Here's a quick and easy crayon resist project I did with some of my 1st and 2nd graders. Students folded 12x18 paper in half and painted on the front, for a charming Easter card. Inside, they wrote: "He is risen! He is risen indeed!" Materials:12x18 heavy-weight white construction paperblack crayonswatercolors (I like the Prang OVL-8 set)watercolor brush (Don't use the … [Read more...]
Butterfly with Watercolor & Oil Pastel Resist
Fall is "butterfly season" for us who live on the California Central Coast! This is the time when over 100,000 Monarch butterflies migrate to our State Monarch Preserve from the valley regions west of the Rockies, making their temporary home here until spring. On sunny, warm days, they fly out of the eucalyptus trees where they cluster, to the delight of onlookers.... it is … [Read more...]
Watercolor Fish
These are your basic crayon resist fish, but with a new twist.... students painted the fish separately from the background, then we glued them on top after everything was dry. The result is a background that looks continuous. Try sprinkling some salt on your background before it dries for an interesting, "watery" effect! I like to put up lots of visual references for students … [Read more...]
Kindergarten Birds
These kindergarten bird paintings are guaranteed to make you smile! I was completely charmed by these when my students did them last week, so I wanted to share a few, along with some tips for getting great results....I began by sharing a special "artist secret" with my students.... that "artists use shapes to help them draw things"! Next, I read them the story of Mouse Shapes … [Read more...]
Grade 2 Portfolios – “My Many Colored Days”
This project is a great way to use last year's broken crayons! You can even assign students the job of peeling paper off the broken crayons just for this purpose.... some kids LOVE to do this!! "My Many Colored Days", written (but not illustrated) by the beloved Dr. Seuss, is the inspiration for my Grade 2 portfolio lesson. Dr. Seuss wrote this text more than 20 years before … [Read more...]
Butterfly Symmetry with Crayon Resist
Butterflies make the perfect subject for learning about symmetry and they're a great way to welcome the spring season. I love displaying them by putting a couple of staples through the body and pulling the wings out a little so they look like they're in flight! It's fun to let them "fly" off the bulletin board and onto the surrounding walls, or even right down the hall! … [Read more...]
My Good Shepherd
Painting by Sydney, grade 1 When I taught Art at a private Christian School, I would do this lesson every year just before Easter with my first graders. This is one of those projects where the results are totally charming and everyone feels successful.... and the parents love them!! The idea for these adorable watercolor sheep came from a set of Usborne Activity Cards - "50 … [Read more...]
Autumn Leaves with Crayon Resist
This fun autumn leaves art project is perfect for grades 1 & up. It's easy to do, everyone can feel successful and the results are beautiful. Try one yourself! Autumn Leaves Art Project with Crayon Resist inspired by Andy Goldsworthy Materials: • 12x18 white construction paper• black crayon (or oil pastel), broken in half with the paper peeled off• … [Read more...]
