Dollar Tree Transformation

It's no secret that Dollar Tree is one of my favorite places!!  Recently I found these Christmas gnomes that I thought were super cute.  However, I saw the potential in using them at school with a little transformation.  The image is printed on(except the gloves and boots are extra wood pieces added on top of the image.  The snow flake and present were on the beard of the gnomes, and I knew I could easily paint over that area, and change things up a bit. I have them flanking a board in the hall where I hang students work they make me outside of class. They have become the art gnome guardians. 

Need Ideas For Winter Bulletin Boards?!?!

Need ideas for winter bulletin boards?!?!  Here are several I've done over the years that might get some ideas cookin' for you! I don't do holidays because that is limiting for students and the length you allow something to stay up!  A winter board can be up till the end of February.  

(I'm currently working on this year's with my students!). 

This is a great time to do a school wide collaborative project!  Every year I have my students create a different component for a large collaborative mural.  If I have any left over parts...I usually hang up smaller displays in other parts of the school.  The students are always so excited to try to find the part they created!  The project range from watercolor, collage, marker, colored pencil, crayon...and everything in between!!  You can make this work based on the supplies and space you have available to you at your school!

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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!?!?).   

 

Collaborative Winter Bulletin Board 2022

I do a collaborative bulletin board for winter every year. Here is the link to the post where I shared a lot of  past boards >>  https://www.artwithmre.com/2022/11/need-some-winter-bulletin-board.html

When I made that post we had not finished up this year's board.  I wanted to share it with you.  I love how cool & wintery it looks.  For those of you wondering how I do this...let me share.

The days before Thanksgiving break I have all my classes make parts to the board.  They are told from the start that they will be "gifting" this creation to the school to make it beautiful.  I've never had a problem where students negatively reacted to giving their work to the bulletin board.  They know it will be on display for three months, and they will get to see it every time they enter the school, go to lunch, related arts, or other times walking through the school.  I know I've had teachers in the past tell me they thought there students would not be able to part with their work.  I honestly believe if you tell them from the beginning the purpose of the project....they get it & will be totally on board! As the teacher, I cast the vision of what the finished work will look like, and the part the students work will play.  I keep the different parts to the board in baskets to stay organized (after they've dried...most pieces are painted or collage).  This is a great time to review some skills too!! (cutting, painting, gluing..etc)  Also feel free to have  some responsible older students help you with assembling the board when all the pieces are complete! 

More Kindergarten Snow People

I just can't get enough of the kindergarten snow people! I hope you are enjoying them too! 

Collage Bodies & Construction Paper Details

Un-Snow People Behavior

 I thought these works were turning out so cute! Unfortunately we won’t be able to have our finish up day because we’ve gone virtual again.

Snow People: Kindergarten

We started the year virtually, and continued through the end of the first nine weeks. I'm not sure how many others school years have gone this way, but it definitely changed things.  I feel like I've been starting from scratch the six weeks we've been back. I've not seen the "finishing" that I'm use to from my students.  Just now am I seeing the work I'm use to at the start of the school year.  

My kindergarten students created snowpeople last week, and I was truly excited to see the progress they've made.  Kindergarten is my favorite grade level to teach.  They grow by leaps and bounds!! 

Check out their super fun pictures!! 

Faculty/Staff Project

Over break I worked on preparing this year's winter faculty/staff project. I try to do this every year(usually before Christmas Break).  It all started years ago...when I first decided to do this type of a thing at my school.  Well, that year we ended up having several snow days(something that doesn't always happen in Middle TN).  The teachers/staff linked the winter project with the snow days. SO NOW...they want to do it every year!! ha ha   I'm not sure the power they have over the weather, but it sure is fun seeing everyone create & the students also LOVE guessing who made which one! I do try to switch it up a little bit every year....because I had several teachers try to give me their old project the following year! ha ha 

If you aren't doing this with your faculty/staff...maybe consider something like it for spring (rain drops or flowers)? 

HERE ARE SOME OF THE ONES FROM YEARS PAST

I'll post pictures after the teachers/staff have completed their snowpeople!

Winter Bulletin Boards

Since I've been at home on medical leave/FMLA....and not at school to do my annual winter board...I thought I'd share boards from years past. These are all collaborative boards with 2 or more grade levels involved (most utilizing the whole school!). The work is on a bulletin board in the main hallway, and I usually leave it up until February. It is so much fun seeing the kids looking for the part they contributed!! 

Kindergarten is Playing in the Snow!

I wanted to revisit self portraits with kindergarten.  

I break down full body self portraits using shapes in a demo first.  Then I let the children go back and draw their body.   I then do another demo showing them how to add in details(eyes, nose, mouth, hats..etc).   I don't do step by step...."guided drawing" because  I feel that they become to robotic looking & lack the child's personality.
I love my kindergarten students...they are AMAZING!!!!!!!