Story Quilts

Second grade thought of places they would love to go any time. We read the story Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold. The students then created a drawing of themselves flying over the place they would like to go. We added some patterned paper around the edges to make it look more like a quilt. The results were great!

Mixed Up Chameleons

First grade did an amazing job with these cute chameleons! We read a non-fiction book about chameleons to learn what they look like, eat, and where they live. Then, we learned how to draw a chameleon. During the next class, we read The Mixed Up Chameleon by Eric Carle. We mixed primary colors together to create the secondary colors that make up the chameleons' bodies. The students were excited about what colors they made. We added the background after reviewing the chameleon's habitat using the non-fiction book. A great project for color mixing!

Asian Landscapes

Third grade students learn about Japan in their Social Studies curriculum, so this year I decided to have them create an Asian landscape painting. First, I had them use black paint to make the outlines of the mountains, houses, and trees. Then, students experimented with watercolors using salt and plastic wrap to create different effects. Finally, students created a name stamp to show who the artist was. We added some red paper on the top and bottom to make it look more like a hanging scroll. The students had a lot of fun using the salt and plastic wrap. And they got to keep their stamp, which really made them excited!