What we're great at? -bodies in movement

          2nd graders will be making bodies in motion for their 3d construction unit. We begin, as always, with exploration and skill building. This activity asked the children to draw the bodies posed at each table. Children have their own sketchbooks in which they place all their drawings and in addition, label what could the mannequin be doing below each drawing. 

If you would like me purchase my powerpoint presentation for this unit please send $5.00 via PayPal to Miriam.Cutelis@yahoo.com and specify what language (Spanish or English) you would prefer and which email you'd like the presentation emailed to and what the title for the post is.....  Once I share the presentation with you via Google Docs you can copy and change, add or delete any slides to fit your needs. The presentation will be sent to you within 24 hours of purchase.

Landscape painting unit with 4th grade - inspiration from Harriet Peck Taylor and Jack Stuppin

           Painting unit begins with simple color explorations. Children are given the three primary colors, taught how to use a palette (to keep it clean), taught how to use a mixing paper and to rinse their brush and they go to town. The only objective for the first day is to create secondary colors, and to fill the page. 

I don't spend much time going over the color wheel aside from explaining how to read it and use it while painting. 

         The class works best when you teach the students to learn how to refill their own water jugs individually and safely. A lot of time is spent at the beginning of the unit going over the set up and clean up routines. 

Having an open ended exploration time is absolutely necessary for all units. It allows me to see what interests the children, what skills they lack and what what they already know. 

     The second class students are given back their original explorations, and asked to paint on them, this time with primaries plus white.  I also show them several paintings I found online that show a painting's progression from beginning to end. 

If you would like me purchase my powerpoint presentation for this unit please send $5.00 via PayPal to Miriam.Cutelis@yahoo.com and specify what language (Spanish or English) you would prefer and which email you'd like the presentation emailed to.  Once I share the presentation with you via Google Docs you can copy and change, add or delete any slides to fit your needs. The presentation will be sent to you within 24 hours of purchase. 

making lines with prek

Most of the activities I do with Pre-k students are sensory activities. Today we used detail brushes to paint various types of lines on black paper using white paint. I demonstrated all the lines at the beginning of class and then sent them off to a table to work on their lines. 

 

 

kindergarten puppet

           My kindergarten students make puppets every year using recycled materials, paint and tissue paper. This is the link for the ones we did last year. We begin by rolling newspaper for the head, then using masking tape to attach the head to the body, which is a throw away cup or a yogurt cup facing down. Next we paint them skin color. 

Here is an image of how I arrange the tables to have kids walk around and choose what skin color best matches their own skin color. 

              Next, we have kids use glue, tissue paper and ribbons to dress their puppet. Here is an image of all the puppets once they are dressed. They are all bald and ready to have hair put on them for the next class. 

I am always so proud of my students and how hard they work making the things they love. This child below is carefully adding each strand  of "hair" to his puppet. 

              Once the hair is added, the next time they come they trim the hair to make it the length they want. 

Next, we accessorize. Children got to choose from various broken jewelry (donated by families), caps from bottles and other small items.