This week we are wrapping up our Maker madness artworks that we made in the weeks before. I decided to turn the words into mini signs with wood blocks attached to them and paint patterns and designs with fluorescent tempera. Check these out, they are screaming with color and the students had quite a time making them!

Next up... It's spring break week! Before the break, we just started a new kindergarten project- Asian cherry blossom scrolls. This is a staple project that always yields beautiful results. There are many variations of this project too, and it can be modified to suit older students.

First, we discuss Asian Art and the different types of subject matter that are often incorporated into the artworks- nature, landscapes, animals, etc. I have a great book on Asian brush painting that I often pull examples from (notice there is paint all over it!)

So I typically use chalk pastel as a base for the painting- we use sunset colors and shade and blend the colors to form a nice yummy gradient. I always try to incorporate a couple of art buzz words into a lesson and then attach them to an art words board in my room. Some other buzz words for this lesson... Scroll and Chop

The students will have made quite a mess of themselves at this point with the pastels. Try to minimize the mess by encouraging them to blend the gradient with one or two fingers and not to touch their face (ha!) After the students have a good base of pastels, we stop and I demonstrate painting a cherry tree branch.

It's important that you show how important brushes speak to this type of painting, as well as other materials, such as ink and paper. In kindergarten, we don't use ink for obvious reasons but it is nice to share the process! We use some nice bamboo brushes to paint with, and watered down tempera paint , which seems to add a little authenticity.

When they paint the branches, start with a big one that has a nice, wide curve to it, and then add the smaller branches, Have them look outside of our a window to reference the curvature of the branches. Encourage overlapping and discourage "the caterpillar"... Which tends to look like one giant branch attached to stick-like tiny branches. If they want to paint some silhouettes of birds or nests, why not?

That is about all you will have time for in one class. The next week, we finished with collaged cherry blossoms textured with a bit of peach paint, and some painted bright green leaves. If you want, you can have them make a seal or chop or finish with some Chinese calligraphy. Enjoy!

What a glorious & creative day today. We had an fun event at the school today that promotes the idea of maker spaces and STEAM education. This is great for our little ones who need move around, and explore through creative play. The students rotated through different centers... Cardboard construction, Legos, Snap circuits, and an Art project (that's where I come in :)

Not much of an intro needed with this project- hardly a demo even. A few exemplars and a structured space with loads of different materials and you are good to go.

We began with each student writing a word wall word on a cut piece of cardboard- keep it simple, the words big and large.

The students then went crazy with embellishments... Found objects, art materials, the works. No intro needed... They went for it! I have never seen such focus, and creative energy. Here is a little taste of the process and a few pieces that were near completion.

In between classes, I took a peak at what the students were doing in the other maker spaces, and I was so proud of these creations...

These students had fifteen minutes at each station and it is remarkable to see what they accomplished in such a small timeframe!

Next week in art we will be taking our word wall words a little further- I am thinking of hitting these with a little fluorescent paint around the edges to brighten them up and then... display time!

Such a great experience for our youngest students and certainly a freedom based project which allows them to explore, create and just enjoy!

Last year I started integrating the popular kids website and app, BrainPOP. The students, especially our youngest ones, go completely bananas for it. Since the lesson is all about Van Gogh and his still life work, I wrapped the lesson with a Van Gogh BrainPOP as the students put all the components of their collage together.

BrainPOP has a knack for explaining even the most complicated or morose subject manner and transforming it into "kid friendly" dialogue. It even touched on the whole Van Gogh ear thing... But in a very comical way. What I like about it most is the simplicity and the way in which it drills down our art words.

As we finished the collage, I had them make stems, leaves, and draw smaller flowers on their background. We talked about making their artworks three-dimensional and what that means for our collage.

The students were pleased to see everything come together and had fun arranging, cutting, and adding more details. It felt very satisfying to see these artworks wrap up and has me excited for spring!