Week of 2/17/2025 - UTK, Kinder and 1st grade - Week 1

 This week UTK students created art inspired by "Dhurries" which are rugs from India!

We looked at a few examples and had a great discussion about what students noticed. It is always nice to hear students using  art vocabulary confidently at this point in the school year. There is more engagement with multiple students raising hands to answer which is lovely to see!!

 We first created 3 vertical and 3 horizontal lines on a 11" X 14" brown poster board using a pencil. Students then colored each shape that was formed in a variety of colors using paint sticks. They then cut construction paper of different colors and glued them inside the boxes.

 

Kindergarten students created art inspired by the story "Go Away Big Green Monster" by Ed Emberley. We read the story first and I love the simple text and the  bold illustrations! Once done, students cut the ears that I have pre-drawn for them with pencil. This step usually takes them about 8-10 minutes as the poster board is thick compared to construction paper or card stock that we typically use. Once done, students draw a variety of lines using a pencil and color the areas using paint sticks. Then they cut circles and add 1-4 eyes using white construction paper and a mouth using black construction paper. After this, I give students white paint to add patterns on the monster's body and triangular teeth to complete their work.

1st graders created book illustrations - I love this lesson as it incorporates writing with art!

I first pick out a book and ask students what they notice on the front cover - title, author and illustrator name and an image. We talk about why this information needs to be included on the front cover and then the purpose of the spine and back cover. I read the story after which I tell students they are going to become book illustrators and if they could design the covers and spine, what would that look like?

I give each student a poster board that has the spine drawn with pencil. We first use a chisel tip black Sharpie to write the title bold as this is what people first look at. We then illustrate the front cover after we discuss who/ what was the main character(s) in the story. Then we write "By" followed by the students name. Students also write the title on the spine, illustrate the back cover and use color pencils/ crayons to color their work to complete it.