Hoover Library's Thank-A-Vet poster contest winner for our school.
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Penguins
First grade students learned many facts about penguins as they created these precious works of art. We looked at various pictures and discussed the habits and environments of penguins. Students started out by using water color washes to paint their snowy backgrounds. This is a great lesson to discuss placement, size, and the horizon line.
The next week, they used u-shaped templates to trace and cut out penguins. (There are differing opinions about using templates. I sometimes use them with the younger grades so that their objects don't end up too small.) Students made wings from scraps. Each student was given rectangles of orange paper to create feet. I love the feet!
The following week, final details were added and we used watered down tempera to add some snow. I added the snow, tapping and slinging paint as they watched, but if you are brave then let the kids go for it!
I hope you enjoy our efforts!
First grade students learned many facts about penguins as they created these precious works of art. We looked at various pictures and discussed the habits and environments of penguins. Students started out by using water color washes to paint their snowy backgrounds. This is a great lesson to discuss placement, size, and the horizon line.
The next week, they used u-shaped templates to trace and cut out penguins. (There are differing opinions about using templates. I sometimes use them with the younger grades so that their objects don't end up too small.) Students made wings from scraps. Each student was given rectangles of orange paper to create feet. I love the feet!
The following week, final details were added and we used watered down tempera to add some snow. I added the snow, tapping and slinging paint as they watched, but if you are brave then let the kids go for it!
I hope you enjoy our efforts!
Friday, December 12, 2014
Las Posadas
The celebration of Las Posadas is observed for nine days in December. It begins on December 16 and ends December 24 each year. Although it originated in Spain, it has become very popular in Mexico, Guatemala, and more recently in the United States.
The celebration of Las Posadas is observed for nine days in December. It begins on December 16 and ends December 24 each year. Although it originated in Spain, it has become very popular in Mexico, Guatemala, and more recently in the United States.
The name Las Posadas means The Inn in Spanish. This Spanish observance is a reenactment of Joseph and Mary's search for shelter before the baby Jesus was born.
Las Posadas begins with a procession of neighbors, friends, and family who visit each other's homes, reenacting Joseph and Mary's search for shelter. The procession goes from house to house until they reach the one where the night's festivities will be held. The group is then invited in for the party and the feast begins.
One of the more important parts of the night's festivities for children is the breaking of the pinata. The pinata is traditionally shaped like a star to represent the star that led the three wisemen that night. The pinata is filled with treats and toys. Each child is blindfolded and given a stick to try to break the pinata open. When the pinata is broken open, the children scramble to grab it's contents.
One of the more important parts of the night's festivities for children is the breaking of the pinata. The pinata is traditionally shaped like a star to represent the star that led the three wisemen that night. The pinata is filled with treats and toys. Each child is blindfolded and given a stick to try to break the pinata open. When the pinata is broken open, the children scramble to grab it's contents.
African Masks
Students always love working with clay. African masks are a fun subject to incorporate into this medium. We looked at and discussed many different masks before designing our own. After the masks were fired, students added neutral colors to complete this fun project. We are going to follow up with more detailed mixed-media paper masks. It should be a lot of fun!
Students always love working with clay. African masks are a fun subject to incorporate into this medium. We looked at and discussed many different masks before designing our own. After the masks were fired, students added neutral colors to complete this fun project. We are going to follow up with more detailed mixed-media paper masks. It should be a lot of fun!
Friday, December 5, 2014
Poinsettias
There is a Mexican legend that explains the origin of poinsettias. According to the legend, a young girl had no gift to give the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. She was told that the baby Jesus would love whatever gift she gave, because it came from her heart. She gathered up some weeds, carried them inside the chapel, presented them to the baby Jesus and began to pray. Suddenly the green weeds had blazing red stars on top of them. When everyone went outside, the rest of the weeds bore bright red poinsettias, too.
Our second grade classes enjoyed making these special flowers for the holidays. We used templates to trace and cut out the shapes. The petals and leaves were folded and then glued together. Bright yellow circles were added to the center and topped with yellow glitter.
There is a Mexican legend that explains the origin of poinsettias. According to the legend, a young girl had no gift to give the baby Jesus on Christmas Eve. She was told that the baby Jesus would love whatever gift she gave, because it came from her heart. She gathered up some weeds, carried them inside the chapel, presented them to the baby Jesus and began to pray. Suddenly the green weeds had blazing red stars on top of them. When everyone went outside, the rest of the weeds bore bright red poinsettias, too.
Our second grade classes enjoyed making these special flowers for the holidays. We used templates to trace and cut out the shapes. The petals and leaves were folded and then glued together. Bright yellow circles were added to the center and topped with yellow glitter.
Nutcrackers
Nutcrackers became well known in Germany within the mining community. Life was hard for the villagers who worked long hours as miners. Often the miners watched as their fruits of their labor were taken by their superiors. During winter months when they weren't mining, many of the villagers carved wood until they could return to work. Their carvings, nutcracker dolls, were cleverly designed to resemble powerful people such as policemen, kings, and soldiers. The townspeople enjoyed the caricatures of their rulers, because they were placed at their service to perform the lowly task of cracking nuts.
This was a project I found on Artsonia a few years ago.
Nutcrackers became well known in Germany within the mining community. Life was hard for the villagers who worked long hours as miners. Often the miners watched as their fruits of their labor were taken by their superiors. During winter months when they weren't mining, many of the villagers carved wood until they could return to work. Their carvings, nutcracker dolls, were cleverly designed to resemble powerful people such as policemen, kings, and soldiers. The townspeople enjoyed the caricatures of their rulers, because they were placed at their service to perform the lowly task of cracking nuts.
This was a project I found on Artsonia a few years ago.
Monday, December 1, 2014
Gingerbread Art
Gingerbread cookies can be traced back to the Greeks, but became more popular in later years. These carved works of art served as a sort of story board that told the news of the day, bearing the likeness of new kings, emperors and queens, or religious symbols. The finished cookie might be decorated with edible gold paint (for those who could afford it) or flat white icing to bring out the details in relief.
The first gingerbread man is credited to Queen Elizabeth I, who surprised visiting dignitaries by presenting them with one baked in their own likeness. Gingerbread tied with ribbon was popular at fairs and, when exchanged, became a token of love.
Below you can see our first grade gingerbread men and women. Enjoy!
Gingerbread cookies can be traced back to the Greeks, but became more popular in later years. These carved works of art served as a sort of story board that told the news of the day, bearing the likeness of new kings, emperors and queens, or religious symbols. The finished cookie might be decorated with edible gold paint (for those who could afford it) or flat white icing to bring out the details in relief.
The first gingerbread man is credited to Queen Elizabeth I, who surprised visiting dignitaries by presenting them with one baked in their own likeness. Gingerbread tied with ribbon was popular at fairs and, when exchanged, became a token of love.
Below you can see our first grade gingerbread men and women. Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)