K/1 Tooth Fairies

A unit on fairy tales is unfolding in the K/1 classroom as the students learn about tooth traditions from around the world in art class. They listened to Throw Your Tooth on the Roof by Selby Beeler and remarked on the different traditions from all over the globe observed when children from other countries lose their teeth. A discussion of the tooth fairy followed and the students began sketching out ideas for paintings of their visions of the tooth fairy.

collaborative color choice

Painting the fairy's wings

Outlining with Sharpie

Beginning to paint

One finished painting

And another!

K/1s and 2/3s Look Closely at Owls

Two borrowed rather realistic looking stuffed owls have taken up temporary residence in the art room tying in nicely to the K/1 owl study unit. The 2/3s are taking advantage of the owls to also get a close look and try their hand at drawing them with charcoal and pastel. Basic shapes and textures have been noted and the sides and ends of the chalks have been used to get the fluffy feeling of these birds feathers as well as their sharp beaks and claws.

The great horned owl's horns

Feather texture

Gaining control of the charcoal

Forming a beak

Pastels on black paper

Blending colors

Noticing lots of details on the feathered chest

One section of the finished owl wall

K/1 and 2/3 Lines, Shapes and Colors

The new school year began with the younger students listening to Leo Lionni's Matthew's Dream and talking about lines, shapes and colors in abstract art. They drew long, lazy lines across their papers and noticed the shapes that emerged as their lines crossed each other. The different shapes were then colored in to create abstract drawings reminiscent of Matthew's paintings in the Lionni story.

Long, lazy lines

Some thoughtful areas of color

Contemplating the overall design taking shape

Concentrating on color application

K/1s Paint Birds

Continuing the theme of making a shape into something specific, the K/1s listened to the book, Mouse Shapes, by Ellen Stoll Walsh and then looked at the shapes you would need to draw a bird. Starting with half circles and triangles they each drew a large bird, went over the lines with black crayon and added watercolor for a crayon resist. The results are completely engaging.

Painting stripes

Adding the ground

A blue bird!

K/1s Create Monarch Life Cycle

As the K/1s study the life cycle of the Monarch in class, they are working on a visual description in art class. After some initial experimenting with oil pastels, and listening to the book, Monarch Come Play with Me, by Ba Rae the students drew and cut out large monarch caterpillars. The leaf, chrysalis, and butterfly completed this project.

Coloring the caterpillar's stripes

Adding antenna

Making a large leaf

Careful cutting

Gluing down the caterpillar and leaf

A monarch butterfly emerging

Cutting out the butterfly

Assembling the parts

Caterpillar and Butterfly complete

One more!

K/1s Experiment with Oil Pastels

Students applied one color of oil pastel over another to see what new colors they could make. They will make use of their discoveries to  draw monarch caterpillars and butterflies.

Trying new combinations

Making a new color

K/1 Make Maasai Necklaces

Coloring the rectangular bottom piece

Coloring the disk

Finished!

Group finished!

Gluing the bottom piece on with care

As the K/1s began their unit on Africa they learned about the Maasai people of East Africa and the flat collar, beaded necklaces that they craft. Noticing the geometric patterns that the Maasai design, the students drew and colored their own patterns, adding the rectangular bottom piece with beads hanging from it.

K/1s Paint Hot Cocoa Pictures

Drawing the cup with stripes

Beginning to paint

After our most recent snowstorm, the mood seemed right for some steamy hot chocolate pictures. After looking at the shapes you need to make a cup look 3-D, the students drew cups brimming with hot chocolate and marshmallows.