![rocks22 rocks22](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-CUPVMufdwG4/TyscwfKUI_I/AAAAAAAAOaM/ap2EwWTPt2w/rocks22_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
![rocks21 rocks21](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-fpj_-bJbAys/TyscxSyezXI/AAAAAAAAOac/OAkhbcdI0jo/rocks21_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
They filled up their buckets and had fun splashing in the puddles!
![edit1 edit1](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-4staJ2GLK5c/TysczNJMJ5I/AAAAAAAAOas/s7UAcij43Nw/edit1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
We rolled out some paper and began painting with lots of different colors… that mostly ended up getting mixed together into a dark purplish brownish hue!
![rocks20 rocks20](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-dEPqfOEw3wI/Tysc0pZtxCI/AAAAAAAAOa8/L5RnqXeNSro/rocks20_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
![rocks19 rocks19](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-6ICIIV42gPk/Tysc1jSoktI/AAAAAAAAObM/iyDizCZ0tDA/rocks19_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
![rocks17 rocks17](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-oCZ-KFvIBIg/Tysc3GMtoDI/AAAAAAAAObc/X8AUunS3G5w/rocks17_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
![rocks16 rocks16](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-hQbgXUn4QWU/Tysc4LxN7NI/AAAAAAAAObs/1ABrinfvgSY/rocks16_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
After about ten minutes of painting rocks, the girls decided that painting the paper was more fun!
![rocks14 rocks14](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-llbNHbQUUJU/Tysc4z8qFsI/AAAAAAAAOb8/RABigHPJfZQ/rocks14_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
![rocks23 rocks23](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-ZqsRHwp4SpU/Tysc6cmCeuI/AAAAAAAAOcM/FaztPF9hliY/rocks23_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
As they painted the paper I glued some eyes to their rocks. I was pleasantly surprised to see that they had begun painting (without prompting) streets, rivers, and houses for the rocks!!
![rocks9 rocks9](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ugxCNj7pTbw/Tysc7Ng6T-I/AAAAAAAAOcY/lna4sE2qHZY/rocks9_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
![rocks7 rocks7](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-e8xfA6H890A/Tysc9evrB3I/AAAAAAAAOcs/wGIa5Hs_Fic/rocks7_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
![rocks8 rocks8](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-_FM0V0-Vt6w/Tysc-TaeXPI/AAAAAAAAOc8/DmjNSgKbybc/rocks8_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
They started requesting certain specific things for their pet rocks that I helped them with….
![rocks6 rocks6](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-O8F4gg-TODY/TysdAqF69lI/AAAAAAAAOdM/o-ZuqQlzKEs/rocks6_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
like a heart house,
![rocks2 rocks2](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-6-P_XsJX_7M/TysdCu66XnI/AAAAAAAAOdc/NwIjF5aUkx4/rocks2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
heart cookies,
![rocks4 rocks4](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-Ql7wdEUUUmk/TysdEGQbyZI/AAAAAAAAOds/l_ge85GUWag/rocks4_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
and even heart balloons!!
![rocks1 rocks1](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zr8Krm1tC2w/TysdFaFAxqI/AAAAAAAAOd8/hi58l8yhKqU/rocks1_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
So of course this got my wheels turning for how I could use this in the classroom! I was thinking that the kids would love to make pet rocks and design CITIES for them!
![rocks5 rocks5](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-tWfo4zYaWnw/TysdGrA3nrI/AAAAAAAAOeM/H1xbeYKQn7w/rocks5_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
Kindergarten drew their city on large pieces of butcher paper with markers and crayons
![edit5 edit5](http://lh3.ggpht.com/-r8CDYb8udtg/TysdHuDJD9I/AAAAAAAAOec/DgFEe5mfDnw/edit5_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
We looked at pictures of cities first and I was happy to see buildings that were other shapes besides just giant rectangles! There were lakes, parks, schools, streets, cars, and much more. They had SO much fun!
![edit3 edit3](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-SwxM6NPONP0/TysdIcLsy-I/AAAAAAAAOew/rTH8el76-l4/edit3_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
![edit4 edit4](http://lh4.ggpht.com/-G35m6TV0v_c/TysdJ5u1UzI/AAAAAAAAOfE/5k77XZwG__U/edit4_thumb2.jpg?imgmax=800)
Fifth grade is going to make a giant 3D pet rock city! They drew their “blueprints” today on blue paper. They have so many great ideas for parks, neighborhoods, banks, schools, parks, etc. They are going to bring in small boxes to build their city!! I cannot wait..they even had the idea to put holes in the back and put Christmas lights in their buildings to light them up!
First grade used texture rollers to make the sky for the fifth grader’s city backdrop. They are learning about clouds in science, and will add cotton ball clouds tomorrow!
![edit6 edit6](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-OtPwqYkUIs8/TysdMscE7hI/AAAAAAAAOfc/ye5MHg0vVRs/edit6_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
Second grade made buildings today for the backdrop. We read books about city skylines and the 3d forms of different buildings!
![edit2 edit2](http://lh6.ggpht.com/-ALvFnwtjEeM/TysdN16zIlI/AAAAAAAAOfs/WJ3v0UHzjRE/edit2_thumb1.jpg?imgmax=800)
These rocks are ready for their 3D city!! I will be sure to post pictures as the city progresses!!
![edit1 edit1](http://lh5.ggpht.com/-w6wv-j7nInU/TysdOsATssI/AAAAAAAAOf8/8gfZm5rieG8/edit1_thumb3.jpg?imgmax=800)
I love the pictures of your girls creating. Can't you just imagine all the "important planning" that was going on between them as they created their city!!!? I wish that proponents of "paper-pencil" learning in the primary grades could appreciate the valuable experience of hands-on development!!
ReplyDeletethis whole thing is just fantastic! i love that you got the whole school involved as well.
DeleteThat is the sweetest comment ever! Exactly why I am an art teacher...
DeleteI LOVE your blog! The pet rocks are fantastic and I want to share this with our art teacher.
ReplyDelete