2/3s Embroider and Stuff Felt Indian Elephants

As the 2/3s began their study of India in the classroom, they enriched their studies with several art experiences. To start they traced and cut elephants from gray felt and then embroidered flowers and saddles to make their elephants look like they're ready for a festival. The two sides will be sewn together and stuffed. This project requires planning, focus, fine motor skills and patience, and for some,  acquiring embroidering skills, but the end result is well worth the investment in time and effort.

Tracing the second elephant for the other side

Cutting the first piece of felt for side one

Refining the edges

Some thoughtful stitching

Adding an embroidered saddle

Focused and precise stitching

Some help from Mom who was volunteering with the class!

Beginning to sew the elephant together

The blanket stitch to hole the stuffing inside

Two finished works

And a finished herd!

Some last minute help from a middle school expert

Braiding a tail with middle school assistance

2/3s Make Indian Shadow Puppets

Each 2/3 student is studying a particular Hindu God as they study India this spring in the classroom. In art class they are making a shadow puppet of their particular God, keeping in mind profiles and postures that will enable the viewer to identify their puppet by its particular characteristics.  This has been a challenging and thought provoking task. As part of their celebration of work, they will perform a shadow puppet play introducing their God to the audience.

Fitting the figure on the final paper

How many arms do I need?

Finished puppet

Another

One more

Puppet performance

another performing

2/3s Learn about Diwali

Decorating the lamp with beads

A very precise design

Painting with acrylic paint

Adding sand to a Rangoli design

Painting tiny details

A Finished Lamp

Beginning Mehndi hand design

Working on the palm

Checking out some traditional finger designs

Half the class with their lamps

Seven finished lamps

Six more students with their lamps

The 2/3 class will further the connection they made this fall with Shanti Bhavan in southern India. Parker 2/3s are learning about the Indian holiday, Diwali, or festival of lights. They are making small decorated clay avali lamps, Rangoli designs with colored sand, and Mehndi or henna hand designs, all connected to Diwali. We'll then share what we've learned with the second grade students at Shanti Bhavan.

2/3s Sew Stuffed Indian Elephants

 Tracing onto felt

Cutting out the elephant

 Attaching an ear

 Embroidering the body

Thoughtful stitching

l

 One finished elephant

A finished herd!

A visit to the Hindu Temple deepened the study of India

As the 2/3s began their study of India in the classroom, they enriched their studies with several art experiences. To start they traced and cut elephants from gray felt and then embroidered flowers and saddles to make their elephants look like they're ready for a festival. The two sides are then sewn together and stuffed.

2/3s Turn Their Classroom into a Hindu Temple

Hindu Temple Altar

Two Gods

Painting the Altar

Tracing the Projected God Images

The 2/3s have been studying India this spring. After a trip to the Hindu Temple in Latham, the students created their own versions of some of the Hindu gods. After drawing them, they projected the drawn images onto large paper. Then they painted, cut out and stuffed them so they became free-standing forms. Working from photos of the altar at the Temple they visited, they painted their own version. The transformed classroom reflected all their learning.