ONE DAY - Keith Haring hits the Slopes Mural!

Right before winter break, I had one of those awkward days where I taught one day of students who were done with current projects and not mentally prepared to start anything new.  I was also in need of something more wintery to hang quick.  So.... we made a one day Keith Haring Snowboarder Mural! 

This was not a "real project"... I did not spend much time talking about Keith Haring. I had a couple visuals on the smart board for a visual reference and shared the basics. They all liked his work and were ready to create!

I had students focus their time on designing a creative snowboard. So, they traced MY Keith Haring figure patterns on to colored construction.  Most students had time to make 2 snowboarders.  They loved it!  Most the work was for me... I spent my workday changing the large boards.  Taking down the old mural and hanging this one for the next several weeks.  I love adding texture to a board when I can.  It is not overwhelming, just a hint.  But it makes a rather simple concept look more finished! 

1st Grade - Winter Birds

I know we are all praying for Spring to arrive, but these Winter Birds are one of my favorite lessons this year!  I borrowed the idea from a teacher in my district, but adapted it to my style and materials available. This is a crowd pleaser for sure! Student, teachers, parents... all stop me to say 

how much they love them! 

 Students started their birds by tracing a 2" circle, like the one in the picture. Then drawing the body free hand. Some are skinny, some are thick, they all have personality!  Then a feather was added for fun and added texture.

Last step... a little snow.

 I love this type of lesson...  there are so many different materials that work so well together!

Kindergarten - Winter Landscapes

This is a great first, serious painting for Kindergarten.  First we looked a the difference between Landscapes, Cityscapes, and Seascapes.  Then the difference between the seasonal Landscapes. We began with a container of yellow paint and chip brushes.  Students painted a yellow circle anywhere on the paper.  When finished, I went around with a container of magenta paint and added a small amount.  They stirred it up and discovered yellow-orange! It was an exciting moment! We painted a ring around our sun with the new color.  We repeated the magenta two more times, deepening to orange and then to red-orange.

I collected the brushes and paint and passed out new.   A new plate with turquoise and white.  The students added a blue ring to their sun, (to keep the nice shape they created).  Then, they filled in the rest of the paper with the turquoise/white mixture.

The second week, we printed snow with very large circle sponges, full of texture.  Next, we practiced printing trees on a scrap paper with the side of a piece of cardboard.  We looked at trees and noticed the various lengths of trunks, branches, sticks and twigs.  Each student printed 1-3 trees on their paintings. I framed these with a 1/2" white boarder and a 1" black behind it.  I like to take the time to frame a painted like this for my Kindergarten students.  When these go home, the parents start to see their child's artwork as a valuable masterpiece!