MistleTOES

Great gift for parents! I found this idea and I fell in love. It is so cute and CHEAP!

First buy a white glass plate at the dollar store. I bought mine at the dollar tree. Second buy the paint, I got the ENAMEL paint at Micheals Arts and Crafts. The bottles were the most expensive, $2.99 a bottle, but if you have a coupon at the right time you might get away with a good deal!!

First wipe the plate down with a light damp towel. I painted just one foot green, then stamped it twice. I didnt need to reapply paint the second time but you might want too. I let it dry. Then I had them dipp their thumb in the red to make the berries. Then I used their thumb, pointer finger, and middle finger to make the lights. Then with a green shapie I made the strings to attach the bulbs. I also used black sharpie to add the tops to the bulbs and the works Mistletoes. Then on the back I had them sign their names.

When it is dried for atleast 48 hours put the plate in the over for 350F for 30 minutes. This allows the enamel paint to set and you can use the plate without having the paint chip off. I dont recommend putting in the diswasher though. WARNING: Taking the plate out of the over do not touch the sharpie lines, they will rub off when you first take it out of the oven. It dries and wont come off when it cools.

Real cute but requires alot of feet and cleaning up of those feet! lol

HAVE FUN!!

Pattern Mittens

 

Pattern Mittens

Pre K

 

 

Patterns! This is a cute way to teach the kids how to make patterns in a fun way! Since winter is beyound us and snow is fun but a pain lets make some pattern mittens. The first thing we did was splatter paint...this was sooooo much fun with the kids...lets just say the paint ended up on the paper but also their face and hair...hahaha. I watered down some white tempra paint and added some glitter to give it some affect. I had the kids then splatter the paint on the blue paper.That took one class. Then I had the mittens drawn on two different color construction papers...make one different then the other (color wise). I had the kids cut it out. Once they have that cut out then they drew two lines...one stright one zig zagged. That gave them three sections. Now this took a while but I had to seperate the foam shapes...and jewels.... fuuuun. Once you have them seperated the kids were given the shapes and jewels and with no help make a pattern with them. They had to make a pattern before I gave them the glue to glue it down so I can check. lol Once the mittens were glued and pattern glued BAM! You got yourself some pattern mittens! 

Eric Carle Lesson (2nd Grade)

The Art of Eric Carle

 

This was my first lesson during my student teaching year. I love the artist Eric Carle!! During that year I was able to work with the 2nd graders and create my own lesson. I chose to work with color and who is the perfect artist for that but Eric Carle.

 

I read them two books, "The Art of Eric Carle" and "The Mixed Up Cameleon". These two books are perfect to show color and talk about how the artist creates his works. I talked about the jungle and what types of animals are out in the jungle. I printed out hand out of different types of jungle animals for reference. I then gave them paper and asked them to just draw the outline (Sharpe Marker) of a jungle animal  of thier choice, NO detail or coloring! They cut out thier animal. I then explained that the coloring we are using is not crayons but tissue paper like the artist. Now I found that it was a little dificult with the application for them but they did a great job. I did a demonstration of glueing the tissue paper down. (The glue: Elmers glue+water) They had a cup of glue, a brush, and tissue paper of their choice. They then brushed the glue on the animal paper and then applied the tissue paper. (I found that they were getting sticky hand and the tissue paper was sticking to thier fingers) Luckly we had sinks in our classroom so I told them to get a wet towel to wipe thier finger or I had them use plastic spoons to apply the tissue paper down (This is also good for student who has sensory issues). After the tisse paper was on they brushed the glue ontop of the tissue paper to seal it. They came out soooo good!!!

Turkey Rolls

This project was a little time consuming if you are working with Pre-K. They are still learning how to cut so for this project I cut most of it and they glued it on.

The materials that need to be cut is:

• Two white circles (eye balls)
• Two small black circles (Pupils)
• One orange diamond (beak)
• One red tear drop (Gobble)
• Paper towel roll, cut in three to make three turkeys.
• Two orange stripes (legs)

I had the kids first make the feathers by using a coffee filter. They used eye droppers and liquid water coloring to make the warm color tie die. Let them dry.
While that drys you take the roll and glue on the pieces. USE ELMER'S LIQUID GLUE!! The glue sticks do not hold!
Then I used tack glue and glued the roll body to the dried coffee filter feather.

November Bulletin Board

November Bulletin Board

 

This came out sooooo good! I had the body of the turkey made and then cut out  feather shapes from white card stock. I had each kid bring them home and with a little discription for the parent, decorate the feather. The amazing things I had! As you can see I had feathers with glitter to marshmellows! This was so great and it looked soo good on the board. Really fun!!

Peit Mondrian Lines and Squares

 

 

Piet Mondrian Square Men!

 

Primary colors and Shapes! Just after working with lines we put them on first...then I had them put on the squares with the arms and legs on...they put the square men together first. We did three square men...each of them a primary color. They added eyes and a smile and then BAM ! This was fun and they got to learn about Mondrian art!

 



Fall Bulletin Board Idea

 

This was great to show color mixing! I had the kids stick their hands out. I painted one hand with red, then had them stamp their hand on the paper. Then I painted their other hand yellow, had them stamp it on the paper. I then put a dab of yellow and red in both hands then told them to rub their hands together and tell me what they got. They all screamed Orange!! It is good for them to remember back on too! Then I had them stamp both their hands on the paper. I took on of their prints and put their names on it. It was real cute. This is perfect time too cause we were talking about leaves and colors!

Keith Haring Subway

Keith Haring Subway

Pre K

 

Okay so I ran into a bunch of cardboard boxes and I also teach creative play so why not mix art class Keith Haring to creative play. So what I did was with the boxes I made a subway train. Now this took forever and alot of work...so if you want to make it...they kids really really really really love it so it is worth it in the end. I taped the boxed together to create a long rectangle cube. Under the cardboard is PVC pipes. You have to use them to support the train up. Once you get the frame together you put the box over it and tape the crap out of it! I mean I used a WHOLE ROLL of DUCK TAPE!!! ALOT! Once I had that together I then had the kids paint the train. Please use Acrylic....TEMPRA IS BAD TO USE! It would peel off easy. I had the kids paint so they had fun doing that. Ofcourse I went over it just for some spots. Then once it all dried I brought it in the room and then with markers, crayons, oil pastel graffetti all over it. I told them they are artist in the subway and to make their own art work. I also taped black construction paper to the wall and some chalk to make wall designs. It was alot of fun and it lasted in my room for about a month and a half.

Crazy Pumpkins and Frankinsteins

 

Crazy Pumpkins and Frankenstrein

Pre K

 

HALLOWEEN IS COMING!! All the kids are already acting crazy...full moon or something..lol. Why not make some crazy pumpkins and frankensteins! This came great time because we are learning about secondary colors so this was a great color mixing project as well.

So first thing we did was make the color of the pumpkin and Frankenstein. I have three classes so the class before we made these we went in the art room and I had a long sheet of white paper. Then I showed them the three primary color paints. I then asked the class that made the Frankensteins about how to make green. Once we got that I squeezed yellow and blue on the paper (my paint are in those baking chocolate squeeze bottles). Then with the kids hands they had to mixed them together. It is great for them to remember how to make green. Once they mixed it I have them some tools to give lines and texture...fork, sponges, etc. The pumpkin classes I asked the same thing how do you make orange and had them mix with hands and make texture.

Once the paper dried I have a template on the pumpkins and Frankenstein heads so I cut the heads out of the paper, Frankensteins dont forget to also cut the ears and a square for the nose. Then I took black construction paper and make mouths and pupils for both. White construction paper for the eye balls and teeth for both. For Frankenstein, cut purple construcion paper for hair and green construction paper for the bolts, black construction paper for the suite and white for the shirt. The pumpkin is just the brown construction paper for the stems (told them how the stem is important for the pumpkins). I then had the kids step by step put the peices together and BAM they got themselves a CRAZY PUMPKIN or CRAZY FRANKENSTEIN!!!! 

 

Kandinsky Tree's

 

Kandinsky Trees

 

I am on shapes. Now I did Mondrian for squares and rectangles no circles is our next art! So I talked a little about Kandinsky...now remember Pre K has a very short attention spand so please pick out some interesting but important facts.

 

This project I still finished up primary colors and working on secondary colors. So my idea was to put that in there. So I traced circles on the color paper. I had three large circles (Primary colors) then three medium circles (Primary colors) and three small circles (Secondary colors) I had them cut the circles out and then they glued the three large circles on the stump (I had them pre cut). Then they put the medium circles on...they need help on this make sure that they will match up to mixing into the secondary color when you put the small circles on. Hard to explain but look at the picture.

Once they glued on the cirlces it looked boring still so I added what every art teacher dreads....glitter! The picture below was a test that I think came in handy. They are still working on how to work with the glue bottle so I had them practice on paper on how to use the glue bottle to make swiggle lines. Once the glue is on they learned how to glitter it up. Once we finished the test we started on making the wind in our picture with the glue and glitter, it came out great. STRESS to them that you do not want to see blobs...show them an example when you are doing the test paper...they will blob. You need to STRESS to them to move the bottle around and not in one place!

The grass area I had them use a glue stick all over the bottom of the line and then sprinkle color paper on. Make sure they push on the paper. Then BAM you got yourself some trees!!

Spagetti Painting

Spaghetti Line Painting

Pre K

 

SPAGETTI!!!! This was sooo fun and the kids loved it!!!! We are still on primary colors so I used blue, red, and yellow tempera paint. I have trays and lined them with wax paper (easy clean up). The night before I cooked some spaghetti, not angel hair...too thin! I put a couple strained of noodles in each color. I had one tray for two students, they had to share. STRESS to them that they are not allowed to put the wrong noodle in the wrong color on the tray even though the noodle in the end will become miscolor from the paper paint...lol. Also please please please STESS to them if they are pre K DO NOT USE YOUR HANDS TO SPREAD THE PAINT AROUND!! I had a couple kids decide to make it finger painting instead...NO! LOL But I had them do two papers and mounted the two pieces to one black paper...looks really good.

Just a suggestion, the spaghetti will start to smell after a day or two so I do not suggest to make a whole thing of spaghetti and use it for the whole week....it will smell! 

Leaf Prints

 

Print Making Project with Pre K

Leaf Prints

 

 

This project was fun! A lot of work and very messy! In this lesson I was able to teach the students about printmaking and showing positive and negative space. Also we went over the Fall season and how leaves fall.

 

 

Materials:

 

1. Different types of leaves
2. Cookie Trays
3. Gelatin Clear (found at supermarkets)
4. Black Tempra paint
5. Brayer
6. White Paper (prefer thick paper)
   

 

 

I started off asking about the season. I did this at the end of September so the leaves are starting to fall, which is good for you when you have to collect it for this project. We talked the different trees and the different types of leaves. I have this great poster that show the types of leaves and also shows pictures of how you can transform the different leaves into a figure. Kids loved that!

 

 

After the seasons talk I told them about the art of printmaking. How you print on paper and what things we use is printed on. With Pre K students you have to be careful not to bore them. Again they lose interest easy so I just find fun facts.

Night before!!: You have to prep for this project the night before. Now to create the surface you need to go out and buy clear Gelatin at the supermarket. I was able to get a big box which helped me make about 5 trays. Now this is the trickey thing about this project. I say that one tray is good for one day especially with Pre K students! The issue with the gelatin is holes! The kids like to test you and man do they! Turn around and find a brayer in the gelatin! So just think when you buy the gelatin that the tray wont last. I used my trays for three days, the first day the prints came out great! After that the prints were getting a little rough. So I say buy enough gelatin. Another idea you might think about is why not just use the surface of the metal tin on the cookie sheet. Tried and it does not come out as good. The paint doesn't come off and nice as the gelatin. Another important info is when you are done and you have a break from another class PUT BACK IN FRIDGE!!! It will get goowy and bad!

Back to the class part...Have the black tempera paint out and the brayer. Tell them or shall I say STRESS to them it is like jello and breaks easy! I know gelatin is tougher but they don't know that! lol So when they use the brayer be GENTLE! Tell them to cover the whole jello in black paint.

When it is cover tell them to pick out different shape leaves and decorate the black jello by placing the leaves overtop of the paint. When they have their design place the paper overtop of it. With Pre K I put the paper over it cause they don't know how to properly center so I placed the paper over it. I then allowed them to pull the paper off. Again STRESS to them to pull the one corner and SLOWLY peel it off. If they pull off fast the paper can rip off the gelatin. I really stress to you that the gelatin needs to be cold so it stay in tack. Once it gets warm it will start to peal the gelatin off when you use it. The face on them when it they see their print is priceless. They love it! I then had them dry and matted!



Leave People

Leave People

Pre K

 

Did this project in September where I can still retrieve leaves. I have a lot of trees around me so it was easy to pick a bunch of leaves. I also did this project the same time as the leaf printmaking. They were learning about leaves in Science so lets involve it in art.

 

Ok so I love coffee filters for art but I also am addicted to contact paper, great material for art. So I cut out square peices of contact paper (make a leaf person so you know how big you need your contact paper). The trick for me is I had all the same leaves for the arms, legs, body, and head so I didnt really have different sizes but now thinking of it I might try different types of leaves to make them look different from one another.

So have the contact paper on the table with the sticky side facing them. Then step by step have them put on each body part. I started off witht the head and worked down. Now I insist once the body is together put the other contact paper square over the leaf person so you seal it on both sides. Then once it is sealed they can glue on the googly eyes, dont glue the googly eyes on the leaf and then put contact paper over it....noooo... air bubble. Once the glue the eyes on it I let them dry and then cut the leaft guy from the ends and then BAM you got yourself a leaf guy. Now because the leaves are fresh there will be moister in the contact paper but it still looks good and comes out awesome!

Keith Haring Lines Figure

 

Keith Harring Lines Figure

Pre K

Lines and Primary Colors

 

Lines lines lines..color color color...I wanted to start with the basics...this was my first art project of the year. I wanted to find a fun and exciting artist to show the kids and I picked the perfect one...Keith Haring! Reading native and live around the college I went to I thought hey he is local lets try him. The kids love him and they still rememeber him! I showed them what his art work looks like how he expressed himself on wall of building and subways. He would use zig zag lines, straight lines, wavy lines, dotted lines, etc. 

Once I gave them a quick bio on the artist I showed them a two mintue video, which if you just youtube Keith Haring there are some interesting videos. The one I chose was the one he went to a school and helped them decorate a wall and also shows his works and how famous he got. The kids were very interested.

After that I told them they will be making their own figure...themselve! I have this huge roll of brown paper so I had the kids traced. This was tricky so if you think your kids can trace in partners try...What I did was had the kids stand in line and then trace them quickly. It works if you have the paper already pre cut. Trace then roll up and take another roll and trace... I only have 10 kids in my class so I got it done quickly.

I took the rolls home and cut the figures out...I know..pain but I got it done cause I did trace exactly to them. Next class I taped the figures on the floor with their names on the tape. They came in and went to their figure. I also was teaching lines and primary colors so on each figure I gave them a blue, yellow, and red oil pastel. They were instructed to draw a bunch of different types of lines. We went over lines during the Keith Haring bio. We discussed the different types of lines and I also read a really great line book, "Lines that Wiggle". Great book! So the kids did a great job and drew all types of lines with the primary colors. and then BAM they got themselves a crazy figure!

Self Portraits Popping in!

 

 

 

Bubble Gum Self Portraits

Pre K

 

I did this project for back to school night. I wanted to do a funny theme "Looks who's Popping In!". The parents loved it!

 

Material:

1. Construction Paper
2. Head cut out (Flesh tone colors) PRE CUT
3. White eye balls PRE CUT
4. Color circles for eyes (Blue, Green, Brown) PRE CUT
5. Pupils, small black circle's PRE CUT
6. Pink Balloons (found at Wal Mart in party section)
7. Glue Sticks



First thing we did was look in the mirrors and tell what they see. Example: I see two eyes, one mouth, two eyebrows, etc. Once we go over what we see on a face I then went to each kid and ask what color eyes they have. I then gave them a paper and then a pre cut head. Now I had different color flesh tones and I told them they can choose whatever color flesh tone they would like. I then drew a black line about 3 inches from the botton and told them to glue the head on the paper and have their chins right at the black line. (Reason for black line is to write their names clear at the bottom.)

Once we have the heads on we then started with the eyes. I gave them two pre cut white circles and first asked where they go. I made some funny places of where they go and the kids responded to no! But to make sure all know where to put them it was helpful. They glued the eye balls on and then they had to tell me what color eyes they have. Give them pre cut out color circles and them they to put in the middle of the white eye ball. Then I gave them the pupils. They love that word and it is a cool fact to them when you tell them that is where you see through.  After the eyes are on then I told them to look in the mirror again and ask what are the hairs that are on the lids of our eyes and right above our eyes. They answered lashes and brows. Then I gave them markers of any color to be different and had them put on their lashes and brows.

Now the eyes are done, I asked them what else is on their face. They then told me nose and mouth. I then had them with marker make a nose and mouth. I let them make whatever shape nose they want. Some might say I dont know how to make a nose so I do some examples for help but nost knew how to draw a nose and mouth.


Once the face is on it is time for hair! Now this is great motor skills for them. I gave them a peice of construction paper that realtes to the color of their hair. Then I showed them and STRESS to them how to rip the paper. For the girls I showed how to rip long strips of paper for their long hair. For the boys I showed to rip some peices but not to small. I STRESS to the boys that it should not be smaller then your finger nail. I gave them example sizes for yes and no. It worked...trust me! They listen real well and once they get the peices they glued them on. Now I didnt correct them because this is their work but some boys took their hair all the way down to their chins which was funny and cute!

Once that is done I think drew a solid black line under the face and told them to write their first name. Now being Pre K and the begining of the year some have no clue to do that. I told them TRY! Most know how to and some just did skribble but it is awesome to see the change from then to now. While they are doing that I would blow the pink ballon up.

Now for you the teacher or parent....For the balloon to stick I cut out white squares for a paper. I then stapled the end where you blow to the paper...it wont pop it you stable the tied end. Once that is stapled you then with tac glue put a dab on the white paper and have the kids hold down the balloon for 10 MISSISSIPPI. Funny thing is they count with Mississippi. I told them not to pick it up becasue the glue is still wet and will come off. Once the ballon is on and dried you can hand it up! BAM!!