Lonely Firefly Chalk Pastels

Welcome to another week of my e-course art class!  I continue to learn so much from Patty at Deep Space Sparkle.  I have so many ideas spinning through my head...I know, what's new!!  This week one of the techniques we learned was how to incorporate chalk pastels into arts integration.  I didn't realize all of the cool things you could do with chalk!  I actually used it in my room last year.  The kid's favorite activity was the Klee Cats from Patty at Deep Space Sparkle.  You can purchase the PDF at teacherspayteachers.com.  The other activity I used chalks for was our Eric Carle author's study unit.  Each week we read a different story by Eric Carle and discussed the main character of each and character traits.  Then, we recreated the main character using several different art mediums:  wall paper, fabric samples, construction paper, oil pastels, watercolors, and CHALK!  The vibrant color of chalk on black paper is beautiful.  So, I stuck with that idea for this week's homework assignment but added more detail per what Patty taught me!  Of course Brooke wanted to join along so I have her finished firefly as well!

Eric Carle Inspired Fireflies- Using Chalk Pastels

First Grade 

 Objectives:  TSW recall the main character of the story.

TSW recall character traits.

TSW infer the character's likes and dislikes.

TSW use chalk pastels and oil pastels/glue.

TSW blend chalk pastels.

Materials:

The Lonely Firefly by Eric Carle   

Oil Pastels/ Liquid Glue
Chalk Pastels
Black Paper (any size you prefer)

**To Begin the lesson I would read The Lonely Firefly.  We would discuss the main character in the story and the character traits.  I would have the students talk about the character's likes and dislikes.  Then, I would have the children focus on Eric Carle's illustrations.  We would notice all of the different brush strokes he uses when he paints his tissue paper and all of the different colors he incorporates.  I would tell the children that we are going to re-create the Lonely Firefly by using chalk pastels.  Then, I would begin my art lesson.

Step 1:  Have the children draw the Lonely Firefly with a black oil pastel.  I would teach this to them step-by-step. First, I would have them draw a circle on the top right side of the paper.  Then, draw two circles for the eyes and one circle for the nose.  Next, draw a long rectangular body.  Add a triangle to the bottom of his body to created his "Lighting Tail!"  Next, add to heart shaped wings to both sides of his body.  Add two antennae and six legs (optional).  The children will need to draw the antennae wide, not skinny, so that they can fill them with chalk.  You could do the same with the six legs or just leave them as a straight line.

Step 2: Remind students that at the end of the story the Firefly saw fireworks.  Demonstrate how to draw a firework.  Then, have the children add fireworks to their background with colored oil pastels.

Step 3:  Have the children choose a blue chalk pastel to color in the background.  Demonstrate how to use the "side" of the chalk pastel instead of the "tip."  In my sample I did not blend the background as I wasn't sure how it would look with the fireworks.  You could have the children blend the background now or wait until the end.

 

Step 4:  Have the children choose different colored chalk pastels to color in the firefly.  I recommend having them color the "Lighting Tail" yellow but the other colors are their choice.  Then,  have the children blend in the chalk, inside the firefly, with his/her finger being careful not to go outside of the black lines.  I would provide them with baby wipes as they move from color to color.

Step 5: Have the children draw more firework lines besides their oil pastel fireworks.  This will give the fireworks more pizazz!! 

Step 7: (Optional)  Have the children blend in the blue background with their finger being careful not to smear the fireworks.

Step 8: (Optional)  Have the children blend the fireworks with his/her finger.

I also created the same project using the glue outline technique.  It turned out pretty cool!  Brooke joined in on this project as well so I posted her picture.

Me:

Brooke:

Here is another creation by Brooke.  She created the sunset with chalk and then added glue to make waves and circle the sun!!

Then, Tyler spent an evening watching Patty's videos with me.  He was very intrigued by the video of the ships.  He jumped off my lap, grabbed paper and his markers, and drew exactly what he had seen...a boat with sails, clouds, waves, and a horizon line.  I was BLOWN away!! Art is amazing : )

Well, I hope you enjoyed my second homework project!  We are leaving for Michigan so I won't be as prompt for my next homework assignment!

Chrissy!

Moon Phases Art Lesson

I am taking an e-course from Patty from Deep Space Sparkle. She is a public school art teacher in Goleta, California.  She has so many fabulous ways to integrate art into your curriculum and offers many wonderful lesson plans on TeachersPayTeachers.  I have been learning a TON and part of my homework is to work with some of the art supplies she suggests using in a classroom.  However, we have to think of ways it would work with our curriculum and create a step-by-step lesson.  I loved the idea of using acrylic paint but at the same time had my doubts since it stains clothing.  Still, I love how "professional" it looks and I found a great online store to order small canvas for the classroom: Blick art supplies.  These would be wonderful for parent gifts : )

So, when I was thinking of our curriculum, my mind immediately went to our science units.  One of my favorite units to teach is our Sun and Moon unit.  The kids just love learning about outer space!  (Granted, I wanted to paint lighthouses and palm trees but that doesn't exactly go along with our standards!!)  One of the Sun and Moon standards is learning the phases of the moon.  How cool would our hallway look with hand painted phases of the moon using acrylic and canvas!!!  So, that's what I decided on...the moon.  Poor Brooke was my guinea pig for the project but I was quite excited when she said, "Oh my gosh mommy, this is SO cool and fun!"  And since she was a first grader last year, and because I'm a first grade teacher, that's all I needed to hear to know that this would work!

MOON PHASES- First Grade

Objectives: TSW identify the phases of the moon 

TSW create tints by blending acrylic colors with white

TSW create shades by blending acrylic colors with black

TSW create highlights using different color acrylic

Here is a step by step tutorial, with photos, on creating acrylic moon phases on canvas:
(Obviously I would start by reviewing the moon phases but this it just the "art part" of the lesson.)

Vocabulary:

Phases of the Moon (crescent, half moon, full moon)
Craters

Tints
Shades
Blending
Highlight

Supplies:

Large and small paint brushes
Acrylic paint: black, white, blue, and yellow
Canvas
Straws, toilet paper rolls, marker tops (anything that will create circle rings to represent craters)

Step 1:  Have the children draw a large circle in the middle of their canvas with a pencil.  Have the children decide on which phase of the moon they want to paint.  If they decide to paint a full moon then they will skip step 4 of the following steps.  If they decide on any of the other phases, have them draw the line needed in their moon:

 Step 2: Have the children paint the background black being careful not to paint inside of their pencil line:

Step 3:  have the children mix black, white, and blue to create a tinted bluish/grey color.  Have the children paint the part of the moon that the sun would be shining on.  Once they are finished, have them go back over the paint with pure white and/or blue to create highlights:

Brooke:

 

Mine:

 

Step 4:  Have the children mix more black acrylic paint into their current moon color to create a darker shade of bluish grey.  This will represent the side of the moon that is facing away from the sun without blending into the background too much.

Brooke:

 

Mine:

 

Step 5:  Have the  children create craters, with blue/white acrylic paint, using a straw, toilet paper roll, marker top, etc.  

Brooke:

Mine:

 

Finally, have the children create stars using the opposite end of a paint brush and yellow/white acrylic paint.  Brooke even took it further and used a small, dry paintbrush to paint crossed in her yellow dots to make them more realistic!!

 

Here is the finished project.  Brooke was loving it so much she wouldn't stop for me to take a picture so this is my completed moon phase...crescent moon:

The finished moons would be great to use for a "cycle of the moon" game.  You could have the children put them in order.  I would definitely make sure all of the phases of the moon were being created.  You may need to assign each child a phase.  At first, I had Brooke draw her phase after she painted the black background.  She ended up with black paint all over her hands.  I would definitely have the children do this step, drawing the phase, during the first step.  If a child chooses or is assigned the full moon, then he/she would skip step 4.  You would also need to model for the children how to mix paint and how to create tints (add white) and shades (add black). 

I told you how much I really wanted to paint palm trees so I had to share my watercolor and acrylic palm tree.  This could be a great parent gift!

 I was also thinking of lighthouses which could go along with Our Community.  They could paint the Sullivan's Island Lighthouse!!  Here is a picture I painted using acrylic on canvas of the St. Joseph lighthouse in Michigan. 

 I will be creating 3 more step-by-step lessons in the coming weeks so stay tuned!

Chrissy

LONG time!

It's been a long time since I posted on my blog.  I'm a little embarrassed to say the least.  But, it's been a busy 4 months!  It's hard to believe school is over and my sweet, baby girl will be in second grade next year!  Wow, time sure does fly.

I've still been scrapbooking a TON!  In fact, I am trying to catch up on my current photo collection before I go home to see my mom in Michigan.  Last year, my mom and I scrapbooked over 30 pages.  Of course it was over 100 degrees each day so we had no other choice.  Here are a few of my latest pages for Gotsketch!

The family:

 Brooke's 7 year old pictures:

Brooke just finished gymnastics and baseball.  Yep, I said baseball.  I should also mention she was the only girl on the team.  I was SO proud of her.  With some hesitation at first, she got out there and played with the boys.  She was an AWESOME hitter!  She would like to try to play with the girls next : )

Ty finished football in February.  He wasn't so keen about playing at first but by the end he was having a blast.  He keeps asking when he gets to play again. Ty has moved on from diggers to snakes!  We went to a fabulous reptile house on Edisto Island for Memorial Day.  Ty was in heaven!!  He is also very much into camouflage.

I am getting ready to start summer school on Monday.  Brooke will be joining me and Ty gets to spend some extra time with his favorite person...Papa!  He also gets to hang with the Beck twins and catch some fish.  

Here is a new favorite picture.  Those crazy kids...gotta love them!!!

Well, I won't end with saying that I will post again soon because I know that won't happen.  I will definitely have a lot to say when we get home from Michigan and our trip to North Carolina.  Until then, I pray you have a wonderful, safe, and relaxing summer!!

Chrissy