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Note: This lesson was done in 2012. However, every year we do something similar). Second and third grade students went outside to observe trees and the Y shape of their branches. Next they watercolor painted a tree trunk and branches, grass and sky. The following week the students stamp painted the leaves with small cut up sponges with yellow, orange and red tempera paint. After blow drying their art, they glued on puzzle pieces to mimic falling leaves. Week three, we brainstormed descriptive words to use for poems using our senses including smell, sound, sight, feeling (emotional) and texture (touch) of autumn leaves. Words like scarlet, dancing, floating, spinning, smokey, crunchy, crimson red and pumpkin orange were typed and printed out. Students could then cut out the words to create a poem which we then glued onto red, orange or yellow squares and mounted with their finished trees. Some children preferred to hand-write their poem.
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Week One: This week, third graders at Oxbow had another fun project with leaves! We had been learning about warm and cool colors already so I thought this might be a fun way to tie in some basic color theory. First we looked at actual leaves and I asked them if they could identify what they were: maple, oak, willow? For some reason, I got a lot of guesses for birch (which surprised me) but anyway, eventually they got them all figured out. I had a few ringers in there like sassafras which has three different leaf types (one being shaped like a Michigan which delighted them) and a beautiful silver maple. Next, I helped them learn the parts of the leaves as I demonstrated how to trace around them onto their 12" X14" white paper. We looked at the different colors of the leaves and they were given the option of painting them camo-style or any way they wished except all one color. We discussed warm colors (think fire: red, yellow, orange) and then I passed out styrofoam trays with tabs of yellow and red tempera and had them mix their own variations of warm colors. Then they painted their leaves and set them to dry. Week Two: This week we talked about cool colors (think ocean) which are blue, green, violet and variations in that range. Students found cinderblock walls to use as rubbing plates and blended cool colored crayons turned sideways to create interesting texture. Next they went to the back counter to the splatter paint stations. They dipped toothbrushes into the tempera paint, then took a thumb and splatter painted different cool colors over the crayon. I encouraged them not to worry, if they ended up with a few blobs of paint, we'd just glue a leaf over it later. Then then blower dried the background with hair blow dryers. Finally, they cut out their leaves and glued them randomly around the page. Voila! Lovely! |
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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
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