Emotion Birds: Kindergarten

The 4th nine weeks has a lot of skill checking for kindergarten!  I don't want it to be repeats of projects though!!  I really love this lesson.  I start by talking to them about moods/emotions.  We discuss what colors would be good to represent which emotion.  I really is a fun discussion...and you can see how much they've grown by their thought process!  

After we make a chart of what colors go with which emotion....I reviewed spirals.  They then created a background of spirals using the colors of the emotion they chose to show. 

Next they selected paper out of the scrap box to create their bird. This is a new thing for my kindergarten students.  Usually with collage, I have paper pulled for them to use prior to class, but I wanted to make sure they'd be ready for 1st grade when they must select their own from the scrap box!  We reviewed the colors once again to make sure they would pick the right colors for their emotion(most of them did?!? ha ha).  I did a demo on how to create their birds, reviewed scissor safety, and reviewed proper glue use.  I was thrilled that the birds did each have their own little personality.  

Chirpin': 1st Grade

         

As you may have read...I'M SO READY FOR SPRING!  Nashville is warming up...so my projects are taking on a much springier feel!!!! ha ha  I LOVE THESE 1st GRADE BIRDS!!!  I told the students we were going to create fun, colorful, springy birds.......and man did they deliver!! After drawing their picture with pencils...I had the students trace their pictures with black crayon to form a bit of a resist. We used markers to outline/color their picture next.  Lastly, I sprayed their work with water.  I love the look...and the kids were so excited when the colors started moving.  The resist does create a small wall between colors so they don't get totally mixed up.  

CHIRP ON FRIENDS...CHIRP ON!!!

There's a Bug in My Fruit: 2nd Grade

My students created these still life drawings from their own imagination.  They were asked to include a bug somewhere in the fruit bowl.  After coloring with the fruit & bowl with crayons, we used watercolors to create the background.  They used one color for the wall, and two colors for the table.  I had them place plastic wrap ontop of the table area to add a bit of texture.

Add caption

Pumpkin Color Blending: 1st Grade

Sometimes I get a wild hair to push my younger students!  I really wanted to encourage them to think of objects as having more than one color.  Instead of grabbing just an orange to color a pumpkin...think about what colors could be used to make a pumpkin have more impact.  So I had them pull all their yellow - red colors out of their crayon box.  I showed them how to blend one color into another as not to get a stripe effect.   I think for 1st graders...they did an AMAZING job!! 

Self-Portraits :2nd Grade

I'm very happy with the 2nd grader self-portraits!  This is the start of the school year...and they are not far removed from being 1st graders!!!  They started by doing a large self portrait(using mirrors) on a 9x12 paper.  I then allowed them to choose a 9x18 piece of paper.  I limited their colors to a more patriotic color 

palette.  We discussed ways to create an interesting background using line/shape/color that was not the flag, but could reference it if they wanted.  Not sure if the patriotic came through on all of them, but they look great!  

Testing Up & Up (Target Brand)

I'm always up for trying new/different brands!  This is the first year I remember seeing the Up & Up school supplies at Target.  I may have missed it before though?!?  Back-to -School prices are not as good as they use to be...so if I can find quality products at a better price...YOU BETTER BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT I'LL BE GETTING!!!!!! ha ha  

So here is what I found from my very scientific tests!!!

CRAYONS

I don't know if anyone can top Crayola's crayons?  Up & Up is a little "waxier", but not as bad as some "other" major crayon brands.  They are worth a try, but I don't think they'll make you forget your Crayola's.  

COLORED PENCILS

 I really liked their colored pencils.  They are a little harder lead...so the color will be a bit lighter, 

but not by much.   

 MARKERS

The markers really worked well.  You may be able to see the colors differences, but you have that with all brands.  I'm not sure what they'll be like in the long run....that is the true test of markers!  I'll keep using them & get back to ya!!!!

Fancy/Fun/Crazy Hair: Kindergarten

(This child is wise beyond her years in many ways!  Love this portrait!!!)  

The last lesson from my student teacher for Kindergarten (next week is finish up week..and her last week with us).  This was a WINNER!!!!!!!!  She started by reading Fancy Nancy(who you may know has very fancy hair).  There are many books out there about crazy/messed up hair you could use if you think Fancy Nancy is too polarizing(but I'll tell ya..the boys loved it too!!!).  She taught the student some basic principles of portraiture...and then had them create crazy fancy/fun/crazy hair on themselves.  They kids were really into it!     I like to do portraits several times a year with my students...to gauge student progress.  This is a fresh way to do portraits so students aren't like..."NOT AGAIN!?!?!".  

If you look closely...they have boogers?!?!?! Yes..they were setting together. 

 Kids are so gross sometimes! ha ha ha

There is something very simple & sweet about this picture.  It is one of my favorites!  

MORE Abstract Cityscapes w/ Value: 2nd Grade