Turtle time!

Welcome to another week of homeschooling, courtesy of the Coronavirus!  This week I will be sharing a project for my PreK students.  It combines their study of turtles with the recycling of magazines and junk mail that is flooding our homes.  Enjoy!

Materials:

1 paper plate

magazines, junk mail, newspaper

1 blank sheet of paper 

pencil

scissors

glue stick

crayons or markers

Step 1: Gather your materials.  I went through magazines and pulled out a variety of pages that had turtle colors appropriate for the shell.  Looking at the box turtle diagram above, you can see that turtles come in a variety of colors.  Your turtle can be realistic (that means it looks like the real thing) or it can be straight from your imagination (wouldn't a rainbow turtle shell be cool?!).  I decided to go for a turtle with a variety of greens, beiges, browns on its shell.  

Step 2: Begin cutting out shapes from the pages. You could make ovals like I did OR you could cut circles, triangles, squares.  It is totally up to you!  

NOTE: I cut my shapes out of the colored sections that went along with my turtle shell.  Remember to place the rest of the paper "trash" in your recycling bin.

Step 3: Beginning in the center of your plate, glue one shape down.  Then, start gluing piece around it in a circle pattern (see below).  I put the glue on the plate rather than putting the glue on the shape (I think it is easier to see where the pieces go).  That is a personal choice though.

Continue gluing shapes round and round until the plate is full.  While you are gluing your paper plate will flatten out.  DO NOT STRESS! Once all of the pieces are in place you can "POP" the turtle shell back into shape (see below).

Now it is time to create the rest of your turtle.

Step 4: On your blank sheet of paper, draw a head, tail, and 4 feet.  Do you see what shape the tail is??  RIGHT!  A triangle 😀  For your head, draw a circle and a neck (the neck looks like a rectangle).  Your feet can be any shape you wish.  I made mine round on one side and flat on the other, kind of like an oval with a flat side.

Step 5: Once your shapes are drawn, color them in.  I used green, but (again) use your imagination to color your turtle!  It could be green, brown, grey, black, OR a mixed up rainbow!  Be sure to draw a face on your turtle head.  I decided to give my turtle some toes 😉   Once you have finished coloring, cut out your pieces.

Step 6: Glue everything in place!  Turn the plate upsidedown (so you don't see the top of the shell).  I always start with the head followed by the tail.  Gluing these two pieces first will make it so much easier for placing the feet!

Now glue the feet in place.  

All done!!  Turn your turtle over and admire your beautiful creation ❤ 

I hope you have enjoyed creating your turtle.  If you are one of my students, please be sure to post a photo of your creation in the Google Classroom.  I can hardly wait to see!

And if you are a visitor to our blog, WELCOME!  Hope to see you again.

2020 Cardboard Challenge!

What can you make from cardboard?!  I am sure you are accumulating lots of boxes from cereal, crackers, Amazon shipments (haha).  Why not use that cardboard to CREATE a gorgeous sculpture?!

Follow the steps below and then post a photo in your Google Classroom!  ENJOY ❤

Rainbow Laces

The Princess and the Pea crayon resist

Welcome to another Coronavirus stay-at-home project!  This project is for my 3rd graders, but any students Kindergarten and up can participate!  I love to combine reading/literature and Art.  I found a beautiful reading of Hans Christian Anderson's Fairy Tale "The Princess and the Pea" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waw0U9tKpW0

Students should watch the video before starting the project.  Then gather the materials and begin to create!

Materials:
paper (watercolor paper is best, but any available paper will work)
pencil
optional: Sharpie marker
crayons
watercolor (washable) markers and/or watercolors
paintbrush
water

Step 1:
After listening to the story, use the pencil to sketch a headboard and then stack as many mattresses as possible on top!  In the story, the queen stacked how many on top of the pea??  That's right, 20! WOW!  Be sure to leave some room at the top to draw the princess on top of the mattresses.

Step 2: Once the sketch is complete, outline the pencil either with a Sharpie marker or crayon.  Do not use the washable markers for this step!  

Step 3: Use crayons to add detail to each mattress, the headboard, and the princess.  No need to color in completely unless you are only working with crayons (I know some of you may not have watercolor markers or watercolors).

Step 4: Now we are going to perform some magic.  Did you know that watercolor/washable markers will bleed if you paint over them with water??  Basically, they become watercolor!  Isn't that cool?!  So if you do not have actual watercolors at home, you can try a new way to watercolor.  Start one section at a time.  Color in the area.  It doesn't have to be colored completely, because the water will help to fill the nooks and crannies!  Now as soon as you color one section "wash" over it with the paintbrush dipped into water.  Add more water as necessary.

You can see (above) I colored the center of the flowers only.  When I washed over the area with water, the color spread to fill in the area around the flowers, so the flowers are dark blue but the mattress is light blue (see below).  

Continue until all of the mattresses and the princess have been "painted". 

Step 5: If desired color the background.  What is happening around the princess on the bed?  Is there a carpet under the bed? Is there a picture on the wall?  Be as creative with the surroundings as you wish OR watch the video again for suggestions OR paint/color it plain like I did.

That's it!  You now have a beautiful Princess to hang on the refrigerator or front window for neighbors to see AND a story to tell! 

 For my students: Be sure to share a picture in the Google classroom.

Stay safe.  Hope we will see each other again soon ❤

Radial Symmetry Design: Part 2

Welcome back to my 4th grade Radial Symmetry design tutorial.  This week we will outline and color to our pencil design.  I know that a lot of your only have basic materials at home with you during this time of homeschooling. DO NOT STRESS!  You can use any or all of the following materials to give your art piece eye-catching details.  So take a deep breath and let's jump in.

Materials:

Crayons

Markers

Colored Pencils

Sharpies

Watercolors

Step 1: Outline

There are a few different ways that you can do the outline.  I chose to outline with a fine point Sharpie marker.  The Sharpie clearly defines the open areas where I will be adding color and pattern to make the design come to life.  

Another option would be to outline with a black crayon.  If you like doing Crayon Resist with watercolors, outlining with a black crayon would be a nice choice.  Be sure to use firm pressure while outlining.  This will apply enough wax from the crayon to resist the watercolors and keep areas separated.

Step 2: Step back from the basic design.  Are you happy with the look?  Does it look too simple?  What could be added?  As you are mulling these questions, I would suggest using a pencil to add any new touches, just in case they turn out to be something you would rather not keep in the design.

I think it may need a little more of...something

I think that is enough for now!  Time to finish the outlining.  

To complete the outlining, I used a little of this and little of that.  The curly bits needed the touch of an ultrafine Sharpie.  Using a thicker Sharpie or a crayon would destroy the delicate nature of the curls.  For the spots and butterfly-like lines, I used a black crayon (see close-up above).

Step 3: Color and pattern

The sky is the limit on this part.  Remember the radial symmetry.  If a color is applied in one part of the radius, then be sure to apply the color to the matching bits.  With the same thought in mind, if you apply a pattern to one area, be sure to match it in the others.

I started with crayon, coloring a section then stepping back to take a look.  The petals began as a curved Fuschia line in each section, then changed to the Fuschia outline with hot pink in the center.  Next dots,

then lines and a few solid areas, still using the crayons.

Another step back made me realize that it needed a little more balance between the center and the stripes on the outside, so I added the hot pink to the outside.  Now for some paint!

I used watercolors.  What I find fascinating about watercolors is how you can change the saturation of color by "repainting" using only water on the brush!  So cool.  It softens areas where the color was a little too dark and deepens color in other areas.

A touch of pinky-orange on top of the hot pink crayon filled in areas the crayon missed and softened the overall look of the petals.

Purple on top of purple crayon pretty much covered up the spots!  Easy peasy, lemon squeezy...paint over it with only water on the brush and then dab with a paper towel.  Viola!!  The spots pop out.  

Final touches, then paint the background and it is finished.  

I can hardly wait to see your finished Radial Designs!  I know they will all be stunning.  

NOTE for my 4th graders:  Don't forget to post your completed project to your Google Classroom assignment page for a grade!

4th grade Radial Symmetry Art lesson

      With the Coronavirus in full swing here in the United States, schools have been let out for the remainder of the school year and the teachers have been sent home to teach online.  I must admit that when this unusual journey began I thought "How on Earth am I going to teach art online and actually get the kids to participate?"  Now going into my 3rd week of teaching online I feel like I am getting into a groove.

Normally at this time of the year, my 4th grade creates amazing dimensional Radial Symmetry designs using origami folds, bright colored construction paper, and glue. 

                   

      

With the bulk of my students having only basic art materials at home, I knew that even attempting the project would be a meltdown in the making for all of us!  So I redesigned the lesson to use basic materials: paper, pencil, scissors, and color.  Here is my step-by-step lesson for Radial Symmetry.

NOTE TO MY STUDENTS:  Have fun with this project.  Once you are finished, please post your completed design to the Google Classroom assignment post.  Have fun!  I can hardly wait to see what you come up with (((HUGS)))

Radial Symmetry

Materials: 

Paper (whatever paper you have on hand will work fine.  I used paper from my art journal)

Pencil 

Eraser (just in case you make a boo-boo or want to change an area)

Scissors

Color (crayons, colored pencils, markers, watercolors...whatever you have on hand at home)

something round to trace (bowl, plate, lids, etc.)

Place your bowl, plate, round object onto your paper and trace all the way around.  Once you have completed the circle, remove the plate, bowl, etc., then trace it one more time on a second sheet of paper. (NOTE: Be sure to help mom out and put it away when you are done!)

Cut out one of the circles.  Cut carefully on the line!  Throw away any trash (please).

Now we are going to do some folds.  Take your time, matching up edges as you go.

First, fold your circle in half. Match up the edges (as shown), then press along the fold to create a crisp, clean edge (sorry, that sounds rather redundant, but I think you know what I mean) 

Next, fold in half again.  Press along the folds to create crisp, clean edges. 

Finally, fold it one more time in half.  If you have followed the directions, your circle will be divided into 1/8ths when you open it up!   

Open the circle up, then get your scissors.  We are going to cut 2 wedges out of the circle (NOTE:  Only cut wedges out of ONE of the circles.  Set the other circle aside).  The first wedge should be a 1/8th wedge.  The second should be a 1/4 wedge.  Set the rest of your divided circle aside.  It will give you extra pieces in case you change your mind about a shape you create or you just want additional details.

Now we are ready for some design fun!  Let's start with the 1/8th wedge.  Draw a random shape on the wedge.  Be sure to incorporate the point (center of the circle) into your shape.

Cut out your shape carefully. Now you have 2 possible templates to use for the radial design!

Grab the circle you set aside.  Fold it in half and then in half again, before opening it.  Your circle should be divided into 1/4's.

Choose one of the templates to work with.  I decided to use my petal shape and start the design.  Place the point of your shape in the center of the circle as shown.

Make sure the point touches the center and the edge (as shown).  Trace along the edges, all the way down to the center of the circle.  Flip the template, line up with the next edge and trace again.  (NOTE: You will need to flip the shape [think mirror image] for your design to work out.  BUT if you forget or this step confuses you, I am sure it will work out fine.  Don't stress!! 😱)

Continue around the circle until you have completed your first design element.

Now to work with the 1/4 wedge, but for this one I want you to fold the wedge in half first.  Draw your shape on the folded edge.  Any shape will work, but be sure the point is a part of the shape.  You can see I drew a teardrop on my fold and that formed a heart once it was cut out.

This time I want you to use the template that has a curved edge.  Position your template as shown, lining up the edges of the template with the folded lines of your circle and the curved edge with the curved edge of the circle.

Use the pencil to trace the shape inside the template.  Once you have traced it once, move the template to the next 1/4 space and trace it a second time.  Repeat until you have traced the shape 4 times.

Are you getting excited??  We are almost done!  Now I want you to trace your template 4 more times.  Can you guess where??  That is right!  In the empty space.  When you have that completed, your design should look something like this:

Now, of course, your shapes may be different than the ones I chose to use, so your design will not be identical to mine.  But that is the way it should be...you guys know that "cookie-cutter Art" makes my skin crawl!  

It is time to add your own extra details to the piece.  I decided to trace a couple of bottle caps in the center.  Maybe you decide to add a few more details around the edges.  Just remember to keep whatever you do symmetrical!

Alrighty, I am going to stop the lesson now.  Get your design completed to this point and then put it in a safe place (DON"T lose it!!).   

For my 4th graders: post a photo of your progress to our Google Classroom assignment page. Next week we will work on color and texture and POP for our radial design.

Until then, I miss all of you terribly!  I can hardly wait for us to be together again (((HUGS)))