Snowman

4th grade creature sculptures...real or imaginary

Kindergarten bowls

Here is a two day lesson. The first day you demonstrate how one uses fingers to stretch a bowl from a sphere. I keep the bowls moist in a container until the second and last class, in which I then leave bowls out to dry to get them ready for the kiln. The second day kids use all sorts of 'tools' to create decorations on the inside, sides and lip of their bowls. Tools range from tradition clay tools all the way to marker tops and pencils. 

Prepping for Romare Bearden inspired collages _2nd grade

First, you need tons of magazines....

Have kids cut our large color shapes....

Have them sort colors into bins....you will need all rainbow colors, plus black, brown, white and pink. 

Here they are....ready to work with.....

Follow me on twitter at @CutelisART

Afterschool Mexican folk-art-inspired paintings

Kindergarten explore clay

For all beginning of any units children are encouraged to explore the media. In this exploation lesson for the beginning of kindergarten clay unit, children are given an agenda in which they must practice making 4 simple forms with their clay.

Educator night at Renwick Gallery

Completed Eric Carle collages of flowers

Kindergarten students learn combine and draw basic shapes to make animals drawings

First you help kids identify and learn the shapes. Each kindergarten should be able to identify and draw circles, semi-circles, squares, and rectangles of all types. I use a smart board to draw each animal "recipe" in front of them during the lesson intro, but also while they are working. Once they get the formula, they begin flying away and making their own amazing drawings. 

To make these lines and shapes more palatable and easier to draw I will often give the line/shape a simple, kid-friendly name. For the scales I might use the words, "u-shaped line"for the humps on the bat wings I used the words a "very long M"to describe them

Do not draw perfect circles when demonstrating. Being ultra-perfectionist towards your own work while demonstrating will send the message that mistakes are bad. Mistakes are fine and I would even have kids not get erasers and demonstrate how they could turn their mistakes into new ideas. This child (above) may need to be directly told that mistakes are okay so that she will move forward in her development.