IPod Silhouettes

With so many influences with technology, I thought this lesson would be great for third and fourth grade. I got the idea online somewhere and changed it up a bit. I cannot remember where I got the idea so if you recognize it please let me know so I can link up to your site. First we talked about LINE and Rhythm. 
Students had to make vertical lines across the page first, then wavy horizontal lines from top to bottom. Then 5-8 circles. The circles had to be different sizes, and at least one had to run off the edge of the paper. 
The background created the rhythm and represented music from the ipod.

We then learned about Silhouettes and back light. We made our own silhouettes with some butcher paper and lamps! We also looked at some silhouette images that I have taken of my daughters. 

Students colored the background with crayons in a checker board pattern. I let them use texture rubbing plates when they were finished coloring if they liked.

Then they chose a silhouette from Google image, cut it out, and glued it on. I gave them small pieces of styrafoam to make a tiny 3d ipod and colored it with a permanent marker. Then they made the ear phones out of white yarn.

Be Yourself

Everyone is an artist!!

Fruit Print Color Wheel

We have been talking about the five senses in kinder and first grade. I thought fruit prints would be a fun way to incorporate the color wheel with the five senses

We used marshmallows for grapes and the bottom of a marker for blueberries. I will say that there were a few less marshmallows after each kinder class (even after our special talk)….some of them just needed to incorporate ALL FIVE sesnses….

I added some scents to the paint, it smelled so good!!




As an extension, first grade gave the fruits their own five senses using pictures from magazines. It was hilarious to see what they came up with. I will add that next time I will not do the magazine part. I think it would be beneficial to cut out about ten of each noses, mouths, and eyes, photocopy them and let them cut from those. Wiggly eyes are good too and Michaels sells some really cool ones around Halloween. Otherwise you have 40 magazines with beautiful images of people sans facial features…kinda creepy!

Every Child is a Super Hero...

In Disguise!

Learning with the Five Senses

Young children need lots of multi-sensory activities. As an art teacher and parent I have learned to be aware of these things while teaching and creating lessons. There is always that one kindergarten student that decides to mix up ALL the colors because in his mind, no matter what you say, it is going to make a rainbow! Once they see that it makes a muddy brownish grey, they won’t do it again. They learn from their experiences! Much of the brain wiring and development during the first five years is centered around the way a child gleans information about their environment.
 Play soft music without words in the background
Give them different textures to feel, draw on sand paper!
 Let them touch the paint.
Add peppermint or vanilla extract to make the paint smell good! Add cinnamon to your play dough, spray the paper with something that smells nice,use shaving cream
Make sure there are lots of  colors in your class room
Let them build sculptures out of food and then eat them!
Shaving cream is a great medium to use because it makes your room smell good! They can draw in it, and practice writing their letters!


Just ask yourself…does it feel good? Is it slimy, crunchy, rough, sparkly?
These projects generate some awesome vocabulary!

Is it BIG?

Does it smell good?

Tasty!!?

Yesterday I let the girls draw on the mirror with shaving cream! They were so excited! First they used their fingers and then my daughter suggested a Q-tip which worked great!


They also wrote letters and numbers. Studies have shown that the letters are better committed to memory when written with something other than a pencil, like when they write in sand, a bag of gel, shaving cream, or anything that has great texture because it makes more connections to the brain!