Shape Castle Project #13 (peer lesson)

Description:

     In this lesson, we made a castle using shapes and crayons. She showed us a PowerPoint about German artist Paul Klee to introduce her lesson. He is famous for using shapes and bright colors that complement each other. This makes them stand out in his paintings. We based our project off of his painting "Castle and Sun." First, she had us cut a 2-in strip off the top. We then cut shapes out of the 2-in strip. I cut a square, rectangle, triangle, and trapezoid. We were then instructed to design our castle and use the shapes we cut out to build the castle. Since we based our drawing off of Klee's painting we had to have a sun or moon at the top of our paper. Once we built/drew our castle in pencil we traced it in black sharpie. To finish our castle we used crayons to make a colorful castle. It was important we either colored the castle light or dark and then the background had to be the opposite to make the castle stand out. This lesson was designed for Kindergarten.

Extension Activity:

     One activity that I would do that is based on this project is to have students cut out all of the different shapes we have been learning about in Math class. This would be a project students would complete after they have learned all their shapes. Students would have to have at least one square, circle, triangle, rectangle, and hexagon in their drawing. I would also change that they could make any building they want to, but they would still have the sun or moon in the sky. To finish their building they would color the different shapes making a colorful and bright building. They would then pick a background color that would make the building stand out. 

Clay Footprint Project #12 (peer lesson)

Description:

     In this project, we used clay to make a clay slab about ourselves. We added words or pictures to the slab of clay that represented us. She first presented a slideshow about fossils and talked a little bit about how fossils are made and showed a few examples of fossils. After the presentation, she showed us what we are going to make with the example that she had made. Then she explained the process of getting the bubbles out of the clay and getting it ready for the project. Once the clay was ready we made a circle and cut out the circle. We then had to pick one additive (adding a piece of clay to our slab) and one subtractive (subtracting some of the clay from our slab). I chose to add a big M and then I carved Ms. and the letters A, B, and C into the clay. The A, B, and C represent me being a future teacher. After we carved and added clay to the top we painted our slab. Her requirements were that we had one additive, one subtractive, and two different paint colors. We had to let the clay dry overnight and then we are going to use a marker to fill in the subtractive pieces. 

Extension Activity:

     One activity that I could do that is based on this lesson is to show the presentation slideshow of fossils and explain the science behind how fossils are created. After that, I would teach students how to use clay and all of the steps that go along with prepping the clay. I would then integrate math into science by having students come up with a list in their notebooks of all the different math symbols they can think of. Once they have a list of math symbols I will have them add the symbols to their slab of clay. I will require them to have one additive piece and one subtractive piece. Once they are done with that they can paint it any color they want. We will display these slabs around the room to help students remember the different math symbols.

Chain Links Wall Art Project #11 (peer lesson)

Description:

     For this project, we linked construction paper to make wall art. First, she had us choose three colors with our partner. We had a partner for this project because it helped speed up the process while constructing it. She gave each group a grid piece of paper on that we mapped out our colors and how our wall art would look when it was finished. Once we chose the colors we folded and cut out the colors plus three sheets of white construction paper. After this, we made loops of blue, light blue, purple, and white. Once we made a specific number of blue, light blue, purple, and white loops we started linking them together. To finish the project we tied the string to one side of a stick and wove the stick through the top of our chain links and tied the other end of the string to the other side of the stick.

Extension Activity:

     I would use this activity as a way to promote good behavior. I would assign each table group a color and each time that table group was behaving well or listening better than the other groups I would have students from that table group place their color on the chain. Eventually, we would complete a whole grid. When students get to hang a link up they would include the names of their table group on that link. When table groups changed the new table mates would pick a different color and we would start a new line. At the end of the year if everyone has their name up at least three times then we would get to have some type of party. 

Earth's Ocean Project #10 (peer lesson)

Description:

     In this lesson meant for 3rd graders, we crafted fish by using a stencil and also weaved paper to create the gills. To start the class period, she went through a PowerPoint presentation on ocean life. She gave a few statistics about fish and their habitats. Once the presentation was finished we made our own fish. She had a stencil of half a fish. We picked a color of construction paper that we wanted to be our fish. Once we did that she had us fold the paper in half, put the stencil on the folded side, trace the stencil, and cut out what we had traced. After that, we opened up the half fish which then represented a whole fish. We then cut lines in our fish so we could weave paper through the middle of the fish for the gills. After we finished our fish, we picked two other ocean creatures. I picked a starfish and a coral reef. We then cut out our ocean creatures and glued them to a background piece of construction paper and then finally glued our fish on to make an ocean scene. 

Extension Activity:

     I would use this activity when I am teaching about different bodies of water. I would have students pick a certain body of water and then they would have to pick an animal that is native to that body of water and make that animal. I would have them pick a blank piece of paper; blue to represent the ocean or a white piece of paper that they cut out a river or lake from a blue piece of paper. Once they did this and glued their animal on the paper I would have them research their animal and on a notecard write three facts about their animal and paste that in the corner of their project. This would be a fun activity for students as they are able to choose an animal they like and learn something new about different animals. 

Printmaking Project #9 (peer lesson)

Description:

     This project was called Printmaking and would be made in a 5th-grade classroom. Before the lesson, she had a brief PowerPoint on the artist Andy Warhol who created the original Campbell Soup label. After the PowerPoint, the first thing that she had us do was draw an ocean scene. We could draw whatever animals and plants we wanted in our picture. We did this on a plain sheet of paper. Once we did this we taped our plain piece of paper on a styrofoam sheet where we traced our drawing into the styrofoam sheet. After that, we colored our styrofoam sheet with Crayola markers. She made sure to tell us not to color in the indents on the paper because then our final project wouldn't turn out right. The final step was to take a watercolor sheet of paper, get it wet, wipe it off, place our styrofoam paper on the watercolor paper, and roll it out with a roller. When we lifted the styrofoam paper off and we had stamped our drawing onto the watercolor paper. 

Extension Activity:

     I would use this activity after reading a story to my students. I would incorporate this project into Language Arts by having my students draw a scene from the book we just read. I would then have them trace it on a styrofoam sheet and color it with Crayola markers. Finally, I would have them paste it on a watercolor piece of paper. I would then display their artwork in the hallway and have a little snip about the book and that each student drew a scene from the book. This allows students to show off their creativity and shows that everyone sees things a bit differently.

Basket Weaving Project #8 (my *peer* lesson)

Description:

     This was the project that I did for our peer lessons. I had the class make baskets out of construction paper and then had them draw at least one design on their basket that represented them in some way. I started the lesson off by sharing a little bit about Native American culture. Native Americans weaved a lot of baskets and used them for many different things. Once I shared about Native Americans and their culture I had the class make baskets like Native Americans did. To make the basket, you would use two pieces of construction paper (complementary colors), glue, scissors, and a stapler. The most time-consuming part is cutting the strips and weaving the strips in the basket.

Extension Activity:

     An extension activity I would do is making the baskets before Easter so that all of my students would have Easter baskets if they participated in an Easter egg hunt. I would also plan a fun educational game that included eggs and the students would use the basket they made to collect the eggs around the room. The educational game would be that each group would be assigned a certain color egg and in the egg would be slips of paper. On the paper would be different words and then as a group students would have to classify which type of word the word was. For example, if a student had the word jump, they would classify jump as a verb and so forth. Students would love this activity because they love when they are able to move around in the classroom.

Mandalas Project #7 (peer lesson)

Description:

     For this project, we used watercolors to create Mandalas. She gave us a paper to draw our design ideas on and then we had to choose which design we liked the best. Once we did that we drew four lines on our circle to make eight pieces. Each piece had to have the same design because that is how Mandalas are made. Mandalas originated from Buddism and Buddhists use Mandalas for many different things, especially when they meditate. Once we drew our designs in pencil we traced the lines in Sharpie and then we had to use watercolor to paint our Mandala. Before painting, we had a little strip of paper on which we practiced different watercolor techniques. The four techniques were wet, salt, resist, and dabbing. On our Mandala, we had to include at least two different techniques. 

Extension Activity:

     I would use this activity during homecoming week. Students would either make their own designs or relate them to football and the school mascot. I would then have students paint their mandalas the school colors. I would then hang them in the hallway during homecoming week to show school spirit. Depending on the grade level, I would already have the eight pieces drawn out for them. All they would have to do then is draw their designs and paint the Mandalas. I think this is a fun painting project that is different than the typical painting projects elementary students make.