Search This Blog

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Pet Rock Cities!

I didn’t know exactly what to title this post. It started yesterday with my girls. They wanted to go on a “rock walk” where we walk around and collect rocks.
rocks22rocks21
They filled up their buckets and had fun splashing in the puddles!
edit1
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

rocks19
rocks17
rocks16
After about ten minutes of painting rocks, the girls decided that painting the paper was more fun!
rocks14
rocks23
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
rocks7
rocks8
They started requesting certain specific things for their pet rocks that I helped them with….
rocks6
like a heart house,
rocks2
heart cookies,
rocks4
and even heart balloons!!
rocks1
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
Kindergarten drew their city on large pieces of butcher paper with markers and crayons
edit5
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
edit4
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
Second grade made buildings today for the backdrop. We read books about city skylines and the 3d forms of different buildings!
edit2
These rocks are ready for their 3D city!! I will be sure to post pictures as the city progresses!!
edit1

4 comments:

  1. 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!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. this whole thing is just fantastic! i love that you got the whole school involved as well.

      Delete
    2. That is the sweetest comment ever! Exactly why I am an art teacher...

      Delete
  2. I LOVE your blog! The pet rocks are fantastic and I want to share this with our art teacher.

    ReplyDelete

Total Pageviews