If the Dinosaurs Came Back Magnets

Second Grade Art
1 class period

If the Dinosaurs Came Back Magnets, Second Grade Art Lesson

As you all know, sometimes you get a donation for the art room that is too good to turn away, but at the same time leaves you wondering how on earth are you going to use this in your art room or try to incorporate it into your curriculum. 

I was given a generous donation of a large roll of magnetic sheet.  I decided to unroll the sheet and cut it into 5 x 5 inch squares.  The magnet sheet is very thin, so I was able to do this very easily on the paper cutter.

Day 1

To begin this lesson I read the story, If the Dinosaurs Came Back by Bernard Most.  We discussed the dinosaurs we saw in the book and the contrast of the pictures.  To pump up this lesson and fit it better into my curriculum we also discussed the concept of cityscapes.  Vocabulary Discussed: cityscape, horizon line, foreground, background, middle ground, overlapping.

Students were given some ideas and tips on how to create dinosaurs and how to place them in a modern day environment.

These projects turned out wonderful!  Students were also super excited that it could be taken home and put on the fridge right away.

Examples of Student Work:

Mouse Paint New Spin

Kindergarten
2 class periods

Mouse Paint, Kindergarten Art Lesson

Day 1:

On the first day of this lesson we explored the primary colors and discussed the color wheel.  Together as a class we read the story White Rabbit's Color Book by Alan Baker. 

Students took a 9 x 12 inch piece of paper and folded it in half.  (Don't forget to have students write their name on the back).  Students were then instructed to paint on one half of the paper with liquid tempera (only the primary colors were used).  After the paper was painted, it was folded in half and rubbed.  When students opened their papers back up, they took great delight in seeing how the paint mixed to create the secondary colors.

Paintings were set on the drying rack to dry.

Day 2:

On the second day of class, students heard the story Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh.  I informed the class that today we would be creating a mouse inspired by the book we just read.

Students had the choice of red, blue or yellow construction paper pre-cut in 6 x 9 inch pieces.  Students glued this to the center of their painting.

Next students were given brown strips of paper, scrap pieces of yellow, blue and red paper and a small piece of aluminum foil to create their paint brush.

Adding the paint brush to the composition.

A 3 x 4 inch white piece of paper was given to each student.  The corner were trimmed to create an oval shape for the mouse body.

Small pieces of beige paper were given to cut the ears and tail from.

Creating the mouse body.

A black sharpie marker was used to add eyes, a nose and whiskers for this cute little mouse.

Examples of Student Work: