Annual Faculty & Staff Snow People

Every year I provide an opportunity for the faculty/staff to create a snow person, snow globe, or snowball to put on display.  It is a wildly popular tradition that comes with a bit of lore.  The year I began this...we had a snowstorm, and were out of school for ten days.  The teachers believed the snow people brought the snow. So every year we continue on the traditions in hope that we get our max snow days! ha ha This year had AMAZING participation. We also had several teachers working together to make their snow people.  I loved the grade level that did Encanto!  SO. MUCH. FUN! 

For those wanting to do this project at your school in January...GO FOR IT!  I pre-make the snow people forms, and place them next to our faculty/staff mailboxes.  By doing this...it helps remove some intimidation for those who don't consider themselves creative & lets me control the size of the display (for the most part!?!?).   

 

Snowflakes: 4th

I haven't been able to paint as much as I'd like with my 4th graders this year.  I've noticed they've been very heavy handed with the watercolor...and lack a lot of control.  So we did this fun one day project to work on washes & color mixing.  We first looked at a ton of actual snow flake pictures....noting the design/pattern/symmetry.  Students then created a drawing that they outlined in black crayon.  I did a demo on how to apply/mix the watercolor...and sprinkle salt (just a few grains and no more).  They look great displayed together in the hall!! 

Patterns & Snowflakes: 2nd Grade

This is a fun one day lesson you can do any time during winter(or..change it to a rain drop shape and do it in the spring!!).  I love winter blues/purples, but sometimes when the days are gray & gloomy....YA NEED A LITTLE COLOR!!!

I use this lesson to reinforce painting techniques.  We talk about colors, color color family, color mixing, brush control...etc.  It is pretty simple, but the kids love it & it gets some skills in!!

Snowflake Rainbow

 The last couple days of school I was attempting to finish all my grading for the nine weeks.  When that task was finished...I taught my students how to cut snowflakes.  4th grade was too busy finishing things...so they did not participate in snowflaking.  I had my students go step by step with me for the first 2..but after that they were able to do it on their own.  I only asked for 1 snowflake from each student to create this display outside my room.  Not all finished more than 2...so I did not as many as I had been hoping for.    I did the rainbow background because I just needed color in the hall! 

 I couldn't hack doing only blue background paper.

Winter Owls w/ Patterns: Kindergarten

This week I read The Little White Owl  to my kindergarten students.  We discussed shape & pattern.  I also introduced construction paper crayons to them. I was thrilled with their work.  They aren't kinderbabies anymore!!!  This is one of the joys of teaching elementary!!!!  My kiddos are growin' up! ha ha