Kindergarten Polar Bears

Oh sweet kindergartners....They are so eager and so ready to learn, but it's a little difficult sometimes coming up with fun/engaging/cute things for them to do! They usually say, "I'm done!!" in 10 minutes, so you've got to find just the right project to keep their little hands and minds engaged! (and I'm still art on a cart, so that's limiting as well!) I was cruising around Pinterest the other day, and found this precious piece of art for a children's nursery, and thought it'd be fun for Kindergarten to try out! Link to the site in the picture. This took one 45 minute class to do! Here's how we created them, as well as some videos showing how to complete this :)

1st grade Winter Cardinals

This week, first grade started this cardinal painting inspired by Art Projects for Kids! They've really enjoyed making them, and I have to! It's tricky to find this to keep these kids cool, just a few days before break, but luckily there is a super strong and supportive art teacherin' community, who loves to share their ideas! I am so thankful for that!

Here are our kids, hard at work on theirs!

2nd grade Ugly Sweater Bears

Here's another great idea from Art Room Britt! Their bears looked so fun and cute, I thought they'd be a great thing to do with just a few days left until break! I did these with 2nd grade (normally our rowdiest grade besides 5th) and they were quiet as church mice!! That's unheard of, this time of year! They loved drawing out the bears and adding the details to their sweater! Each one was cute, and unique!

Here's how we created ours!

4th & 5th grade Jen Aranyi inspired Winter Landscapes

We're almost there folks! Just 1.5 days left until Christmas break!! The kids have actually been great, thanks to fun new projects like this one! I was scrolling through Instagram, Ahem... (I mean Collaborating with my fellow Ahht teachers) when I came across an awesome looking lesson inspired by the one and only, Cassie Stephens, and the ever so talented Art Room Britt. They had been doing the fabulous looking Jen Aranyi inspired landscapes with their classes, so naturally I had to try it with mine! Y'all....They have been turning out great, and they were so excited to try it. They loved watching the artist's time lapse videos, and we just amazed with her beautiful work! 

Here's how we created them!
(How to draw videos are close to the end of the post, or you can click on this link)

1st grade Snowy Penguins

This week, we're finishing up day 1 of our precious lil penguins! I found this beautiful idea on Mary Making's blog!  This project incorporates watercolor painting, drawing, value, and oil pastels. 

Here's how we created ours! 

Kindergarten Snowy Cities

We're dreaming of a white Christmas around here, and are in snowy project mode! I found this one years ago, on Deep Space Sparkle I think (but I can't find the original link) :)

 Kindergarten finished their cool colored, wintry landscapes last week....

This was adapted from Art Projects for Kids

and we're moving on to some snowy cities!

Here's how we created them!

2nd grade Deer in the Snow

This week 2nd grade started this multimedia deer in the snow! This project was inspired by the Painted Paper Art blog!
We have snow in the forecast, and we're trying not to get our hopes up, but the thought of snow is so exciting!! 

Here's how we created our little deer!

4th grade Aurora Borealis landscapes

Thank goodness we live in an age where we can get inspiration from teachers all over the world! Most art teachers are alone in their building, so we do not have the opportunity to collaborate with our peers as much as the other teachers do. I'm so blessed to live in an age where an art teacher clear across the country or world is accessible in mere seconds! We can all share our great ideas, and not have to leave the comfort of our pj's if we don't want to! Anyway.... As I was scrolling through Instagram, I came across this beautiful project from Art with Mrs. E. Her 4th graders did such a great job, I wanted to try it out with ours as well! 

We will be starting this when we come back from Christmas break!

I love this technique of spreading chalk to create the look of the Northern Lights. Here's how I did it.

3rd Grade Ornaments

Last week and this week, third grade was busy getting ready for their music program,  so they needed to practice during specials. (which is fine, just gets us off schedule a bit :) Today we were able to get back on a regular schedule, and were able to start this neat little Christmas picture.
 I wish we had more time to spend on it, but they were able to complete quite a bit in a 45 min class.
(I found this lesson on the Color Like You Mean It blog!)

Blended Candy Canes take II

This year, I decided to try out our favorite Christmas project from last year (4th and 5th Blended Candy Canes), and again they turned out beautifully! Click on the link above to see how to do this fun, easy, and awesome project inspired by Katie Mallette (instagram @katieplus4) The kids are learning about blending, using Crayola oil pastels, and also learning about the Element of Art, Value!

Here are some examples from this year!

1st grade Woven Winter houses

First grade is learning about weaving and is starting their woven winter house, this week! We started by talking about weaving, showing examples of weaving, and discussing the importance of this art form. We also discussed all the different materials you could weave, like thread, fabric, straw, wood, plastic, etc. I told them we were going to start with the basics and weave some paper! ;) 

Decking the Halls!

Here are some adorable doors, from teachers around our school! 

Our halls are merry and bright, thanks to everyone decking out their doors for the upcoming Christmas season! I love how our school comes together to do fun things like this! Makes this time of year even more special! Amazing art, teachers!!!

3rd grade Gustav Klimt Trees

Last week, 3rd grade started their Gustav Klimt inspired trees. Originally, we were going to paint 

4th & 5th grade Blended Candy Canes

4th & 5th grade 

Blended Candy Canes

As 5th graders are finishing their one point perspective pictures, they can start on a fun project that involves blending, and using one of my favorite mediums, oil pastels. 

Here's a step by step tutorial on how to make them!