In the Art Room: Kindergarten Monarchs

Need a big ole messy project that introduces your kiddos to the magic of monarchs and the spectacularness of symmetry? Try this fun painting project that I did with my kindergarteners on for size!

We started our 40 minute session with this video about monarch butterflies. The kids LOVED this short clip! I then had them go "shopping" at the "store" (my term for gathering up supplies) for one large brush, two small brushes and a piece of pre-folded papers. I also had the kids grab their aprons as I knew this was gonna be a messy one. 

This process is similar to one I have done with my second grade kiddos. We created these butterflies a couple of years ago:

Here's a video I created to share that lesson:

Same concept, different lesson!

Once at their seats, the kids wrote their names and teacher codes on the back of their paper. From there, I told them that I'd be painting something on my paper. Whenever they heard me say, "your turn!" they would go for it. When they heard my chime, even if they were not finished, they were to press the pause button to see what I was painting next. 

We worked on big 12" X 18" pieces of paper and the kids had a blast. They loved the magic of printing and symmetry. 

 Once our big masterpieces were complete, we placed them on the drying rack, put our dirty brushes in the paint brush hot tub (where they go to hang out before being washed by my amazing middle school assistant) and learned a song about the monarch butterfly! It's def a earworm of a song, watch out. I've been humming it all weekend. 

These lovelies will be displayed in both the halls and as apart of our clay displays for our art show! It's coming up THIS TUESDAY...I'm so excited. Video tour to come. Until then!