Rizzi Cities: 2nd Grade

My second graders are currently working on a cityscape unit!  After creating a cityscape under attack by monsers/aliens/robots....they have now moved on to the fun/whimsical Rizzi Cities!!!  They are LOVING IT!!!  I may be doing several posts of the results.  This is Day 1(on a four day rotation). We learned about Rizzi & looked at his work....drew our pictures...and traced with Sharpie on the first day.  Today we painted our pictures using watercolor(Prang).

OCD or ESSENTIAL?!?

This "bath" is long over due!!  Yes, I'm giving my watercolor cases a bath.  It is true, I'm a bit OCD....but this is more than wanting them to look nice.  Washing your cases serves a couple purposes.  We want students to respect our supplies...because when they do...they last longer!  When you have cases that are "dirty"....and paint is in the lid, around them lip of the paints, on the back hinges of the paint sets....students will begin thinking this is "ACCEPTABLE".  They will treat it as you have allowed it to be treated.  You need to hold your students to a higher level!  They WILL rise to your expectations if they are clear, consistent, and practiced.  

The other benefit of the bath....the cases will last longer.  A build of watercolor on the hinges will cause them to get stuck, pop off, or even break.  Semi-most watercolors like my PRANG(which if you are not using...you really should...they are sooooo much better than other brands serving the elementary age)......are kind of "sticky"  That yields great color, but causes a lot of build up if allowed to accumulate.  A little work will ensure that they last a long time!!  

THE TEST:

So you've been seeing the reviews on other blogs, I'm sure.  I must say...I appreciate a company that is willing to put themselves out there and be tested in a real word setting with some of the pickiest people out there when it comes to art supplies!!! ha ha  

I will be the first to admit...I am not a colored pencil snob.  I like getting a variety of brands...because I feel it gives the kids choices!!  If you stick with one brand..you have only their version of a color.  I like variety!!!  Cra-Z-Art are harder lead...and their colors are lighter.  That isn't a bad thing...if you have other colored pencils with softer lead(richer color).  The Prang colored pencils were GREAT!  I'm not sure about the price point, but the quality is there.  I liked the bigger size too.  I was worried it wouldn't fit in the bigger hole of my sharpeners(it did!).  The pencil felt good in the hand.  The color was wonderful.  

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I've always felt pencils were hit or miss.  You can tell when you first sharpen them if they are going to quality.   Ticonderoga are QUALITY!!  They sharpen well & have strong lead.  The Wal-Mart pencils were fine.  However, I prefer Ticonderoga!!!  

 I think you all know how I feel about watercolors!  I've made it pretty clear that PRANG is the only brand for me!!!  This test just confirmed that once again!  The colors are more true. The paints last longer.  They are just better...TRUST ME!!

 Like colored pencils...I'm not a big marker snob.  There are several brands that I like...mainly because they last a good while.  I decided to color a whole page with a color to see how it handled.  I was surprised to see Crayola being a bit "sketch"  Prang's color was solid & true throughout.  When I tested them in a smaller area...the Crayola worked just fine.  I actually do like the Crayola tip better.  I feel you can get smaller thin lines...and thicker thick lines.  I do like Prang's color/juiciness!!! 

I checked my Site Meter & found that Google pulled up my blog for someone who had "googled".....steps to beginning watercolor in the classroom. I'm sorry person who thought my blog might provide an answer for such a thing(google brought them to me because of my blog on Prang Watercolor). I hope you return...because I'm doing a blog just for you!!!

Watercolor for the Elementary Classroom(and beyond)!

FIRST THINGS FIRST....WHAT YOU NEED!!!

• Watercolor sets(I love PRANG!!). The Biggie Cakes are for Kindergarten.
• Paint Brushes(Pick your fav. I like the synthetic best..they seem to hold up better..it is an investment money wise..about $80 for a large set with a variety of sizes...but worth it!
• Multi-purpose paper 80 lb works well. If you go with 60 lb drawing paper, it bows & warps really bad. You could buy paper that is "watercolor" paper, but it is pricey & I'd save it for special projects only(unless you have an amazing budget!!)
• Paper towels(I have the custodian at my school give me the left overs from the dispensers. At least here...they pull the roll off as it gets close to the end)
• Tumbler cups! This is truly a personal choice. I have found in my room...if I give each child their own water cup that it cuts down on spills and arguments(and a need to change extremely dirty water). I have purchased my tumbler cups from Dollar General. I think it's a dollar for 4 or 5. They have a wide base that keeps them from spilling easily, and have taller sides so the brush doesn't "pop" out when kids aren't using it. As with any water container...make sure you tell your students to keep it above their picture. This cuts down on spills!!

I have my supplies...NOW WHAT??

1. What is the topic/subject matter? Of coarse you can do anything, but there are a few subjects that lend themselves well to beginning watercolor! I'd recommend Still Lifes or Landscapes to start with. With Kindergarten...I'd recommend a large object(flowers, teddy bear, animal...etc). Their fine motor skills aren't up for little itty bitty details yet! They will find more success with larger shapes to fill in! Success will build confidence...and confidence will build better artists!!!
2. Have students draw their picture first. Remind them to draw lightly!! Heavy dark lines make the painting appear too coloring bookish. Encourage details, but remind them that if they draw too small...it will be difficult to paint.
3. TEACHER DEMO! This is a must. Bring students around you...making sure they are all able to see what you are doing. Have the same supplies out that you are going to be using with them...set up in the same way you would like to have them set it up. This is not controlling...it is modeling good painting behavior!

• place paint & water cup above paper
• place paper towel under the edge of picture
• rinse paintbrush out by rubbing it on the bottom of water cup & then wiping it on the inside of the cup above water line(to remove excess water).
• hold paint brush in the middle of the handle
• gently rub the paint pats with the hairs of the brush(I always tell students to imagine they are touching a baby's cheek...which keeps them from digging into the pat if it is soft!)
• gently run the brush across the surface of the paper(not painting to long in one place, not pressing too hard and scratching the surface with the metal part of the brush
• rinse brush when switching colors
• Paint large areas first

CATCH PHRASES TO USE WHILE WATERCOLORING WITH STUDENTS

• "WATERCOLOR IS WATERY!"(help students remember not to get dark with their paint)
• "NO CHICKEN FOOT" (reminding students to not press their brush into the paper hard or the paint...the hairs of the brush look like a chicken foot when you press too hard)
• "NO TAP -TAP" (alerts students to not tap their brush on the edge of the cup to get rid of excess water!!! When they tap tap..it sprays water everywhere and can mess up theirs or others work.)

I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!! PLEASE COMMENT IF YOU HAVE ANY MORE WATERCOLOR QUESTIONS!!!