Clay Necklaces

My bulletin board

Stained Glass Art

For this activity we had to watch a PowerPoint that talked about Ancient Europe and the different stained glass art in that region. We had to write down 3 points on our index card. Then we stenciled our holiday art onto a piece of construction paper using an exacto knife. Then after that we cut out the edges of the holiday picture.

Another activity to go along with this one would be to make snowflakes and create different shapes inside of the snowflake. The students will learn about the different geometric shapes that can be created.

Eric Carle collage

For this activity we first read a book called The Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle and then we created our own story out of construction paper. I drew a bumblebee "playing" with a flower. I also put some grass and a sun in there to add to the background.

Another activity you could do is to read the book I Feel Silly by Jamie Lee Curtis that talks about feelings and emotions. After the students read this book they can create their own feelings on construction paper. They can create a person feeling sad or happy or friendly onto their construction paper.

Hidden Animal Safari

For this activity we learned about different animals on a safari and how to draw upside down to make our animals better. Then we created patterns and figures to distract the eye from seeing the animal. We also created glasses with construction paper and red film so that you can see the animal through. We then put a border around the picture with construction paper.

Another activity that you could do is to create something like this activity but use a holiday to help describe a certain holiday. For example, create a Christmas tree out of construction paper and hide things in the tree that you would see during this holiday to help describe it.

Birds of a Feather

For this activity we first created a character. Mine was Birdene Flyway. She was a confident bird that loved to travel exotic places. So when I created her I made sure she was bright and bold and had many bright feathers on her. Then we punched holes in the wings to put string through so we could hang them.

Another activity for this would be to make a mask. You could do the same thing and come up with characteristics your mask will have and then make a mask that includes these characteristics.

Mud Painting

For this activity, the teachers had prepared mud for us to paint and paper bags that they crumpled up so we could paint on them. This activity would be a lot of fun for kids because they get to fingerpaint. We painted one of our favorite childhood memories.

Another activity that could be done is painting their favorite vacation or a time they were happy, etc. There is so much that can be done with this activity and kids will absolutely love it because its dirty and its fun!

Printmaking

For this activity, we drew ideas on a piece of paper. After doing that we used special utensils to draw on the styrofoam we were given. We had to make sure to use different kinds of lines on the styrofoam to make it more real. After we were done drawing on the styrofoam we spread paint, in my case yellow paint, onto a piece of construction paper. We had to make sure to use a complementary color so I had chosen purple. The picture was then transferred onto the construction paper.

Another activity for printmaking would be making Fall Monoprints. Fold the 12 x 18 white paper the long way (hotdog way). On the middle fold going up, draw a series of trees using the "Y" method. Draw a straight line for the trunk and then a "V" in the middle so it looks like a "Y". Branch off drawing with "V"'s from there. Keep the tree very simple and varied. Have some tall and some bending. Try to work them across the paper until it is full of trees. The space below is the water which will reflect the trees. Once you've drawn the trees, fold the paper back again, and with a ruler edge rub the trees so that the crayon transfers to the bottom (water area). Next, taking dabs of autumn colors work one tree at a time, dotting the branches and then bending the paper to create the blob on the bottom, Continue doing so, until you've got a autumn look. I then have kids take the watered down tempera and fill in blue area, sky and water.

Scratch Art

For this activity, we first practiced how to use the scratch utensils and put it on film paper. We then drew an ocean animal on a blank sheet of paper with a pencil. After that we put the blank sheet of paper on top of the film paper and traced it on there with our scratch utensils. Then we went over it again to make sure it was seen.

Another activity for scratch art would be to use this for any subject area. You could use this for a geography lesson. While studying the different places of the world, kids could eventually use the scratch art to make the world or each region.

Leaf Art

In this activity, we first shaved crayons onto waxed paper and then "ironed" the paper together. After we did that, we cut out leaves from the waxed paper and then glued them onto a blank sheet of paper. Then we used oil pastels to create more leaves to make it stand out more.

Another activity you could do with this is create a waxed paper stained glass. Cut off an 8 1/2-by-11-inch sheet of wax paper and tape it to your work surface. Use a black permanent marker to draw a design or abstract shapes on the wax paper. Give the children a selection of oil pastels and instruct them to color in the picture. Encourage them to practice staying in the lines and experimenting with layering and coloring both light and dark sections. When the children are finished, make a frame out of heavier paper and tape the wax paper to the back of it. Hang the picture in the window so the sun can shine through the lightly colored sections.

Elements and Principles

Color: Has three properties. 1. Hue- names of colors 2. Value- lightness and darkness of a hue 3. Intensity- purity of the hue
Subject: beach towel

Lines: marks made by a pointed tool-brush, pencil, stick, pen, etc. and is often defined as a moving dot.
Subject: Movie shelf in my living room

Shapes: an area that is contained within an implied line, or is seen and identified because of color or value changes. Can be geometric or organic.
Subject: Street signs outside my house

Space: three-dimensional volume that can be empty or filled with objects.
Subject: Laundry basket

Pattern/Repetition: uses the art elements in planned or random repetitions to enhance surfaces of paintings or sculptures.
Subject: My deck

Footprint Art

For this lesson you will need:
-construction paper
-crayons, markers, coloring pencils, paint, etc.
In this lesson, we traced our feet onto the construction paper. You can do one or both of your feet; it doesn't matter. After you do this, you tell the students to describe themselves on the footprint without words. Tell them to draw anything that can help describe them so they can introduce themselves to the class. This can be a great activity to help the students get to know each other and you.

Another activity that could be a great ice breaker would be to make a mini scrapbook of each student. You will need construction paper, string, and pictures of each student. Have them answer questions on the construction paper like: What did you do for summer vacation? What is your favorite animal? What is your favorite food? What do you want to be when you grow up? etc. Then have them string the papers together and then put a picture of the student on the cover of the scrapbook. Then have them displayed in the room so the students can look at everyone's to get to know each other.