The Japanese art of making an origami flower ball always seems like a fitting thing to do at Christmas. It’s peaceful and calming, almost meditative to work on, and it makes a beautiful decoration when finished! As with many origami projects, this origami flower ball ornament looks much more difficult than it is. It’s really just the same simple sequence repeated over and over … [Read more...]
Gratefulness Rocks
Gratefulness Rocks are perfect for Thanksgiving decorating, but equally fun to keep out all year! The Thanksgiving holiday seems to bring out the best in people, as we focus on family, friends, serving others, and gratefulness. Sharing what we’re thankful for is central to our Thanksgiving tradition, and to this project sponsored by Elmer’s! With Gratefulness Rocks, the whole … [Read more...]
Colorful Clay Leaves
There seems to be a universal appeal when it comes to projects with leaves! Young or old, male or female.... who doesn't like leaves?? This project is quick and easy, hard to mess up, and offers a "wow factor" as the vein impressions make these ceramic leaves look incredibly realistic! So, go out and gather some leaves while you still can. Big ones (like these) are fun, but … [Read more...]
The Cure for Dry Hands!
We art teachers probably wash our hands as often as doctors! When you combine this frequent hand-washing with cold winter weather, and whatever medium we've currently got our hands in, it takes a nasty toll on our skin. After so many years of trying different lotions and still having rough, dry hands, I had all but resigned myself to this fate! But when I started working … [Read more...]
Ceramic Sugar Skull Plates for Dia de los Muertos
(See my "new and improved" version of this project here.) Dia De Los Muertos (or Day of the Dead, November 1-2) is one of my favorite holidays…. I love the colorful imagery and the focus on honoring loved ones who have died. So when one of my students requested that we do a ‘Sugar Skull’ project in ceramics class, I was all for it! I assumed I could find a plethora of Ceramic … [Read more...]
Clay Pumpkins
This Clay Pumpkin lesson just might be the perfect seasonal project for fall! It teaches several important techniques for working in clay and also makes a charming take-home gift that will be enjoyed for years to come! Students in grades 3 and up can be successful when you follow these simple steps…. Materials: 3 balls of clay, two the size of baseballs and one the size … [Read more...]
Art for the Differently-abled
I wasn’t looking for a new teaching position when I got the phone call last spring to “just let me show you our facility”. The call was from the director of the Stroke and Disability Learning Center at our local Community College, and I agreed to a tour. It wasn't the beautiful new facility that hooked me, but the Stroke Center’s motto: “Love Spoken Here”, printed on the … [Read more...]
Monarch Butterflies for K & Beyond
Each fall, one of our local State Parks becomes home to almost 100,000 migrating Monarch butterflies. The Monarchs gather in a eucalyptus grove that provides shelter from wind and harsh weather, while they wait for spring to arrive. On chilly days, the Monarchs cluster together in the trees for warmth. But on warm days, they flutter about like colorful confetti in the … [Read more...]
My New Favorite Pencil Sharpener
Usually, I sharpen pencils as needed, a few at a time, and don't think much about it. But this morning I sat staring at 9 dozen brand new pencils I needed for a workshop I'm teaching. I found myself procrastinating this simple task all week, just due to the sheer number of them. But once I got going, I was completely surprised by how quick and easy it actually was, so I had to … [Read more...]
Prevent Summer Learning Loss with a ‘Retro’ Flash Card Flipper
'Summer Learning Loss', or 'Summer Slide' as it’s also known, is not just an issue for ‘at risk’ students. All students need to practice their academic skills to keep from falling behind over summer vacation. The year I taught 2nd grade I experienced firsthand how much students can forget over the summer. We wasted much valuable time that fall doing remedial work…. re-learning … [Read more...]
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