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.