Creating salt dough land forms each year is always a fun treat! Second graders do a unit on land forms as part of earth science. They study everything from how mountains and hills are formed, to learning about the desert, valleys, plains, peninsulas, rivers, lakes, an island, and the ocean. The culminating lesson takes place in the art room. I show a quick PowerPoint of pictures of various land forms to review what they look like. Next I show them how to mix salt dough and pinch it up into mountains, or how to form curving rivers. Then its time for them to mix the dough! We break into our usual table teams of 3 to 4 students per table. With parent supervision, students mix the warm water, flour and lots of salt until it takes on a consistency similar to bread dough. The recipe is: 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt and 1 part water which makes enough for two students. As soon as their hands get sticky they can barely contain their excitement! Yet by the end of an hour, each child has created their own land forms, double checking to make sure to include each different type. After a week of drying, we paint them using tempera paint. Now THAT is hands-on, fun science!
0 Comments
I teach two classes for special students with a wide range of differing abilities and needs. It is a challenge for me to find lessons that help boost fine motor skills and yet meet each child's unique limitations. Often serendipity comes into play. As I was preparing for a kindy lesson, a few papers fell onto the table and viola! I was reminded of Matisse cutouts and instantly knew this would be a perfect fit for the day's lesson. We worked hand over hand and one on one to cut, glue and stick different shaped paper in a variety of colors onto black paper. The result was delightful! |
Archives
March 2024
AuthorMy name is Mrs. Krupa and I'm an elementary art teacher at Oxbow Elementary. I'm a professional harpist turned art teacher of 20 years. I'll share art lessons and ideas on these pages, what works and doesn't. Enjoy! Categories
All
|