Falling Santa

I'm not too much into handprint art, but... 

I saw this cute idea for a falling Santa on Pinterest,  then showed my 4th graders the basic idea and let them run with it!  Fun!!

Origami Poinsettias

I've been doing this since I first started teaching.  Students just love creating Poinsettias with origami.  I originally started with the instructions for an Amaryllis I believe, many years ago.

I've added photos to help with instructions.  This is  an easy project with 5th graders and a nice challenge with 3rd graders.

The Grinch

Who doesn't love to hate the Grinch?  This is a directed drawing I have been doing for years with my younger students.  The paintings here are from 2nd Graders.  I use Sharpies  and the Crayola So Big watercolors on this project because the colors are so vivid.  Every single child is successful with this project.  They all have their own "Grinchy" Personalities!

Rudolph

This is a great lesson to introduce Kinders to basic shapes.  After we read Rudolph, we draw step by step using the basic shapes they see in a reindeer.  My reindeer inspiration comes from the Usborne book, I Can Draw Animals.  This is a great opportunity to introduce the horizon line.  It may not stick, but its a good start!

"Smashing" Pumpkins!

I saw something similar over at Artsonia...not sure to whom I might give credit.  Boy, was this fun!  We painted papers one day, using scrapers, rollers and sponges. Then the next week we made these fantastic jack-o-lanterns.  These are all first graders'.