Creative Fun From Our Librarian!

Our wonderful school librarian is encouraging creativity & I'm here for it!!! She challenged the faculty/staff to decorate a pumpkin like one of their favorite book characters. I made mine from tag board and cardstock (some people are using real pumpkins & others plastic. I love the Pout Pout Fish books. So this was an easy choice for me! I love things like this that bring our faculty together in creative ways. Maybe you can encourage your teachers/staff to do it as well? Ours are on display for the month of Oct, but you could just do it for a week.

Two New Books!

[Sorry the pictures aren't the best...it is hard to photograph a book with a shiny cover when you are in a room with nothing but florescent lights?!? ha ha]

Are you looking for some new books!! Here are two new books that just came into our school library.  Our librarian rushed down to share them with me...knowing I'm always on the look out for great art related books!  THEY ARE AMAZING!!!!  I linked a read along for Pete the Cat, but couldn't find one for Love by Sophia.  Trust me...it is WONDERFUL!  

 

Story Time with Mr.E: The Pout Pout Fish Cleans Up the Ocean

This is my newest Pout Pout Fish book!! 

I hope you enjoy! 

 by Deborah Diesen & illustrated by Dan Hanna

Story Time With Mr. E: Fish is Fish

This book is beautiful visually, but also has a beautiful message.

Fish is Fish by Leo Lionni 

How Artists See....

How Artists See... is a book series I have had for many, many moons.  It is copy right dated 1996, but I don't believe I've had it that long. ha ha  I've used the books in lessons and to inspire one of my spring all school art shows many years ago.  I was contacted in the fall by the publishing company if I wanted to have copies of the 2nd Edition of the book.  Lets think about this....YES!!! I really was curious to what changes had been made.  

THE 2nd EDITION IS BEAUTIFUL!  There are several new images included which I really enjoy.....but THE COLOR!!!  I noticed right away when I started comparing the books (old & new) that the images that were the same....the color is dramatically better in the new edition!  Also I feel Colleen Carroll's descriptive writing that accompanies the images is spot on, and I think extremely beneficial for young readers to explore.  They are great resources for your art library! 

Story Book Forest Art Show: Kindergarten

I'm going to feature each grade level in a post so you can see their work a bit better!  

My kindergarten students created works off of Hickory Dickory Dock, Jabuti, The Nightingale, and Mary Had A Little Lamb.

Jack and the Beanstalk: Kindergarten

This week in Kindergarten we are reading Jack and the Beanstalk.  One of the reasons I decided to theme my art show and nine weeks(and maybe next nine weeks) on Nursery Rhymes & Classic Stories/Fables is because the kids just don't know them.  Only three students were familiar with Jack and the Beanstalk today.  That just blows my mind?!?  

So I had the students draw a loop-da-loop line from one side of their paper to the other.  They then had to make a second line right beside it so that there was something to paint inside of.  Then students added leaves to help fill in the empty spaces on their picture.  I gave each student Blue & Yellow tempera paint.  During my demo, I made sure to show them how to mix a lighter green & a darker green.  My kindergartners seemed to want to "scrub" the paper with a dry brush instead of redipping it into their paint.  I had to stop the class and reteach this part of painting to them.  I basically show them how the brush should flow across the paper, and how that looks compared to scrubbing the paper with a dry brush.  

Martina The Cockroach: 1st Grade

Have you ever read Martina The Cockroach?  It is a weird little book that was included in a set of fables, fairy tails, and stories I bought many moons ago.  I am using it as our inspiration for this week's first grade lesson.  I'm really trying to help them get control of their coloring & craftsmanship.  Not sure why this group has been so "messy".  These are not yet finished, but are turning out super cute!!  

Books in the Art Room: Winter

Fall has been fun..but it is time to turn our attentions to winter!  It will be here before we know it.  I do my best to have WINTER books & not CHRISTMAS.  I stay away from holidays as much as possible since they are a day...and seasons last for months (so the art is relevant longer!).  Plus..not everyone celebrates the same holidays...or in some cases..ANY holidays. 

So here are some of the winter books I use in my classroom! 

Fall Books in the Art Room

My favorite time of the year!!  Growing up in the middle of a forest...fall has so amazing memories for me!  The sights, the smells, the tastes...FALL IS FABULOUS! 

I usually do fall themed projects with most grade levels during this time of the year.  I've accumulated many books that connect to the season...to read with kindergarten (or whoever!).  So here are some books for your consideration.  

WHAT ARE YOUR FAV FALL BOOKS??

KINDERGARTEN DINOSAUR UNIT BOOKS

I decided I'd "TRY" to do a post a week of my favorite books to read to Kindergarten.  This week I'm sharing my favorite dinosaur books with you.  The kids LOVE dinosaurs(I love dinosaurs!!!).  There are some great quick videos online that you can add to your lessons...the kids love when you bring more to the lesson that will capture their imagination!!  These are not all of the dino books I have...but the ones I go to most when I do an extended unit!!!  

Because Underpants cracks them up!!! ha ha

Great story...kindergarten needs this!! 

Fun words...fun pictures...great movement!

Great retelling of a classic!!

I mean really...look how cute the illustrations are!!!!

Love these books(there are several!).

Great lesson starter!!!!

K FISH UNIT BOOKS

Here are the books I used this 9 weeks for my kindergarten unit on fish/under the sea! I often am asked about the books I'm reading to my students that go along with the lessons I teach.  I flip themes from year to year with kindergarten...and this year I went back to fish!  So if you are looking to add to your classroom library...here are some books for you!

One of my favorite books to read to the kids!!!! 

 If you don't have it...you have to get it!!

I'll probably get every book that ever comes out of the Pout Pout Fish!! 

A CLASSIC!  Actually this was my favorite book as a child!!

Beautiful book, the writing is wonderful, and hidden numbers on each page!!

(there is also Somewhere In The Garden...get both of them!!)

Super cute...great colors!!

If the 3 little pigs went underwater..this is what you'd get!

THE THREE LITTLE FISH AND THE BIG BAD SHARK

FOR MORE BOOK IDEAS...CHECK OUT MY BOOKS I USE 

IN THE ART ROOM BOARD ON PINTEREST!!

https://www.pinterest.com/tededinger/books-i-use-in-the-art-room/