Kindergarten Fish Paintings

 I love kindergarten so much!  They grow/learn so quickly. I start each year with a "fish" unit so that my students can master the subject while being introduced to new media each week.  The last project of the unit is a fish painting.  We used the Crayola Washable Watercolor sets.  Not usually my favorite watercolor, but they worked nicely for this project.  They did such an amazing job. (sorry the pictures of their work was kind of a mess...I was in a hurry when I took them!).  

1/2 Hour Class...Painting K-5th

This is what I did during our 2 hr delay day that changed my classes from an hour to a half hour! 

Crazy or Genius....YOU BE THE JUDGE! ! ha ha

Spring Kinder Paintings

Don't come at me about "PRIMARY" colors! I know that is debated in the online art education groups. I am not one that preaches red/yellow/blue.  It is, however, what I have on hand to use.  I'm using lids for the paint, 12x18 construction paper, big flat brushes, and tempera paint.  We've painted using markers, watercolor pencils, pan watercolor, and now tempera.  They are pretty good with following basic techniques/rules. I showed them how to mix the colors, but let them experiment.  If they end up with brown flowers...it is a learning experience. 

Video of My Class At Work

Notice how quiet the room is!  They are allowed to talk while they work, but they were so "into it" that they were silent...UNTIL...the one boy says, "Painting makes me tired." ha ha 

*I never show the students full face unless I have parent permission. That was one good thing about masks!! ha ha

Kindergartners Watercolor Painting for the 1st Time!

You could have heard a pin drop! 

 These kiddos were AMAZING!!

My kindergarten students have worked with watercolor pencils & used wet brushes on washable marker marks, but this was the first time we used pan watercolors.  They did incredibly well! Not just no spills, but really applying the tips, tricks, and techniques! 

Mondrian: Kindergarten

Ms. Witt (my student teacher) wanted to introduce basic ruler skills to kindergarten.  She used an oldie but a good lesson:  MONDRIAN!  It is a great way to have students use rulers, be successful, and end with a beautiful piece of art.  (AND THEY LOVED IT!)

She started by talked to them about the uses of a ruler, how to hold a ruler still, and things to avoid when using a ruler.  They students then created a grid across their paper.  She used tempera cakes(love the color) for them to paint their work.  Once again, she went over the basic skills of painting....how to hold a brush, how to rinse the brush, how to "use" the brush appropriately. This lesson has so many great skills to review and reinforce!! This is a great time of the year to make sure your kinders have a good foundation in the skills you want to build upon in coming lessons...and in coming years.

Dinosaur Tracks: Kindergarten

My kindergarten was busy tracking dinosaurs today in art class!! I started by reading Mine-o-Saur in the reading area(great book if you have not read it!!). Once they returned to their seats I provided handouts with a variety of dinosaur footprints. After making their selection they drew the dino prints across their paper. They then used two colors of fluorescent oil pastels to color the prints. Finally they did a wash over the whole page using two colors of fluorescent watercolors.  I think they turned out dino-tastic!!

Fish Paintings: Kindergarten

I was so excited about my kindergarten students' paintings...

I shared some pictures of their efforts on Twitter!  To my surprise...Peter H. Reynolds shared my post on his page & commented on it!!! WHAT?!?!  If you don't know who he is...YOU SHOULD! He is the author of The Dot, "ish", and other amazing books!!  How encouraging to have him take notice of my students. Anyways....here is a screen shot of the Tweet.

I kick off the year with a fish unit!  We can explore different media while staying consistent with the subject matter we're creating.  I feel students are willing to explore media if they are confident in what they are creating.  Last week we created fish using markers, and this week we are painting using watercolor.  I don't know if I've ever had a group of students so focused & able to follow the painting "rules" so early in the year! It was just a delight to watch them work, explore color mixing, and be so proud of their art!  

I start the lesson reading a Pout Pout Fish book.  If your are not familiar with them...they are wonderful & your students will LOVE them!  I then have students return to their seats & review creating a fish using basic shapes.  While students are drawing their fish...I begin passing out painting supplies.  As long as you tell the students up front (and give a few gentle reminders after that) that they need to not touch the painting supplies until you tell them to do so.....you will be ok!  However, before I give them the "OK"...I do demo painting & go over the procedures and expectations.  

MAKE SURE YOU LEAVE ENOUGH TIME FOR CLEAN UP!!! 

At least 5 more minutes than usual when you are painting with kindergarten!!!

Make sure you have a plan in place for getting paint, water cups, pencils to where they belong...and where you are going to place the paintings.  Drying racks are great, but kindergarten struggles to get them in the slots.  I'd find a flat surface...a couple empty tables...shelves...along the wall in a low traffic area on the floor.  

Here are some of the finished pieces!

Aliens Love Underpants: Kindergarten

I promised my kindergarten a painting day.....and they were SO EXCITED!  

We started the lesson by reading Aliens Love Underpants.  If you don't know this series of books...there is Pirates Love Underpants, and Dinos Love Underpants as well!!! They are a kindergarten favorite.  I mean...who won't chuckle when hearing the word UNDERPANTS said again and again!! ha ha  Plus, when you are creating aliens...students can really let their imagination run wild!

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!!!  

Fish Paintings: Kindergarten

Oh how Kindergarten loves to paint!!  We did a very controlled collaborative painting the first week of school...but this is the first time they've gone at it in a full fledged lesson! We are about 5 or 6 weeks into the school year now....so they've learned a great deal.  They also are very confident with our fish/sea theme we've been working on this 9 weeks.  After a demo & explanation of painting expectations & procedures...they students got to work! 

THE RESULTS...BEAUTIFUL!!!!

I use the wide bottom tumbler cups from Dollar Tree/Dollar General(have had them for years and years).  I only fill them about 3 or 4 inches full of water(in case of spills.

We use the "Biggie" watercolor sets with 4 colors.  Tempera cakes would work also. It is more getting them use to holding a brush, rinsing out the brush, ...etc. 

I do not do step by step exactly...I do a demo and then let them do it.  I don't want all the pictures to look exactly the same...but I do believe in guidance for my kinders!!!

This girls fish is super fun..and very different from the others.

 LOVE IT!

It is amazing how so precise some of the kids are at such a young age!

Sharing is caring!! Also...I know...I need to get new paints!!(get the refills!!..cuts down on cost)

IF YOU ALL HAVE ANY FEARS OR QUESTIONS ABOUT PAINTING WITH KINDERGARTEN...PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT OR CONTACT ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA!!