Creativity unbridled

Kindergarten students create a shape book each year.  They draw shapes, color shapes, stamp shapes, cut shapes, etc. throughout the year and the lessons are combined and stapled inside of a cover that goes home at the end of the year.  This year I focused only on the cutting and allowed students to glue the shapes onto the paper without any direction from me. I have to share a few of these with you.  I really love how naturally creative student can be when we allow them to be.

Abstract with balance

some type of creature

A bird looking over it's shoulder

Toothy creature

Flying bird

A face

symmetry

Cutting Shapes in Kindergarten

panda heart puppet

Showing some creative independence

Wearing a panda collar

Kindergarten practiced their cutting skills this week.  They learned to turn the paper as they cut on a rounded edge for better control. After they had completed cutting practice, they collaged their hearts to create a cute little panda puppet using a brown paper bag as the base.

Turkeys and Thanksgiving

I generally stray away from any holiday themed projects in the art room unless I can strongly present them with a focus on an element of art and not a holiday focus.  Many holiday projects tend to be more crafty in nature and I stay away from the crafts to ensure that my colleagues and administrators take my program seriously and don't view it as just a time filler.  With that said, here is a recent project for Kindergarten students.  Many of my students are still working on using scissors correctly so I try to incorporate a little cutting practice.  Also, many have not developed an understanding where cutting should take place and will cut every line on the paper until they have completely dissected their projects.  Practice does improve these skills, so we practice!

I wanted to introduce texture in art to Kinders this week.  We first attempted to define what texture actually was.  This is a new concept for them so it takes awhile to make that connection.  After a knowledge of texture was established, I took out some plastic texture sheets and demonstrated how to  use a crayon sideways to color with the plate and pick up the texture on the paper.  Students were given a brown crayon and a large texture sheet to color the bodies of their turkeys.  Upon completion, those were collected and a variety of texture sheets were place on each table along with a mixture of colors so students could complete the color/texture process in other areas of their turkeys.

A review of cutting on the dotted or broken line of the turkey shape came next as scissors were passed out and the cutting began.   This was not an easy cutting project as there were angles and curves to manipulate around.  Happily, only a few turkeys lost their heads and were easily taped back together.  It looks like those cutting skills are developing well!!

Kindergarten color mixing and cutting practice

A good example of the orange, green and brown from mixing the colors

 Color mixing and cutting skills are a big focus for Kindergarten students.  Although many come to Kindergarten having developed skills in the use of scissors, many have never used them and must be taught even the most basic of skills, like how to hold them correctly to even manipulate them to work.  I few years ago, I created this simple pumpkin shape to use for a color mixing lesson.  Any medium can be used for completion but I prefer to use a pressed crayon or art stick that will blend easily.  I have used this lesson in October and turned the pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern or often save it for November for a

This student didn't quite color enough to produce a rich color finish

Thanksgiving pumpkin.  Students begin by coloring the entire thing with a yellow color.  I pick that up and hand them a blue one which is used to color the leaves and stem only.   Finally they trade the blue for a red which is used to color the stem and the pumpkin body while avoiding the leaf areas.  Using the colors sideways to make a broad stroke increases the opportunity for the colors to blend well.  Finally, is cutting practice as students cut only on the dotted line to produce the finished pumpkin shape.