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'.

Beautiful Oops!

My librarian laid this book in front of me during in-service.  I knew right away this was my first week's lesson!  Barney Saltzberg gives us a great little picture book that encourages us to make something wonderful out of a mistake.  I can't think of anything more perfect for the first week in art class.  I just can't bear to talk about rules and seating arrangements for a whole week!  I know the kiddos appreciate not being tortured as well.

So I made hundreds of drips, holes, smudges and tears on small pieces of paper and gave each student a mistake of their own to renovate.  They loved the challenge and everyone left feeling good about art.  I found it was important to take a few minutes to share their work.  One may not understand every picture without some explanation.

5th Graders had drips... 

4th Graders had holes in their papers...

 3rd graders were given smudges and oil pastels...

The smudge was the orange boat.

The smudge here was the dark part at the beak and chest..WOW for a 3rd grader!

Elvis with red hair...The smudge was the red hair.

 1st and 2nd Graders had torn shapes...

Her paper was pink so she changed it.

The dog is swiping at the cat..LOVE the proportion!

First Grade

First Grade

First Grade

First Grade Bird Houses

Thanks again Patty!

Harold's Purple Crayon

Here is an easy lesson to start up the year using Crockett Johnson's, Harold and the Purple Crayon books. I use it for first grade as an introduction to line. I have the books and I have used them before as an introduction, but I discovered the video put out by Scholastic. It brings the book to life and is mesmerizing for first graders. Its only about 20 minutes for one story and you can do this whole project, including the video, in a fifty minute lesson. After the video, we talk about the exciting things that Harold sees during his adventure. The students drew them in white crayon and I glittered their lines. They LOVE seeing their name in glitter for the first time!

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