Kids will enjoy making this Crazy Crown Craft to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. A "royal jubilee" is a special celebration to mark the number of the years a king or queen has reigned. It doesn't happen every year, but only certain years. Each jubilee is represented by a precious metal: Silver (25 years), Gold (50 years), Diamond (60 years), … [Read more...]
Basic Collage with Positive and Negative Shapes
I do this project with my first graders every year to help them understand the concept of positive and negative shapes. This project also teaches symmetry and offers important practice in cutting on a fold and applying glue. First graders are often surprised by the shapes they see when they unfold their papers - they are some pretty cute kids! Materials: 9x12 black (or … [Read more...]
African Kente Cloth Weaving
Kente cloth originated in Ghana as the fabric of royalty, but has become a colorful symbol of African culture, now loved and worn by many. Students in grades K and 1 will enjoy creating their own paper version of this colorful cloth!Materials:6"x12" black construction paper1"x6" strips of red, blue, yellow and green construction paper (3 or 4 of each color per student)Black … [Read more...]
Mexican Paper Marigolds for “Day of the Dead”
"Day of the Dead" is a traditional Mexican holiday for honoring ancestors and loved ones who have died, and is celebrated each year on November 1st & 2nd. This festive, family-centered holiday celebrates the cycle of life and highlights the Mexican peoples’ general acceptance, rather than fear, of death. Colorful marigolds are a regular feature adorning the altars or … [Read more...]
Mosaics
Mosaic projects can be adapted for all ages. Just follow these directions and use larger tiles and a smaller backing board if working with young children.... or anyone with a shorter attention span! Historical examples of mosaic art have been found in Roman ruins throughout Europe and around the Mediterranean. Traditional mosaics were made from tiny squares of natural-colored … [Read more...]
Paper Sculpture Inspired by Alexander Calder
This wonderful sculpture was created at my last Teacher Workshop.... I don't know who to give credit to, so if this is yours, please let me know!Alexander Calder (1898-1976) was an American artist who was born into a family of artists and sculptors and became one of the 20th century’s most influential modern artists. He is also known for inventing the mobile and the "stabile", … [Read more...]
Paper Magic
It's amazing how many ways you can turn kids on to MATH using ART!!! In my teacher workshop, "Teach Kids Math with Art", we experienced lots of ways to do just that! This project makes a great introduction to the study of topology. Topology is a type of geometry concerned with space, dimension and transformation. This activity is SO easy to do, but you may want to practice a … [Read more...]
Paper Trivia
I learned an interesting bit of trivia the other day while preparing for a lesson in the art of Japanese Paper Folding, a.k.a. "Origami". This may not change your life, but it does make a great conversation starter and I guarantee your students will not be willing to just take your word for it!So, here it is.... did you know that it's impossible to fold a piece of paper (any … [Read more...]
