My Garden-

In the Art Room, we read the book My Garden by Kevin Henkes in which a child imagines what her magical garden would be like. The room was abuzz as the Second graders were conjuring up images for their gardens. They drew in craypas and then water-colored their fantastical  landscapes. They posed for photos which were added to the gardens. They also had an opportunity to write a description of their gardens which was all compiled to create a bound book. 

 

 

Recycled cardboard House Books -first grade

In conjunction with a publishing party the first graders have in their classrooms, we made artistic "house books" in the art room. With inspiration from the brilliant book The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Pinkwater, Roberto the Insect Architect by Nina Laden, Mr Pine's Purple House by Leonard Kessler and others, we gradually explored the beauty of uniqueness and the basic elements of architecture. The students first built their houses with recycled pieces of cardboard and glue. Doors/covers were also chosen. Next the students painted their cardboard pieces and had the options of collaging and/or drawing in craypas.The first graders had the choice of writing and/or illustrating the inside pages. Finally the books were compiled with pipe-cleaners and the houses stand proudly. The children love this inventive project that integrates with their language arts learning.

Eric Carle Inspired Animal Book

In the art room we painted huge sheets of paper with lots of colors and used combs and rollers to add texture. Then for the next few weeks we collaged shapes from the painted paper to create animals. Finally we made a foam cover and added more pages on which we could color or write. 

  

Monet Waterlilies standing accordion books-2nd grade

I was inspired after the Fall NYSATA Conference and a visit to the Monet Waterlily exhibit at the MOMA (09) to teach my 2nd graders about Monet and Giverny. I debated, tempera or watercolors and settled on a standing accordion Waterlily book with the covers tempera and the body watercolor paint over oil pastels. Some chose to depict the Japanese bridge, weeping willows and lily-pads. They all had the option of collaging lily-pads and flowers onto the paintings. The kids loved Monet's work and will never forget his interest in capturing the same subject at different times of the day and year.