The Grouchy Ladybug

Kindergarten
3 Class Periods

The Grouchy Ladybug, Kindergarten Art Lesson

About the Artist:

Students learned about artist and writer Eric Carle.  Eric Carle was born June 25, 1929 in New York. At the age of six he moved to Germany and did not move back to the United States until the age of 23. He quickly found a job as a graphic designer for The New York Times.  His work for The Times was noticed by author Bill Martin, Jr. who asked Carle for help in illustrating a children's book called Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? (1967)  A few years later, Eric started his career by illustrating and writing his first book The Very Hungry Caterpillar (1969).  The artist is still alive today and has written over 70 children's books.

Eric Carle

Day 1:
I read to students the story A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle.   We examine the pictures closely and discuss the colors and textures we see within the artwork.  During this time, I really do not give students too much information about Eric Carle.  I instead emphasize that we will be making pretty paper like we see in the story to create a picture of our own for our next time in art together.

I divide students up in groups.  I give each group a large piece of white paper and pour paint on each piece of paper.  Students are allowed to use foam brushes, scrapers, rollers and their hands to paint with.  Once the paint starts to cover most of the paper I layer the paper with a second color that can easily mix with the first.  I don't need to tell you how the students squeal with excitement over this. The pieces are then set off to the side to dry as clean up takes place.

The colors that I have students create are red (orange or pink is the second color that we mix with it), black (which has purple or blue added to it), green (blue or yellow is added as the second color) and purple (white is added).

Students making paste paper.

Day 2:
I share with students a brief PowerPoint about artist and writer Eric Carle.  Students become very excited about this artist because so many of them have heard or read an Eric Carle story.  Students become even more fascinating when they learn that Eric Carle not only writes the stories but creates the pictures for his books.  

We examine his technique of creating hand-painted papers and how he cuts and layers these papers to create his collage like pictures.

I then read The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle to the students.  After the story, we discuss how we made our special paste paper and compare it how Eric Carle makes his paste paper.

Together as a class we begin to make our own version of the grouchy ladybug.

Students creating ladybugs from the paste paper they created.

Day 3:
We use the last day as a day to add the finishing details to our ladybug.  This usually consists of the spots, legs and face.  For students that finish early, I have a variety of Eric Carle books for them to look at and a few Eric Carle activity sheets for them to work on.

Student Examples:

Youth Art Month 2015 Exhibit

We had another wonderful show!  All the smiles, beaming parents, happy students and great art reminds me why I do what I do.  I LOVE my job!  Happy Youth Art Month!

This photo slideshow personalized with Smilebox

Youth Art Month 2015

Setting up the show tonight!  We open tomorrow with a ceremony from 11am to 1pm.  So proud of all my students!

Symmetrical Turtles

Kindergarten
2 Class Periods

Symmetrical Turtles, Kindergarten Art Lesson

Day 1:
We begin this lesson by looking at numerous photographs of turtles.  I want my students to be familiar with the parts of the turtle (legs, tail, shell, head, designs and patterns on the shell, etc.).  We briefly discuss where one can find turtles and any other interesting facts they know about turtles.

Together as a class we create a turtle out of construction paper.

The first piece of construction paper they select is the shell color.  This piece is 6 x 9 inches and I have multiple colors for the students to choose from ranging from pink to green.   I inform the students that their turtle can be any color they like.  Students round the corners to create an oval.

Students then pick 2 pieces of 4 x 6 inch construction paper, again in the color of their choice.  The pieces can be the same color or different.  I demonstrate to students on how to place the strips on top each other, fold them in half, cut the top two corners, open the paper and then cut on the fold to create the 4 legs for the turtle.

At this point in the lesson, we pause to discuss symmetry.  I call a student up to the front of the class and demonstrate to the rest of the class how we are symmetrical.  I hold a yard stick in front of the student dividing them in half lengthwise.  We discuss how on each side there is one leg, one arm, one ear, one eye and we discuss why there is only half a nose and half a mouth on each side.

We then move back to our turtle construction by gluing the legs on so they are symmetrical.

Students next take another piece of 4 x 6 inch paper, again in a color of their own choosing.  We round off the top two corners and glue this to the top center of the shell.  This becomes the turtle's head.  As students are working on this, I go around and mark a letter "X" on the messy side of the shell.  This is the side where you can see how everything is attached.

This is the messy side of the turtle.

The last piece of the turtle is the tail.  We scan our table scraps for any pieces that resembles a triangle and glue it to the center bottom of the shell.

The last few steps for the day, involve the students gluing their turtle to a 12 x 12 piece of white tag board.  Thanks to the "X" I placed on the shell, students know this is the side to place the glue on. Students use a blue marker to create water ripples around the turtle.  Using 3DO's I attached wiggly eyes to each turtle.

This is what the piece looks like at the end of day 1.

Day 2:
On the second day of this lesson, we discuss symmetry even further.  I demonstrate to students how to cut numerous shapes out of paper and how to fold their paper when they cut to ensure they get two identical pieces.

Students are required to have at least 8 to 10 shapes attached to their paper.  I give each student a ruler so they can check their symmetry as they work.  (They hold the ruler in the center of the turtle to form a line and look on each side to make sure it is the same).  I encourage students to be creative with their shapes, color selections and to play with overlapping within their designs.

Examples of Student Work:

Document Camera and Demo Mirrors

I am quite lucky to have both a documentation camera and a demonstration mirror in my work environments. 

 

 

The document camera actually belongs to our school library.  Lucky for us (I share my middle school room with another art teacher) the documentation camera is rarely checked out so we get to keep it in our room all year long.  I cannot imagine not having this tool in our classroom.  It makes demonstrating to 25 plus students so much easier!

 

Here is an example of me using a document camera with my middle school students.

At the elementary school, I have a demonstration mirror.  When students come to my room there is a carpet area for them to sit at.  I then sit at the desk and demonstrate to them the steps for the day.  This snazzy tool has been quite helpful for me and the students think it pretty cool to be able to come to the mirror and demonstrate something to the class.  The only set back is that it is a reflection, so you have to be careful if you trying to have students do something specifically on the right or left side of their composition.

What are the cool ways you do demonstration in your classroom?  

Demonstration Mirror



Students sittting on carpet area viewing the demonstration through the mirror.