Drawing and Painting Barns for Third Grade

Here is a super easy lesson that I snagged from Painted Paper Flicker Page. If you have any desire to be utterly inspired let alone be swept away by color, visit this link. This gal is my ultimate inspiration! Couldn't quite find the "barn" painting to refer you to, but it's in there somewhere!
Anyway....like I said, this project is an easy one and it allows all children to feel like an art star. It's wonderful lesson for all abilities as long as the child can draw a line (and it doesn't have to be straight).

Here's what I do:

• Set out a piece of 12" x 18" white drawing paper and one black oil pastel per student.
  
• On the white board, I demonstrate how to draw a barn, beginning with the square that makes up the front of the barn. Starting at the bottom left hand side (allow room for background), draw a square with an open top. If some kids close off the "square", don't worry.
  
• Now, draw two angle lines to form a triangle (pitched roof).
• Place oil pastel on the bottom right hand corner of the "square" and draw a line along the bottom of the paper to form the bottom of the barn.
  
• Then draw another line, parallel to the bottom line in the middle. Then, draw another line along the roof...BUT...stop before reaching the end.
• Connect the lines to form a steep roof and side of the barn.
• Add a square to form a "loft", a wide double door and windows.
• Keep the background simple by adding gently rolling hills, trees or even a fence. I encourage the kids to make the barn the star of the show.
• Add a silo.
• Don't paint barn boards at this stage.
  

• Now, the kids are ready to paint. Set out a tray of white, yellow, red, light blue, dark blue and green.
  
• Teach them how to mix colors directly on the page using the double loading technique with the paint brush (dip paintbrush with one color, then dip into another color. Be careful not to swirl the paint around!)
• Paint sky first. I encourage the kids to paint their sky whatever color they like, but they must consider the barn and the background before deciding. They don't want to use the same colors!
• After the sky is painted; paint the barn. Suggest that they paint their roof a different color than their barn.

• The last step involves setting out little tubs of black tempera paint and small brushes. Trace over every single oil pastel lines plus add lines for barn boards, if desired.

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Third Grade Results!!!

Day of the Dead Art Project

Second grade used the same technique as the First Grade Skull project, but drew a full skeleton instead of a simple skull. Simple instructions this time...I think it's fairly easy to follow!

1. Use a white oil pastel to draw a skeleton with clothes...chose a man or woman.

2. Use white tempera paint to paint over the "bones".

3. Use tempera paint (mixed with a bit of white) to paint the clothes.

Second Grade Results!

Day of the Dead "Dia de Los Muertos" First Grade Skulls

Latin American and Mexican cultures celebrate Dia de Los Muertos on November 1st and 2nd. It is a joyous occasion where loved ones who have passed on are honored and remembered. Fantastic art is created for this vibrant holiday and I just couldn't help join in on the fun.
For some great photos, check out this site.
I have a rule in my art room that I never create holiday based art lessons as I teach in public schools. Many cultures and ethnicities are represented and holiday theme actrivities usually present more problems than they are worth. But since one of my schools has a large hispanic population, I thought I'd be safe. Not really. I had a few students who couldn't take part and for that, I felt badly. Be sure to check with the classroom teachers or principal before doing this project...

Supplies needed:

• black construction/drawing paper
• white oil pastel
• white tempera paint (not watered down)
• paint brushes
• trays of tempera paints mixed with white tempera paint (they should look pastel)

Step one: using an oil pastel, draw a skull. Use any teaching method that works for you. I demonstrated how to draw a simple skull then let the kids do theirs.

Step Two: Paint the skull and "bones" with white tempera paint.

Step Three: Add "teeth" with the tips of the brush then add flowers, sunglasses, earrings, necklaces, etc. When making flowers, give kids the option of drawing some flower shapes with the oil pastel or they can wing it, like most of my students did.
Tip: When painting the flowers, show the kids how to squeeze the water from their brush. You don't want a wet paint brush when painting flowers...the black paper will show through. I encourage you to try the consistency of the paint first just so you get a feel for it.

First Grade Results!

Single Lesson Plan: Egyptian Faces!

Deep Space Sparkle presents....EGYPTIAN FACES!
Studying ancient civilizations is a huge part of California's social studies curriculum. Most teachers have a bevvy of lesson plans devoted to Egyptian art but this one is my favorite. It takes portrait drawing skills a bit further by learning how to draw a profile plus it allows for a ton of creative expression. The results are stunning with all the intricate details and makes even the most tentative artist empowered. It's fun too...how often do you get to work with gold paint!

This 8-page single subject lesson plan features:

• Two original Deep Space Sparkle drawing handouts
• Student samples (my favorite!)
  
• Complete multi-photo tutorial.

This lesson is best suited for upper elementary students but would be successful with junior high as well.

Click on the "Add to Cart" Button below to purchase. Only $3

ALL PDF'S ARE DOWNLOAD ONLY. THEY WILL NOT BE EMAILED OR MAILED.

Trucks and Tractors: Kindergarten Shape Lesson

When my two boys were little, I would pack a lunch and drive to a construction site where we would sit on the hood of our car and watch the big rigs in action. They were memorized.
DK's "Things That Go" was their favorite book and before they turned 4, my sweet boys were experts on all types of excavators, front loaders, and diggers. Honestly. They just couldn't get enough.

Last week I was searching for a one-time lesson for my kindergarten class. Another rotation was about to start and I really wanted the kids to finish up a project in one class session. I looked to the big rig bible, "Things That Go" and decided to combine a lesson using shapes with most kid's love of machinery.

I photocopied pages from the book to hand out to the kids for inspiration, but mostly they were riveted on the white board. I drew four types of trucks and tractors, focusing on the wheels first, then the underbelly, cab and engine. I traced around the shapes with my finger so they could see how combining a bunch of circles, squares and rectangles can turn into a big rig of their choice.

Tip: Place a variety of round plastic lids or cups on the tables so if the kids want to trace a circle, they can. Many kids need a starting point: a place where they feel safe. Tracing the lids is really helpful in this manner.

This was a fun lesson for them. Many drew backgrounds and created all types of scenarios to place their big rig into. We used simple materials: white paper and crayons. That's it. Simplicity at it's best.

Kindergarten Results...