookie any way they wanted and to paint the design already on the other. They had to complete both to be able to eat the cookies. It took a lot longer than they expected to complet the project but the eating--very fast.

2nd grade takes on space and completes the display

Take a styrofoam balls, styrofoam rings, a bit of paint and clay and the 2nd grade can create whole galaxies, well at the very least solar systems. The students worked in groups of 6 with each responsible for one or more planets, the sun, and moons. 


By the end of class they had everything ready to hang above their tables. 

A repeat of a previous project--we used paper towel tubes, paper egg cartons, construction paper and a heavy dose of imagination to create space ships to hang around our solar systems. 
Some had hatches that opened, some had fire to drive them, several had passengers, wings and fins were added in a variety of configurations. It is always great to see what they can do with the materials. 


Next week they will hang the solar systems to make the project complete. 

We were able to mount all the planets and their moons around the suns and hang them from the ceiling on foam core boards. The kids drew on and labeled the orbits then attached the balls to dental floss and taped them to the foam boards. Great look in the room!!