An Apple a day....

Apples Apples and more Apples

A fun project for pre-school and Kindergarteners. I started by bringing in several apples cut in half.

I chose only the red apple to reflect the project. We talked about the color of red on the skin of the apple and the color of the flesh. How many seeds do you think is in a apple? The response was quite interesting.

You will need :

white constuction paper

Red construction paper

newspaper torn into pieces.

Glue

white and yellow paint or cream color paint.

a cut out leaf

sticks

black paper.

Cut out white paper in the shape of an apple.( I made a stencil )

Cut out red skin of apple like a frame around the apple.

I used slightly watered down glue mixed with paint to match flesh color of apple. 

Next have the kids stick the newspaper pieces on the white apple decoupage style using the glue mixture. I had my preschoolers use foam paint brushes. The glue mixed with paint worked great. It simplified the use of glue for the young kiddo's. 

Next add the red frame and glue the seeds. 

Have the kids color a leaf or two, glue on. Add stick to represent stem! all done.

 If you have the time...I thought how cute it would be to sew a black zig zag down the center of the apple.. maybe next year.

Note: I had to do a lot of the prep work for preschoolers. Most kindergarten and older can cut out and tare paper.

Van Gogh

Van Gogh Sun Flowers

I introduced water color paper to the kids this week. We painted a blue wash and added texture. For the texture, I had the kids drag a rubber texture tool though the paint. This made wavy lines through the paint.

Next I brought in leaves. The kids painted the back side of the leaf and printed onto the blue background.

The kids then glued newspaper as a table top for the vase. I had them use watercolors to paint the newspaper. Next: add the vase. they traced a vase stencil and cut it out.

Next placed the brown felt sunflower centers. Leave room for the petals!

This project was done in two art sessions.

Here is a few from my Kinder Kiddo's

Can you tell we talked about highlight and shadow?

I love this one! He added fallen leaves and seeds.

 

I love the different out come of each child's art.

 Great Job Kiddo's !

Color wheel

Oct. 8th 2012

It took me awhile, but I'm back !. School has started and I'm a little behind on posting anything.
As some of you know I teach Pre-School and Kinder-kiddos art classes. On occasion privet lessons as well. I have three classes a week this year. All full ! They will certainly keep me busy. I'm in week 4 of teaching. Here is what we have covered so far.

Color Wheels

I start with the color wheel every year.
Cut out card board or manila folders work well also, 7 1/2 inch diameter.
To insure the young ones follow the correct pattern of colors, I put a dot of paint in each section.
I start with the primary's. Have them find the yellow paint dot and paint that slice yellow. You get the idea...same with secondary colors.
Set aside to let wheels dry.
With the left over paint in their pallets, I have the kids mix colors on a blank piece of paper. oh what fun.
Next lesson: glue craft items to corresponding colors. The kids and I chat about the different shades of each color.

After the kids were all done, I gave them primary colored playdough. I had them mix their secondary colors. The young kids aren't usually strong enough to mix well.
Have them try to roll two colors together like a snake. Then smash it into a ball again. repeat several times. Or smash onto table top fold and smash fold and smash. The young ones are always astonished as a new color starts to appear. 


 

Poitillism

  

French Modern Artist George Seurat 

Pointillism

George Seurat

 A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jette

This painting took Seurat two years to complete. 1884-1886

My students had been asking to do a pointillism project. So this is what I came up with...

A clown fish.

I felt the contrast was nice. I tried to keep it simple so the kids didn't get frustrated.

I started with a little experiment. I had the kids use fine tip markers. On a small scrap piece of white paper, make many yellow dots. Then blend red dots.... back away and VOILA ! it looks orange. 

We practice mixing by dotting our primary colors to get our secondary colors. pretty cool.

What you will need:

 5x7 or 6x8 canvas panels.

Markers- Crayola washable thin markers work best.

Fish stencils. 

Penciles 

White erasers or gum erasers.

Samples of George Seurat's work

Sample pictures of clown fish

 

Get started

1. Have the kids draw their picture. KEEP IT SIMPLE.

2. I have quite a few Pre-school and kindergartners. I made clown fish stencils out of scrap watercolor paper or manilla folders work very well for making stencils too.

3. Introduce George Seurat. What is Pointillism?

4. I brought in samples of his work. 

I drew on the stencils so the young kids had a visual guide.

As they start dotting remind them to press gently with the markers!
Hint. use light colored markers first, it will help keep light markers clean.

 

Kids never cease to surprise me.. Even my pee wees did a fantastic job. 

I cut little frames out of black construction paper.

Just keep swim-in!