Sunday, January 6, 2019

In the Art Room: Penguins with First Grade

 Need a fun lesson for your first graders tomorrow? I think I might have something for you: these adorable penguins! This lesson teaches so stinkin' much: warm colors, brush control, using watercolors, painting spirals, a review of lines and shapes and much more. The kids loved creating these. 
I made  a video just for you to share with your students to walk them through this lesson. Here I'll break it down for you day by day.
 If this image looks familiar, that's because my kindergarten did a slightly similar lesson. You can check that out here

I see both my kindergarten and my first graders for 30 minutes twice a week. So here's how we spent Day 1 and 2: Painting spirals! Midway through day 2, most kids were finished painting their 12" X 18" papers with spirals. Once complete, the kids placed their work on the drying rack and worked on the following...
 With my shorter art classes, we don't have sketchbooks. Instead, we sketch on dry erase boards. This cuts down on paper waste...and, added bonus, kids LOVE drawing on dry erase boards. I got mine at the Dollar Tree. I created a step by step penguin so my students could practice independently while their classmates finished their paintings. This is something new I've been doing this year and I love it. Not a moment of instructional/practice/work time wasted...and no wasted paper either!
 Day 3: guided penguin drawing. These guys are huge, measuring in at 12" X 18". We used bingo daubers and drew on the floor. Yes, crazy...but it is the method that I found works best for me and my students. I had each place a messy mat under their penguin so we wouldn't get ink on the floor. Of course we did! It mopped up.
 Day 4: The following art class, we added the chalk to create form and painted. Some classes moved quickly enough that we were also able to cut them out!
 If you are looking for a fun winter collaborative project, that could be it! Skip the background painting and just create these. Add them to a backdrop and, ta da! Instant winter mural!
We hung these up with the kindergarten snowman for a fun and frosty display. Have fun, y'all!

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12 comments:

  1. A fun idea on a smaller scale for us greeting card and trading card crafters!

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  2. Great article with excellent idea! Thank you for such a valuable article. I really appreciate for this great information. I expect more useful information from your professional writers. Essay writing services

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  3. Great idea to work with my kids!! I am a teacher from Spain. I work in a bilingual School and I was a bit bored of working with Art and Crafts books. You are my inspiration and I think that my kids and I are going to enjoy this subject following your posts.
    If possible I will send you the results!!!
    Congrats for your work.
    I think you are a superb Art Teacher.
    Thank you so much!!

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  4. Love these!!! I can't wait to have my kiddos try them out!

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  5. WHere do you get your bingo daubers??

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  6. WHere do you get your bingo daubers?

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  7. Where do you get your bingo daubers???

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  8. Sorry for the multiple questions - it wasn't showing up here a moment ago - LOL!!!

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  9. this is awesome! I'm looking for the step by step of drawing a penguin.. the ones I am finding online are very complex or too simple :(
    thanks again

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  10. Very very cute! Thank you for sharing.

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  11. What kind of watercolors do you use in this video?

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  12. This comment has been removed by the author.

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