Paint Stick & Pastel Pumpkins

 We have been painting & talking about color, color mixing, blending..etc.  I thought it would be fun to try to transfer the ideas into an oil pastel pumpkin.  We used paint sticks for the background & oil pastels for the pumpkin.  I told them they had to use the background color in the pumpkin as well. 

Picasso Scarecrows

I love doing Picasso Scarecrows in the fall. I don’t do holidays in my classroom because I do not wish for any child to be excluded because of their religious beliefs/practices. We will do leaves, pumpkins, and scarecrows.  With Dora Maar by Picasso as our inspiration, the students creat their wacky scarecrows. They are each so unique!! 

 

IDEAS FOR #pumpkinaday

 So we are two days in to #pumpkinaday (we are also going to use #pumpkintober).  I've seen several people sharing their pumpkins the past two days.....SO FUN!!!  

WHY #PUMPKINADAY

Some of you may be wondering why I started #pumpkinaday when Inktober and other prompts are already established. I love the idea of challenging myself, but sometimes have trouble keeping up with some of the prompts.  I know many others are in the same boat as me....working full time...families....BUSY!!!  I want to make sure people know with the challenges I do (#pumpkinaday, #turkeyaday, and #heartaday) that they can create however they wish (materials/styles/themes) & do not have to stress if they miss a day or three along the way!  

INVITE STUDENTS & FACULTY TO JOIN IN THE FUN!!!!

IDEAS FOR #PUMPKINADAY

Over the years in my challenges I've done many materials/styles/themes that have allowed me to keep things fresh for me and give me a "focus".  One year during #heartaday I shared my favorite things inside the hearts I created.  During #turkeyaday I created a paper doll of a turkey, and each day I created a different outfit for it (not sure if anyone else was amused, but it made me laugh a lot).  There really is no limit to what you can do!  Trying different styles and materials is a fun way to challenge yourself with a simple subject matter.  If you have several different ideas...you can do a theme for a week and then switch the following week.  Most of all though....HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PRO TIP

If you are in the grove...make multiple pumpkins at one time and then spread the posts out! 

HERE ARE DAY ONE & TWO

Kindergarten Leaves

I read the book, Autumn's First Leaf to begin my class. It not only touches on fall themes, but emotions as well.we have done collage before...so I reviewed safety with scissors, proper glue use, and size expectations. After students completed their work, they were responsible for cleaning up their areas and putting away their collage supplies. We then had a descussion about emotions. I had them make the face of the emotion they said & then tell me how they could draw it. I would demo of my document camera what they were saying. This gave the glue time to dry enough that they would be able to draw and color on their leaves.  I felt they turned out great. So expressive!

Fall Trees: Kindergarten

My Kindergartners are growing so quickly! 
   I was worried about the start of the school year when I heard that the classes were all going to be around 26 or 27 students.  We were use to smaller numbers in years past.  Though they've turned out to be a WONDERFUL group...I still am careful when planning my lessons. 
You have to consider class size + materials + ability + storage!

I start every Kindergarten lesson with a book....and have a ton of fall inspired stories!! 

PROJECT

The students were given light blue construction paper.  They were first asked to draw three  rectangles evenly spaced(I showed them to have a hand space between each tree.) that touched the bottom & went up toward the middle of the page.  This might seem like a bit much to ask of Kindergartners, but they can do it with a demo prior to starting.  

From the top of the rectangle to the top of the page, students are asked to create thin rectangles that go up diagonally.  Yes...I use the words diagonal, horizontal, and vertical starting the first day of class!  If you use it...so will they!  After students completed their drawing they were instructed to obtain a crayon box for their table....and use a brown or grey crayon to color their trees.  Last, I gave each table a trey with red & yellow tempera.  They used Q-Tips to apply the paint.  We also talked about what red & yellow make....and discussed warm colors.  

YEP!  I PACK AS MUCH AS I CAN INTO AN HOUR!!!  

Fall Painting Projects for Elementary

Need some ideas for fun fall painting projects for your elementary students??
CHECK THESE OUT!!!

Bringing "CORN"dinsky out of retirement & into watercolor!  I have done this project in the past using oil pastels, but I like the look of it more so in watercolor.  A great project to introduce kids to the amazing work of Kandinsky with a different spin on it!!

Speaking of Kandinsky, here is a crayon resist project that might work well for early elementary.

Have the students draw several leaves on their paper using crayons.  Then introduce wet on wet technique. You can also keep tissues, tissue paper, or salt on hand to add a few more fun texture techniques into the lesson.  It would make a wonderful large group display as well!

I'm doing a unit right now with third grade that is exploring interior and exterior spaces.Bring the fall exterior inside by gazing out the window!  A simple change to a normal lesson that we teach students.  I always talk about the foreground being like the things you see right out your window....now it can literally be right outside their window!! 

Exploring color mixing!!  This is a fun & easy project with a lot of impact.  I have my student fill up their paper with different types of leaves(the biggest problem is that they draw them too small).  Then they paint....but must use 2 or more colors on every leaf!!  Proper painting procedures, color mixing, fall...etc.....this lesson packs a lot of lessons into one!!

Practicum Take Over!!!

'My practicum students created & taught their own lessons this week!!  It has been fun to watch them as they see success & areas that need improvement.  As a teacher of many many moons.....it is so energizing to see young educators start to discover who they are!!

2nd Grade
Ms. Wilson did a POP ART lesson focused on Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans.
The kids loved creating their own wacky flavors.
(Though one is Mr. E flavored...and the paint brush has red on it?? My blood?)

1st Grade

Ms. Saunders focused her lessons on Picasso & him abstracted portraits.

The students laughed so much as they created versions of themselves with eyes, ears, and mouths going every which way!  They also enjoyed using construction paper crayons.

Ms. Alday read to the students a story about scarecrows.  The students focused on using shapes to create their works of art.  They also used construction paper crayons.  

The practicum students are doing an amazing job...and my students are really enjoying them being here at our school!!  It is really a win-win situation if you are on the fence about practicum students!! 

Teacher/Staff Painting Night

The past few years I've been hosting/organizing painting nights at my school.  It is an amazing time of fun, fellowship, and creativity.  I have many teacher call it their "therapy".  Though it does take some time, organization, and planning...the pay off is totally worth it!  

Past painting nights I've asked teachers for $2 to cover the cost of canvases.  I always buy from Michael's when they have their awesome 5pk/10pk sales, and they figure out to $2 or less!  This time though...my principal found some funds to cover the canvas costs.  I provided a variety of sizes for teachers to select from...but that's not always the case.  Ya get what ya get and ya don't throw a fit! ha ha

I provide the acrylic paint.  Most of my acrylic paint I've received through donations, or I've purchased using extra funds from the $2 a teacher thing.  I always organize by color so teachers don't have to hunt.  Time is limited, and I want them to be able to select their own colors!!  

I do cut out a variety of tracers for the teachers if they are "afraid"...but I don't pre-do their canvases. I'm there to encourage, help out, and challenge....not do their work for them.  That is what separates our paint nights from one of those Sips & Strokes(oh..and...the sips have to be school appropriate! ha ha).  I pull up images on the projector to help give them ideas, but it is up to them to create them!!

TREATS!!!!  What is a fun time together without some food! My wife made these yummies for our teachers & purchased the fun napkins!! She's the best!

So I set up each table for a teacher...with paper towel, water cup, and brushes.  I thought this would be great...so teachers could spread out and have their own space.  Well...as teachers came in...they started setting together. I guess they like each other?!?! ha ha  I usually have about 15 to 20 teachers stay after(they sign up prior to the event so you know how to plan!!)

HERE ARE THE RESULTS!!
(some aren't finished yet)

PLEASE CONTACT ME IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS!!!!!!!!!