Lighthouse Seasons 5th grade project

This is a great lesson to teach the standards of problem solving and using symbols to show an idea.  For this project my students look at photographs (many from calendars) of lighthouses. Here in Michigan we have many lighthouses on the shores of great lakes so most of the kids are familiar with them and feel a connection to this type of architecture.

 

This is done as a pencil drawing with the guidelines that the lighthouse must be the same shape and color, but the season around it may be changed.

 The season must be CLEARLY communicated in their drawing, this requires some planning and decision making as they work.  After completing the drawing, students trace their pictures with ultra fine point sharpie marker. They use colored pencils to color their project and then we mount it on colored paper.  The last step is to complete the season idea by making small pictures or symbols or writing words on their frame to enhance the seasonal feeling of the lighthouse picture.

 

Rainbow Trout 3rd grade

This is from Apex art room blog.  Our students learn about trout in their Michigan studies and I loved the idea of a cross curriculum art project.  I was pleased that every student was excited about the chance to draw a trout.

 

We looked at several pictures of rainbow trout on the projection screen and they tried to fill up their 6" x 18" white drawing paper with their drawing. I had them trace it all with permanent marker and use the marker to make the black shapes on the fish.

Then the "wild life artists" used watercolor paint to match the colors they saw on the fish pictures. 

After the pictures dried we cut them out. Everyone has made remarks about how great the fish paintings look hanging on our bulletin board!

Rainbow Cities! Kindergarten

Found this on Pinterest and it is definitely a new favorite.  The Kinders enjoy using markers on any project and they did a great job making a pattern around the edge of the 12" x 18" white drawing paper to begin the project.

 

I hung up papers in the colors of the rainbow, minus indigo, and we started with red. Using red construction paper the students cut a building shape and added door and windows then glued the building to the far left of their paper. We continued thru all the rainbow colors in order, cutting construction paper.  I encouraged the little artists to make each building different in their "rainbow city".  The kids really enjoyed this project and they did a wonderful job on these bright compositions!