First and Second Grade Wacky "Shapes" Bird

First we talked about line and shape.  Then we brainstormed to come up with different kinds of shapes.  After we had come up with a variety of shapes they drew their bird starting with the head, body and feet.  The students picked a shape and created a pattern in the body of the bird.  Then they added hair and other details.  Out come Sharpies!

They traced over all their pencil lines with a sharpie.  Last they used washable markers to add color (I had them stick to cool or warm colors) then paint with water, cut out the bird and paste unto a colored sheet of paper.

Simple.  The project was inspired largely from a project I had seen on deep space sparkle.  Since it was my first time meeting the students, I wanted a drawing project with color, but I did not want to break out the paints just yet.

Kindergarten Art

Fun Fish

Using Line and Color

First day we talked about different kinds of line (thin, thick, wavy, jagged, spiral, short).  We talked about how line can create shapes and patterns.  The students then drew their fish and filled the fish with as many different types of lines they could.  

Then they added color using washable markers.  Once the fish had color, they painted the fish using water to create a watercolor effect viola!

They picked out the background color (I cut the fish because we were short on time) then they pasted the fish onto the colored background.

Here are a few of the kinder fish they created.

They were so proud.  A few of them asked if it was magic :)

Finding Humor

Finding Humor

It is my first week teaching K-3! So far...SUCCESS.  It is a learning experience for them and even more for myself.  As always, there are delightful moments that are brought from children.
I am told that the students were very excited to hear they were going to be starting Art Class with Mrs. Salisbury.  The whispering went through the tiny grapevine of school, winding through classrooms from desk to desk slipping down hallways finally settling into restless lines of students eager to spread the news.  A new teacher is coming to teach art? Indeed there was, but who?  News had spread from class to class and student to student. The children stricken with desire to be the first to inform their teacher of this new teacher, declared that her name was Mrs. Strawberry, or was it Raspberry?
Despite corrections from their classroom teacher informing them that it was not Mrs. Strawberry, the children came to class decidedly keen on their belief that surely their teacher was mistaken.  I introduced myself as Mrs. Salisbury and class commenced.  The children were delighted with art class, and upon leaving the room, one student, having missed the class "thank you," given in unison, hurried to catch up to the end of the line.  As the student passed by on their way out of the room, I heard a small voice say very politely, "Thank you Mrs. Rosebury."
I shut my door and collapsed in laughter. It is little things like that that make my week.