Kokeshi Dolls

It's been a while since I've las posted, but no worries, here comes some goodies!

This year I developed a new lesson for my 3rd graders (although this would probably be better for 5th graders). 3rd graders are learning about the arts of Asia. In studying Korea, we learned about their Kokeshi dolls. We decided to create our own...only using plastic water bottles and and paper mache plastic shopping bags for the head. Our steps:

1. Pass out empty waterbottles. Have students cut out the top of the water bottle off.





2. Next, pass out plastic shopping bags. About 5 for each student. Have students stuff four bags into one. Then, shape the bag into a ball and tape it to the bottle. Make sure it is secure.





3. Next, paper mache the entire bottle.





4. Once dry, have students paint bottle. Discuss symmetry and different faces.





5. Finally, pass out ribbon and fabric swatches. Apply as needed.

This lesson is best with a small class. Be prepared to hot glue anything that falls off. The students LOVVEEE the finished product and I have yet to seen this lesson done anywhere else. Enjoy!

A Full Moon Rising

How could a tell today was a full moon? By the wonderful odd children that poured into my classroom today. Here are some of our full moon characteristics:

• My classes produced beautiful work today....actually more beautiful than normal.


• A child was stung by a bee today...while in the art room with windows and doors closed. When I asked if he was allergic he responded, "I don't know. I've never been stung before." Excellent.


• A kindergartner strolled into my art room 20 minutes late because he was "lost". (He wasn't actually lost. He was in the bathroom when his class left for art. So he decided to wander the school to look for his class.)

Everyday is an adventure as an art teacher.

Dias de los Muertos

4th graders at Whitehouse Elementary are enjoying creating skulls in honor or the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead. We are learning about distortionl, symmetry, line, and colors. This is one of Whitehouse Elementary's first paper mache projects. I think these are turning out beautiful. Check back for the finished result.

Texture Burgers

Mrs. Stoker's 3rd grade class created "Texture Burgers". This was a great lesson to teach about texture and color all in one lesson. The students had a great time making this project too.

1. Pass out white paper. Have students paint 3/4 one color and 1/4 another.



2. Next, pass out brown paper. Have students trace a circle the cut the circle out. Next, cut the circle in half.



3. Paste the half circles on the painted paper. Now in between the half circles, have students find different textures and paste in between.

Fall Leaves

Last year I did the same lesson with Kindergarten and it came out great! We are create fall leaves which will be displayed as one large tree in the cafeteria. This year we are only using fall colors and the shape of our leaves are different per class.

1. Pass out leaf template. Have students trace around. Cut out leaf.



2. Next, pass out colored tissue paper. Have students tear the tissue paper and place the pieces one by one on their leaf until there are no white spots.



3. Finally, have students use watered down liquid starch to make the tissue paper adhere to the leaf.

Mr. Mondrian

Every year I love teaching about Piet Mondrian. One reason is because I love his artwork. Another reason is that almost every grade is capable of creating a beautiful Mondrian. Last year I taught Mondrian to 4th graders and we painted. This year first graders are discovering Mondrian. Instead of painting, we are using colored tissue paper. Our vocabulary words are:

• Primary Colors
• Squares
• Rectangles
• Vertical
• Horizontal
• Outline

For our black lines, we used big fat black crayons. These always look greate displayed as a large cluster.

Open House 2010

This year I welcomed parents to Open House in our brand new art room! I was very pleased to meet some of the parents. Those that stopped by the art room were able to discover what their children are working on and what type of donations the art program is looking for. (i.e. bottlecaps, plastic bottles, liquid starch, newspapers, etc.) It is going to be a fabulous year!