Little Leaves

The lesson I presented with another teacher candidate consisted of using two different medias, crayons and oil pastels. Our lesson was called 'Little Leaves' and based somewhat off the children's book, "The Little Yellow Leaf." This story enabled the students to get into the mood of the changing seasons and what colors we notice during the autumn season and learned about warm and cool colors. We showed the class how to create crayon shavings using only warm colors and then melting them onto wax paper. Once the colors were melted together we traced three different leaves and placed them in a collage form on a white piece of paper. Our next step in the lesson was to create five cool colored oil pastel leaves to complement the melted crayon leaves. The main focus  was to create a collage photograph using warm and cool colors. Along with the art work, the students were asked to recall a favorite fall memory and write it down on the notecard and create a border for the photograph. The theme for the bulletin board is "Leaves Are Falling" and we organized the students projects in a random matter across the board to symbolize the many leaves falling off the trees into a pile on the autumn ground.

An extension activity that would focus on the element of texture and the differences in leaves, the students will be provided with a sheet of white paper, several leaves, and crayons and/or oil pastels. The students will place the leaves under the white sheet of paper and with the warm colors they will rub the textures onto the white paper. The outline and texture may be light so the students will have to rub harder or go over the leaves once the texture is created. To go along with this activity, the students will create a story as if they were a fall leaf and the adventures they go through during the autumn season.

Here is my example of my Little Leaves collage. My fall memory consisted of going to an apple orchard with my family, sipping on hot apple cider, and each of us kids picking our own pumpkins to carve for Halloween.



Under Water World Scratch Art

This week we created scratch art on black scratch paper. We began the lesson learning about the different techniques to create lines and then we were shown very professional looking scratch art using different animals. To practice on our own we were given small pieces of black paper and created different lines and textures to get used to working with the black paper and the wood tool. Our lesson was based upon the under water theme. As a class, we discussed what types of creatures we see underwater and then we were given a choice of different creatures we wanted to use on our black scratch paper. I chose to draw a turtle to create for my picture with seaweed and rocks on the bottom of the sea. To continue with our practice, we were able to draw the creature on a half sheet of white paper that would be used as our drawing tool. We slid the piece of black scratch paper inside the folded white paper and lightly traced over the image with our wooden tool. Once the image was traced on the paper, we went over the lines to make each more defined and noticeable.


An extension activity that can go along with the underwater theme is another art project using crayon and black paint. The students will color in a whole sheet of white paper using colors found under water or the colors of the creature in which they choose to draw. Once the random colors fill the page, the students will paint over the colors with the black paint. With the back of the paint brush or a wooden tool, the students will create an image of the underwater creature they had chosen. This will allow them to be more creative and free with their project.


Here is my example of the under water world scratch art. I decided to create a turtle.

Birds of a Feather

During our teacher candidate presentation, we also created 3-dimensional birds. Since the lesson was structured around diversity, we created a character and a description that describes the difference and uniqueness of the bird. We began the project by watching our teacher candidate model how we create our bird. We were each given a template to cut out the shape of the bird we would eventually be punching holes in to attach string to make the bird look like it was flying. After cutting out the template, we were asked to decorate the bird according to our description using pattern and texture to create it.


As an extension activity, we could focus more on the 3-dimensional aspect of the lesson. To continue learning about 3D shapes, students will have a shape search within the classroom. The teacher could bring in 3D objects (marshmallow, candy corn, bouncy balls, cans, caramels) and have them each in a paper bag. The students will go around the room and identify the type of 3D shape each is by remembering the different points and sides shapes have to make identifying easier.  This activitiy makes it easier for students to understand the difference between 2D and 3D shapes.


I created Colorful Charlie Wingspan. He is a bird of a different color! He listens to only himself and flies on his own time. He is a crazy, wild bird who does what he wants! Here is a photo of Charlie:

Clay Necklaces

This week in class, we had teacher candidate group presentations. For our first lesson, we were in a 1st grade setting and we created necklaces out of clay. We were given a ball of clay to learn how to knead the clay and create bead- like pieces by rolling it around a small skewer to have an opening to put the beads on yarn for the necklace. The teacher candidates instructed us to have at least 5 beads on the necklace, 3 colors painted on the beads, and some type of design created on the bead necklace.

As an extension activity, students would be able to work on geometric shapes and colors in a mathematics class. Instead of creating a necklace, students will make the different shapes they are learning about with several pieces of clay. Once the clay has dried, the students will color each shape differently, keeping in mind the colors they have been working with in other lessons.

Here is a photo of my bead necklace: