Frog and Lily Pad Clay Figurine

Description: This was my peer teaching lesson where we created frogs and lily pads out of clay! We incorporated the lily pad after talking about how to swim and how frogs use them to rest. This project was a step-by-step process starting with wedging the clay and rolling it out into a slab. Then cut out our lily pads and used the excess clay to make our frog. We wedged the clay again and then cut it at the 2/3s mark. This larger part was used as the body once rounded out and we used the 1/3 remaining to roll into a clay coil cutting it into these sections: 2 eyes, 2 legs, and 4 feet. Using the slip and score method we attached the pieces onto the frog's main body with water as the "glue." Once all done, you were able to paint the frog and lily pad right away since we used air dry clay, but do not paint the bottom as water needs to be released to dry! 

Extended Activity: To extend on this I would encourage students to make it more personal by adding two more characteristics! This could look like adding a small flower to the lily pad, a fly, a tongue, or even adding dots to the frog's back!

Print Making Skylines

Description: To begin this project we were introduced to the concept of printmaking and how there are many different materials you can use. We started out with painting our whole paper with water colors and using the wet-on-wet method. This was then set aside to dry while we started on our printmaking plate. To create our plate we used a styrofoam base and traced our desired image on there a few times so it was indented. Then we moved to the print making station where we rolled ink onto our plates. After rolling the ink you can turn it over onto the main paper and press down so the image appears!

Extension Activity: Students can pick their favorite interest/hobby and draw an object that represents that. Also having them use some of their favorite colors! Students that enjoy basketball can print a basketball/net or students that are in music can draw their instrument. 

Paper Mosaic Earth

Description: When starting this project we were introduced to the mosaic style of art and how you can take small tiles, if different materials, and piece them together to create a picture. We made one side of the Earth due to it being an Earth Day focused lesson. All of the pieces of blue construction paper and green tissue paper were all cut up and prepared for us. We first traced the continents onto our cardboard and then we glued our blue pieces on to create the ocean, leaving the continents open. To create the continents we rolled up some small pieces of green tissue paper and glued them on. Once all done, we pulled a few cotton balls apart and added them as clouds on our Earth!

Extended Activity: As an extension I would possibly include brown tissue paper into the mix so when learning about different landscapes we can incorporate the differentiation on the Earth view!

Under Water Life Water Colors

Description: For this peer activity, we used water colors to paint and under water scene using many different techniques! This activity was started by reading a story about animals that live under water and learning about some of their unique characteristics. We then completed a practice paper that consisted of learning four different painting techniques: wet on wet, creating designs with the end of our brushes, and using salt to add texture/form a reaction, and using crayons to see the resistance. By doing this it allowed us to learn what worked best and what we needed to improve for the main project. To start the main design we used the dry products first and drew on our underwater animals and sand piles. Then we were able to paint our water colors. Once done painting we added our salt to create the sand and let it sit and dry. 

Extended Activity: To extend on this project you could have students create other landscapes! Like the sky, mountains, grasslands, or desert and include appropriate animals. Or having students paint sculptures or historic landmarks could also be a great way for them to add definition with colors and techniques. 

Oil Pastel Pumpkins

Description: This was a peer taught lesson that was so much fun to complete! For this project we used oil pastels to complete a drawing of a pumpkin in the outdoor nighttime! We started this project by tracing the scene with a sharpie marker to create a thicker outline for us to follow. Then we discussed the difference in highlights and shadows and where they would be placed on a picture like this. We also talked about the contrast between warm and cool colors and how we can use them together to make the brighter colors more vibrant. To color this we used different ways of shading and blending them out with our finger tips. While doing this we added more colors to create the brighter and darker points of our image. Once done blending and drawing our stars we then used glue and traced over our sharpie maker lines so they would stand out against our pastels! 

Extension Activity: For this extension, I would have students pick one object or symbol from another season and create a drawing similar but representing that season. Or having students, when learning how to write their name, write their name and repeatedly blend out the colors due by tracing it over-and-over. 

Van Gogh Inspired Collages

Description: To start this project we ripped up some tissue paper in our choice of colors. We then glued them to a black/dark colored paper to create the "dark night" illusion and allowing the brighter colors to pop. Once we glued the tissue paper on from the back we then painted glue over the top to seal it completely. During the drying process we took another piece of large construction paper and sketched out a skyline of our choice to add to our sky. We attached this by gluing it on the bottom and letting it completely dry for a day! Before starting this project we watched a short video on Van Gogh's life and were asked to write down three facts we learned and add them to our project! 

Extension Activity: These collages were so fun to do and honestly relaxing! I think a great extension from this project would be to complete them when learning about the different seasons during the lower elementary years! This would have students possibly using different colors and making different sky lines that best fit that season! 

Hidden Safari

 Description: For this activity we started by making some ruby colored glasses out of red paper and a thick red film. These would be used later once the project was completed! We were then introduced to the safari biome and the possible animals that can live there. After that we picked out a small image of a common animal that lives in the safari and practiced drawing it by drawing it upside down. Once we felt confident we were asked to draw it for the main project, but still upside down as that allows you to focus more on the lines and shapes rather than the object itself. This drawing was done in a cool color! After our animal was completed then we drew 3-4 different patterns over top in warm colored crayons, this would be used as our animal's disguise. When trying to find our animal you would have to "wear" your ruby colored glasses which would "remove" the patterns so you could clearly see the safari animal! Another addition we included was writing down three characteristics of our animals so our peers could guess what it was before using our glasses to reveal it. 

Extension Activity: Overall, I really enjoyed this project and will definitely incorporate it into my classroom one day! I think a great extension to this project would be to do it when learning about the other biomes, having students pick an animal that best fits that biome!