Weaving with a twist

The 2nd grade has done weaving earlier in the year but I wanted them to try to expand their concept of weaving on paper by introducing 3D as an element. They first wove straight rows then were encouraged to do diagonals then add height or twists. It was fun and interesting to see the results.

Kindergarten masks, 1st Grade Lincoln hats

I brought an Aztec mask I did last summer to school and told the story about how a mask lets you become another character and pretend to be something we are not. We had fun with it and made our own masks from paper plates (pre-cut eyes and nose) and different shapes of construction paper. Some were very involved, some were minimalist. 


Each had a story but once someone said he was a vampire the boys especially were on a roll. Many then had a vampire mask. Blessedly they were without teeth and blood! It was a fun and easy project and they really got into the pretend part as soon as the mask was on. 

The first grade has been studying Abraham Lincoln so we did a bit of painting and a bit of construction to make the top hat like Lincoln wore. I found a website with directions to make the hat but decided to alter it a bit. We painted a paper plate black and cut a hole just smaller than the roll of paper for the top part of the hat. We did some cutting and gluing to assemble the hat then completed the painting of the other part of the brim. They could not wait to put them on their heads and be Lincoln look alikes! 

Painting and drawing with the older kids

The after school group was supposed to spend 2 weeks drawing but they were in real "painting mood" so we drew designs and worked with tempera paints to complete them. As usual, they were something to see. One of the creations actually became 3D.

Busy week for painting and drawing before spring break

Finger painting can be messy but it can be very creative and lots of fun if you approach it right. For the kindergarten class this means they have to have a paper towel to wipe their fingers and they are good to go. At one point, I think the paper towel was becoming the art as they were comparing designs on those too! This was a free design to let them use color, texture and their creativity. The only rule was "no mixing paint on the pallete." Several were delighted to show me that they mixed colors on their pages to get just the right shade. Every picture had a story and the whole group seemed to enjoy the painting day.

In the 3rd grade we worked with Tessellations and used a repeating design of a goldfish to accomplish it. It is a hard concept but once they got going, the designs turned out well. I chose a simple line repeat although there are spirals and other more complex designs. One of the students heard circles and had to do hers that way. It turned out pretty well too. 

After school group paints on texture surface

This is probably a stretch for 4-6th grade students but they were equal to it! First we prepped our boards with a texture that is similar to plaster which had to dry for a week. We painted the first part of the painting (pear and cherries) with texture and pallete knives then switched to brushes to complete the design. The students drew in their own branches and leaves then brush mixed the green for the leaves.  The vase and the background were done in a watercolor style letting the color flood along the lines of the water.
The backgrounds were anything but dull as each student did her own thing. I continue to be impressed by their artistic abilities. 

Kindergarteners make Lady Liberty "statues"

This week the group was studying monuments and what better monument to create than the Statue of Liberty? 


This was a bit time consuming and  involved for the kindergarteners so I cut and assembled the base before class of a tp roll and a cardboard egg cup. The kids threaded the straw through to make the arm with a bend, added the crown, and covered the whole thing with green tissue paper. They made the torch by themselves and seemed to have a good time adding the flames. They were not really sure about using their fingers to spread the glue but managed well when supplied with wet paper towels to wipe their fingertips.


They really turned out well and will be made by the 1st grade in about a month.