Kindergarten makes Arlo!

If you teach the young ones, you have to read this book and create an Arlo.  My students LOVE this book so much, they insist that I read it over and over!  Arlo Needs Glasses is created by author illustrator Barney Saltzberg. It is a pop up style book which kids love.  I originally borrowed this lesson from Deep Space Sparkle, (Deep Space Sparkle's Arlo Lesson).  Which, is truly my favorite way to teach it.  The first year, I did it exactly the same.  Then,  I wanted to do it again! So I changed it up a little, and this year I thought it would be fun to try making cloud clay/model magic glasses.  It was fun, yet I still like the paper ones with all the bling a bit more!  Crayon & paint, oil pastel & chalk... whatever you want to use! They will be super cute!!!!

 

4th and 5th Grade - Sugar Skulls and Skeletons for Day of the Dead!

I have made these two projects in some form over the last couple years... Mostly, because my students BEG me to do them!  I do love teaching both, yet try to find some variety to make them a bit different each year.  My students know everything about Dia de los Muertos!  I'm proud of their work and proud of their interest in learning everything they can about this wonderful Mexican holiday!
Here is my Day of the Dead Prezi I use with all my classes, (Day of the Dead Prezi)

These projects are made with Amaco Cloud Clay, similar to Crayola's Model Magic.  It sticks well to cardboard and dries to it, no need for glue! I highly recommend it!

1st Grade - Fish Collages with Cloud Clay

These first grade collages were tons of fun! Look how silly and cute! I have to give some credit to Laura from Painted Paper, a few years ago she made a quick one day collage with cloud clay fish on the day of her arts festival, and I helped her throw them up on the wall... I couldn't wait to make my own!  This year, I took it a step further, painted a background on chip board and collaged with painted paper. Then colored cloud clay fish with googley eyes!

When this lesson was being taught, I had a wonderful student teacher who started the project with this book about a fish.  It is a book with a good lesson, do not steal! But any book about a fish is a great jumping point!

3rd Grade - Gnome Huts with Gnomes

This is a OVER THE TOP FUN, three dimensional project for elementary! Laura, of Painted Paper, and I presented this lesson as a hands on workshop at our state convention last fall. We put our minds together on projects we have done separately and this is what came of it!  

These Gnome Huts are made on top of a simple armature. Half a toilet paper roll, (just cut it in half!), and a 6" half circle of poster board folded and stapled in a cone shape.  We covered the armature with Cloud Clay and then decorated on top.  This stuff is great, even the next week you can add more details and it will adhere.  A new favorite material of mine to use!

Backgrounds were made on a heavy chip board I had ordered and Gnomes were made of corks!

Third Grade seems to be the best fit for this project. Every one of these was outstanding!

4th Grade - Day of the Dead Skeletons!

This lesson is an all time favorite of mine! I have taught it many times, students LOVE it!  They love learning about Day of the Dead and working with an air dry clay. These skeletons and flowers were made from Amaco Cloud Clay, however, I now use Crayola Model Magic since Cloud Clay is not sold anymore... bummer, I did like it!

 We first painted the cardboard backgrounds with tempera and Modge Podge, then created the skeletons and flower decorations.  I have a cheep foam skeleton I hang on the board for the students to reference.  Lastly, we painted the whole thing with another layer of Modge Podge.  These skeletons are attached forever!  
Such a fun lesson to teach!!!