Kindergarten Self Portraits

Learning to draw yourself (and just anybody in general) is a difficult task. Kinders learned what a self-portrait is and saw examples of my own self portrait in different materials. Students started their self portrait by tracing an oval on a piece of paper. Students were shown easy ways using shapes and lines to draw different parts of  the face. Students drew their face in pencil and traced the face in sharpie. We discussed how to choose appropriate eyebrow, eye, and skin color (choosing a few colors, testing them on the back of the portrait, and then decided what was best) and then colored in our portrait with crayons. Students cut out their portrait and then used yarn to create loop-knots in the holes for hair. I love all the different expressions found on the self portraits!

Kindergarten Paper Sculptures

Kindergarten are finishing up these beautiful paper sculptures. Using flat paper and manipulating it to pop out from a flat base is a great way for students to understand three-dimensional form and sculpture better. Of course, we discussed how sculptures can be made from a variety materials, but our sculptures were made from paper. I demonstrated to students how to create folded tabs on the end of paper strips so the paper can be glued down. I also demonstrated twisting and accordion folding and they were very excited by this because they know from previous lessons that this is a way to create interesting textures on their sculptures. Many of them show so many lines moving around the paper that they seem to have an energy all on their own!

Kindergarten Winter Trees

These beautiful sparkly winter trees were created by our Kindergartners. First, we drew all sizes of triangles: large, medium, small, to create the trees. Then details were added and glitter lain on top of glue. Students used a sponge and white paint on top of a paper (their choice of color) to create a textured print for snow. Finally, we discussed how trees that look small are far away and larger trees are close, and students cut, arranged, and glued down their trees to their paper

Kinder Texture Tiles

Continuing with our lesson on texture, Kindergarten has created these clay texture tiles. They each received a tile and then used different objects and clay tools to create all kinds of textures with on the tile. They were dried out, were baked in the kiln, and we then glazed them to add colors. They were baked one more time, and here they are!

Kinder Texture Rubbings

Kindergarten has been learning about texture in Art. I showed students pictures of objects and animals and asked them to tell me how that particular 'thing' would feel on their fingertips. We learned the four 'staples' of texture: Hard, Rough, Soft, and Smooth. Next, we folded a piece of paper three times, traced the fold lines, and began to create texture rubbings with texture plates and crayons. Finally, I encouraged the kinders to explore textures in the room and find objects and areas to create texture rubbings from. It was a blast!

Kindergarten Jack O' Lanterns

These little guys were drawn in black crayon (with curved lines to make our pumpkin look round and real) and painted with warm colors. Next we used black paper and cut different shapes for the face, discussing how many sides a triangle has, how to cut a circle from a square, etc. They are very cute and they are on display in the staircase across from the gymnasium!

Kindergarten Color Mixing Finger Paintings

Color mixing is one very important component of Art! In Kindergarten we learned the Primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and how we can mix them to create new colors (green, orange, purple). We used fun finger paints on paper to create an entire rainbow of colors, and while we were at it, we created different kinds of lines in our paint after we were finished mixing the colors.