Thanksgiving!

Kindergarten and First graders drew a picture of their favorite Thanksgiving food and I had them describe to me step by step how they would make the food. Some of them were hilarious! (Found this lesson here)

This was a really fun project (found here) I did with Kindergarten-Second grade. They all loved it! I read the following Thanksgiving story to them and as we got to each color, I gave them a bead to add to their bracelet or necklace.

With this bracelet you will know,

The first Thanksgiving that was long, long ago.

The Pilgrims set sail from far away

On the Mayflower with tall white sails.

They sailed many days across the ocean blue.

The seas were rough, but the ship came through.

At last they spotted land so green. 

They were so happy they cheered and screamed.

The first year was so difficult and black.

Many died and wished that they could go back.

But the Native Americans gave them a hand

And helped them survive in the strange new land.

They decided to celebrate in a special way

And that became the first Thanksgiving Day.

They prepared a feast with turkeys brown

And red cranberries that they had found.

Yellow corn that they had learned to grow

And orange pumpkin pies, don’t you know!

But before they ate the turkey and dressing,

They all held hands for a thankful blessing.

Turkey Drawings!

And these cute "geometric feather" turkeys!

Painted Paper!

Day 1: Coloring mixing lesson. I put a small amount of blue and yellow paint on each students paper. Students mixed colors directly on paper to see how the colors mix and change to make green!

(Before students came in for Day 2, I precut their painted paper into a loom for weaving.)

Day 2: Students used green strips of paper to weave into their looms. This was a new concept for first and second graders so it took the entire class time to complete.

Day 3: Students cut out and glued pieces to complete their alligators! Some had time to add some texture to the tail along with additional details.

Kindergarten started the following lesson the same way, by mixing colors on their paper to make a new color! I showed them some of Eric Carle's work and we continued the lesson by making the Very Hungry Caterpillar. 

(Before Day 2, I traced 6 large circles on the back of their painted paper for them to cut out).

The Tree of Life

A project based on one of my favorite paintings ever! The tree of Life by Gustav Klimt. After giving the students a brief history on the artist we looked at his painting and how he creates branches using swirls. We also looked at all the small details (triangles, squares, flowers). Students started by drawing a tree trunk with large swirling branches then added smaller swirls for smaller branches. Day two, they added some details and colored their trees with warm color pencils. Day three, they covered their paper with warm color tissue papers (torn into smaller pieces) and sprayed the whole thing with water. The dye from the tissue paper bled onto their drawings. After drying overnight, the tissue paper was removed to reveal these master pieces! 

Fall textures

 First and Second Graders drew a tree by using the letter Y and V to make branches. Next, they put leaves underneath their papers for texture and colored on top with fall color crayons.

Before starting these lessons, the students walked with me in a school yard to collect leaves. The following leaves are done by Kindergarteners.

Kindergarten Sunflowers! Students practiced cutting and glueing skills. The seeds were done using acrylic paint and q-tips. 

Warm and cool colors

 Students were given a basic design guideline and instructed to separate warm and cool colors. Some students were very creative in making their design more unique.

I am... I can... I will...

One of my favorite projects this year!
Day 1: Start with writing prompt: I am... I can... I will... focusing on positive aspects of themselves. If time allows, introduce project and have students begin sketching a layout.
Day 2: Tape poster board to a wall, have student sit between projector (or bright light source) and the wall. Trace profile of face on paper.
This project can be done many different ways. I gave students the starting point of filling their head with drawings of objects that mean something to them and using their writing prompt to fill the background... but I wanted them to be creative in their designs and left the project open to interpretation.