Beautiful Pumpkins with Golden Vines First Grade Lesson Plan

For this lesson we looked at pumpkins on the vine visuals on the projection screen. The kids were especially impressed by the giant pumpkins! Artists then drew with pencil on an orange half sheet of construction paper. We drew a long stem and tried to use up the whole paper. If the pumpkin had a bump or wasn't perfect that was even better!
We looked at the high light on the pumpkins in our visual and how it was darker near the bottom. We colored those details in with construction paper crayons. 
After cutting pumpkins out carefully, students glued onto black back ground and added a light source, moon or stars or both. 
Last and most favorite part was to paint beautiful, curly, golden vines coming from the stem.

Extension/ Exploration and Problem Solving Ideas

Part of my professional teaching goal last year was to provide students with more problem solving and exploration type of projects.  This is difficult to do in a 35 minute Art period once a week when I have curriculum to cover and lots of different materials I want them to experience. 

However, I found that once they got used to doing this type of activity they enjoyed it.

Here are a few ways I provided students with open ended lessons and problem solving opportunities. 

This was an extension of the X tiger lesson. After drawing the tiger using a letter X and discussing the parts of a tigers face and patterns of a tiger, Kindergarteners were given white, black and orange paper and asked use scissors, glue stick and crayons along with the colored papers to create a tiger. The visual of a tiger was on the projection screen but they were given no other guidance.

 Those who finished their problem solving paper tiger could also color a cupcake with animal patterns. Visual of animal print cupcakes was on projection screen.

 For this lesson, 2nd graders watched a drawing video of how to draw a cute penguin (Art Hub For Kids. com). After completing their drawing and coloring it they were asked to make another penguin using only black and white construction paper, blue tissue paper, scissors, glue stick and markers.  

 This was similar for 1st graders who watched a robot drawing video and then made a robot out of gray construction paper and marker.
After they finished both projects we discussed which was easier or more difficult for them and why.

Dream Catcher Drawings 4th grade Lesson plan

For this project students looked at a picture of various feathers and drew them at the bottom of their paper after tracing two different sized circles to make the ring of the dream catcher and the center.

 I showed them how to draw lines between the outer and inner circle to look like strings. They chose their own design or picture to go inside the inner circle.  I tried to give them lots of choices for this project.  I had them do a small thumb nail test of chalk, crayon resist and colored pencil to see which technique they wanted to use to color their drawing. 
The 4th graders did a great job on making these look beautiful!

Laura Burch Cats and Dogs 1st grade lesson

 For this project we started by viewing Laura Burch work and some realistic animal paintings as well. We discussed the difference in using real colors or brighter, whimsical colors and students gave opinions on which they preferred and why.
We watched a short video about the artist and then students chose cat or dog for their project. We created these on a paper bag so they could be stuffed and be 3 D as I wanted my first graders to do another 3D experience. The face was drawn on a separate paper and then glued on so as not to waste paper bags in case of a do over. Ears and tails were made with construction paper and also glued on.
I left the Laura Burch visuals up for inspiration and encouraged bright                                                           colors and patterns.

 I think they turned out amazing and the first graders loved their colorful cats and dogs!