Classroom Crafts
by The Teachers.Net Community
Potato Heads
Imagine a classroom display of "potato heads," each different from the other, created as part of a St. Patrick's Day/Ireland theme.
Children trace and cut out a potato shape then add details. The example shown was created from a brown shopping bag "potato" with facial and other features cut from junk mail. Other options: Use buttons, yarn, fabric scraps, etc. to create unique and silly potato people.
Kathleen Carpenter
Leprechaun Catchers
I've always had a great time making "Leprechaun Catchers" with my kids.
After giving each child a Strawberry Basket (the plastic ones), I leave out various collage materials (anything from plastic fishing worms to electrical tape, corks to yarn, etc.) and allow the children to use their imagination on how to catch that leprechaun using the materials provided and the strawberry basket. They glue, tie, paint and cut items and then attach it all together onto a piece of square cardboard that is slightly bigger than the "Leprechaun Catcher". The children will then dictate or write down how the catcher works. It's a great creative imagination activity.
Have fun!
Sharon in Kansas
I also have my kindergartners make Leprechaun catchers in March. Then they set them up the night before. The next morning the "Leprechaun" has left little green prints from the classroom door (made with green paint and a Q tip) through each trap and around the room (the best being prints into the bathroom and across the aquarium). He also leaves behind a gold (chocolate) coin and a Barbie shoe/boot and little purse. The kids are so excited! The first year I did this they were asking me so many questions about the Leprechaun that I could not make up answers fast enough. Enjoy!
Amy
Last year we did a cute Leprechaun activity. I sent an assignment home with the children to create a Leprechaun catcher, set it up and see if they could catch one. I also wrote a note to the parents asking that they play along and make it look like the Leprechaun "got away". Then the kids had to write about it and bring it in to school to share. The parents were great. Some left gold dust, potatoes, miniature clothing, and even notes. They loved it.
Tricia
If you make a fist and dip the side of it in green paint (little finger side down), it will look like a leprechaun footprint. You can get several footprints out of one "dip". Our leprechaun walked all over the kids' desks last year. It is really easy clean-up.
Nora
Chinese Scrolls
I just have to share with you a fantastic art lesson we had on Friday.
We made beautiful Chinese scrolls. Each and every child had success with this!
click the image for a larger view
Project: Chinese Scrolls showing bamboo trees on a berm. Each scroll will add a poem about trees. Each scroll will add the artist's signature using a homemade chop (signature).
Objective: Shading
Medium: watercolor
Materials: 18 by 12 white construction paper
- Black watercolor ‘cell'
- Water color paint brush
- Water cup
- Small Styrofoam plate
- 1 inch strips of rich colored patterned wallpaper, 2 for each student
- Hole punch
- Yarn to hang
- Foam tray squares, cut into 2 by 2 inch squares
- Red markers
- Pencil
Background: Artists paint the world around them. Tao-chi, over 300 years ago, painted bamboo trees and added poems to his scrolls.
Internet web sites:
Procedure: The students are shown the work of Asian artists. Point out the different shades of black used in the works shown. Display a card that has several shades of black painted on squares. The card shows the shades from lightest gray to black. This could be shown with about 5 squares.
The students are now given their material. They begin by gluing one strip of wallpaper on the top and one strip of wallpaper on the bottom.
The students are then shown how to add water and black watercolor to their plate to make a shade of black. They then use the gray paint from this plate to sketch out several bamboo trees on a berm or hill. Next they dip directly into their watercolor black cell to add black to the painting. Or they dip in to their water to add another shade of black.
Technique to explore: Watch to see if the students are pulling the paintbrush, rather than pushing the paintbrush to paint. Working with the movement of your arm, and pulling the paintbrush is more effective.
The students then made the chop, or signature, that the Asian artists use. Taking the 2 by 2 inch square foam, the students take their pencil and write their initials in the foam, backwards. They also may write a small design to signify their work. Taking a red marker to cover the design, the student then ‘huffs' over the ink and then stamps the chop onto the scroll.
The students then add a short poem about trees to the scroll.
The hole punch is used to add the yarn to the top of the scroll.
One final note, there are no mistakes in this lesson, only an opportunity to make a new tree!
Barb Gilman/2
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