Fish Paintings: Kindergarten

Oh how Kindergarten loves to paint!!  We did a very controlled collaborative painting the first week of school...but this is the first time they've gone at it in a full fledged lesson! We are about 5 or 6 weeks into the school year now....so they've learned a great deal.  They also are very confident with our fish/sea theme we've been working on this 9 weeks.  After a demo & explanation of painting expectations & procedures...they students got to work! 

THE RESULTS...BEAUTIFUL!!!!

I use the wide bottom tumbler cups from Dollar Tree/Dollar General(have had them for years and years).  I only fill them about 3 or 4 inches full of water(in case of spills.

We use the "Biggie" watercolor sets with 4 colors.  Tempera cakes would work also. It is more getting them use to holding a brush, rinsing out the brush, ...etc. 

I do not do step by step exactly...I do a demo and then let them do it.  I don't want all the pictures to look exactly the same...but I do believe in guidance for my kinders!!!

This girls fish is super fun..and very different from the others.

 LOVE IT!

It is amazing how so precise some of the kids are at such a young age!

Sharing is caring!! Also...I know...I need to get new paints!!(get the refills!!..cuts down on cost)

IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY FEARS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT PAINTING WITH KINDERGARTEN...PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT OR CONTACT ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!!

Collage Fish: Kindergarten

This week I'm introducing my kindergarten students to collage...which also means introducing scissors/scissor safety & glue usage.  Personally, I feel collage is more challenging than painting with kindergarten.  There are more elements & unknown variables.  Unlike years ago...students don't have the opportunity to cut & glue in their classrooms(and if they are...you can bet it is glue sticks!).  Kindergarten teachers have so many more requirements that they don't have time for activity type learning which requires these things in their classroom.  There is also that fact that fewer children are having exposure to scissor & glue use at home. Sooooo....when we get these awesome little sponges...we are going to be doing a lot of introducing and correcting.  I think the main issue I've been seeing this week is scissor grip.  I've literally had students that had NO IDEA how to pick up, hold, and use scissors!  I know I shouldn't be amazed by this...but I kind of am!

I've only had a few students that just couldn't get it at all.  Most of them were able to do "something".  I view this as a time to introduce & build upon skills....so I'm looking at the long term & not just the immediate.  Some of the kids that are struggling now...will be master scissor users by January!!

ARTOBER NASHVILLE: Elementary Literature Focus

This year the elementary art teachers were encouraged to use literature as a jumping off point for their Artober Nashville project(s).  I used Swimmy by Leo Lionni.  In the story collaboration saves the day when the school of fish worked together.  I thought that was a great idea to translate to the whole school working together to make a beautiful instillation piece!! 

Here is the ArtoberNashville board I made as you enter our school!  There isn't a "set" theme...I just made up the Go Deep With The Arts.  I thought it was fitting for the fishy theme!!

If you don't have the book Swimmy for your classroom...GET IT!  I love many of Leo Lionni's books for the art room.  Great inspiration/jumping off points!!  I had the students use a tracer to create the fish so they were the same size. I made them double sided..so I had to have them almost the same.  

I often get wild ideas, but am not 100% sure how to accomplish them.  I originally thought about individually hanging each fish on a rod or something and then placing that in the ceiling tiles.  I quickly realized that was not going to work for MANY MANY REASONS!!  I ended up going back to my old friend, wire hangers, to hot glue the fish to & then hang it from the ceiling tile braces.

Where would I be without wire  hangers and hot glue?!!?!?  

These are only a handful...I have 16 "schools" of fish

 hanging in the lobby of our school!!

BAM! IMPACT! 

   

Why I Love Kindergarten: Reason #493

I love what I do! I love my school(15th year at this school)!  I love Kindergarten!  I know that is age that freak a lot of teachers out, but they are my favorite!  I love how they think, process, create, and interact.  They show more growth than any other age...and it is glorious when they finally "get it".  I don't know how anyone in our field could become bored.  No year is the same, no class is the same, no child is the same!  We are the masters of adaptation.  We are blessed to be art teachers!

Pattern Fish: 1st Grade

        

End of the year is almost here!  I like to do some projects with my younger ones to make sure they they have mastered some of the important skills.  Cutting, gluing, pattern, craftsmanship(in coloring)...stuff like that!  These fish get all those skills into one project(two class times).  We looked at Zentangles for inspiration.  I feel that some of the sites out there can really open students eyes up to patterns being more than circle square circle square!!!  

   

     

Mr. E Asks 3: Debbie Diesen (The Pout-Pout Fish)

...OUT JUNE 24...

BUY ON AMAZON

http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780374360955

I hope you all know the joy that is THE POUT POUT FISH!  My students love these books!!!!  Several years ago Debbie Diesen, the author of The Pout Pout Fish, commented on my blog after I had used her book as inspiration for a lesson.  I so appreciated her taking the time to comment....love that she has that kind of connection with her audience!!  Well, I contacted her to see if she would want to be part of Mr. E Asks 3....and she shared that The Pout Pout Fish had another adventure about to take place!!  The Pout Pout Fish Goes to School!!!   I love this...because my oldest daughter will be going to kindergarten this fall, and I can see her connecting with this story!!!  Ok..enough of me going on and on....

I HOPE YOU ENJOY MR. E ASKS 3: Debbie Diesen!!! 

(OH...and read all the way to the bottom of the post for something extra fun!)

Do you have a favorite place to "create" your stories?  

If so where is it & why?

Ideally, I love to be outside when I’m writing, though that’s not always

practical here in Michigan.  But regardless of where I am, I prefer to have

a pen or pencil in hand when I’m writing.  I do use the computer later,

after I have a complete first draft, but pretty much everything I write

starts out handwritten.  Having a pen in my hand helps me tap into the

writing part of my mind.

Were you involved in the arts as a child/teenager?

I loved to write when I was young, and I was very lucky to have parents,

teachers, and school librarians who encouraged me in my writing.  I was

pretty shy and timid back then (something I haven’t yet entirely outgrown!),

but the encouragement I received in those early years gave me confidence in

myself as a writer, then and now.  I am very grateful!

When you first wrote the Pout Pout Fish, 

did you know his story was going to continue? 

When I first wrote the story, I didn’t know Mr. Fish would have more

adventures.  And in fact, I didn’t even know he’d ever see Miss Shimmer

again!  At the time, I imagined the life-changing kiss of the first book to

be a Random Act of Smoochiness.  But after Dan Hanna’s delightful art

brought Mr. Fish and his friends to life, it became clear that Mr. Fish had

more stories to tell.  It has been a joy beyond measure to create and share

those stories with children!

AUTHOR SITE- http://deborahdiesen.com/index.htm

HERE IS DEBBIE'S BLOG - http://jumpingthecandlestick.blogspot.com/

WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE A SET OF 

THE POUT POUT FISH BOOKS?

Leave a comment with a 2 or 3 sentence description of a fish lesson you use in your classroom!  I'll draw a name from those who do this...and the winner will receive a complete set of The Pout Pout Fish Books!  Please "Like" Art With Mr. E on Facebook & "Follow" me on Twitter to see if your name is selected!!! 

Kindergarten Fish Paintings

It is always interesting to see how the kindergarten students do with painting.  Some have had a great deal of exposure in the past...while others look at the brush as if it just fell from outer space?!?! 

I've been super excited with my K's this year.  They really seem to be an artistic bunch!  Their paintings were really wonderful....here are just a few examples.  

 

Not Finished BUT Bright Future!!!!

They aren't finished, but THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!! 

 This is....KINDERGARTEN!

Oh my gosh...I'm excited to work with these kiddos!!!!  

I wish I had them a couple times a week...OH THE PLACES WE COULD GO!!!

The Pout-Pout Fish at KOHL'S!

As part of Kohl's Cares...the Pout-Pout Fish is at Kohl's!!! The hardback books are $5 (they also have the sequel..The Pout-Pout Fish & The Big Big Dark) & the stuffed animals are $5.  I believe it will be there as long as supplies last.

This book is WONDERFUL.....and great as a spring board for lessons!

Mr. E's Pout Pout Fish Pinch Pots

Ms. Malone's Pout Pout Lesson!

Learn More About the Author

 Deborah Diesen

Want to know more about Kohl's Cares...check out this link!

KOHL'S CARES

Bottle Cap Fish

Several weeks ago I sent home a "homework" sheet with my 3rd & 4th graders.  The sheet explained that we'd be creating some bottle cap fish...and I was looking for the best design. To my surprise...over half of the students returned the sheets within the next few days.  A bigger surprise was about 30 of them were AMAZING!  To narrow them down...I looked at how easy it would be to "translate" the drawings into the bottle cap version.  Then I looked for the most unique designs.  I came with these three.  I placed the drawing under my Ladybug...and traced them onto insulation foam using a sharpie.  I then did a quick coat of acrylic paint so the students knew what colors to use.  During class I called up a few tables at a time to work for a couple minutes putting caps onto the fish.  The used craft/tacky glue(knowing it would not go outside).  I love them!!  The one girl really wants to take "her" fish home when I'm done with it.  I told her I didn't know if I'd be "done" with it! ha ha  

Another Bottle Cap Project: FISH

This year's art show is REDUCE, REUSE, RE-IMAGINE! (a recycled materials art show)  I've been wanting to create bottle cap fish since we created our outdoor mural last year.  They will be interior, so need to worry about the elements.  We'll be using insulation foam sheets for the base....and tacky glue as our adhesive.  I had 3rd & 4th create design fish.  We'll be selecting four of their designs and project them on the foam.  We'll cap the front & back...because they'll be hanging in the atrium of our school...and will be seen from both sides.  I'm going to allow all my classes/grade levels to participate in adding the caps so it is a true school wide project.  Stay tuned!!!

Pout-Pout Pinch Pots

If you've been following my blog for a year or two...you'll know how much I love The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen!  If you don't have it...here is the Amazon link  BUY IT ...YOU'LL LOVE IT!!!

In our curriculum for 1st grade we have pinch pots starting off the nine weeks.  Pinch pots are great & all...but a little boring in & of themselves.   You've probably seen a number of other ideas on Pinterest or your fav. art blog of how you can jazz up the lesson.  I love doing fish & underwater units, and this fits in perfectly. 

I LOVE THIS OVER THE HEAD SHOT! 

TO BE CONTINUED....

The Pout-Pouts gathering place!