Valentines Day Paint and Paper Collage

Just in time for Valentine's Day, this colorful bouquet will be admired by all. Easy to do; just paint a vase and stems and add paper flowers. Here's how my second graders did it...

Supplies:

• 12 x 18 white sulphite paper
• red tempera paint
• green tempera paint
• various painted papers, printed papers and colored construction paper
• small paper doily
• glitter and white school glue
  

Step One: Painting the Vase and Stems
We all have our favorite way of teaching a basic how-to-draw-a-vase lesson, except with this one, keep it extra simple.
Paint a bottom, paint a top, add two sides and fill it in! Of course, you can do it differently; perhaps make the vase out of paper or use different paint colors for decoration. I needed to keep the vase as simple as possible so we had ample time for the flowers.
After painting the vase, switch paints and add green stems. Just like this little beauty...
Step Two: Cutting out Flowers
I made up a variety of flower templates from card stock. It's easy to do, so don't feel overwhelmed by this step. Just draw a flower (the simpler the better) onto card stock and cut out. Trace onto more card stock and cut.
Before beginning this step, I explained to the children that they must chose one template to cut out (I had a variety of sizes and shapes). Then, if they wanted, they could make their own flower shapes. Many did. The reason for choosing one, is to have them get a feel for the size necessary to fill the paper.

After cutting out the flowers, glue onto paper.

Step Three: Adding Glitter
This is the fun part! I imposed a two-flower limit on the glitter, so the bouquet wouldn't look overrun.


Second Grade Results!

Valentine's Day Heart Collage

Inspired by Valentine's Day, I pulled out my file on Jim Dine and created this multi-step collage project for my second graders.
I use a station-method of attack with this lesson. By this I mean that I set up a different art lesson/technique at each table.


Day One...
To begin, a child chooses a table and writes his name on the white piece of paper at that table. This paper then becomes his "tray". He uses his tray to carry around the different hearts he will make. It will then become the background paper in the next step. Confused? Read on...

I'm going to bullet the instructions, so this post won't be unbearably long.

You'll need:
3 hearts cut out of regular construction paper
1 heart cut out form watercolor paper
note: I use heart templates and have the kids trace and cut their own hearts, but precut hearts saves time.
1 sheet white construction paper (12' x 15")

Station #1: Watercolor Resist Table
1 tray of liquid water colors (red, purple, yellow, etc)
2 water containers and brushes for 5
Tray of oil pastels
At this table, the children use their watercolor paper heart and color it with oil pastels. I encourage them to make patterns, flowers, hearts, circles, etc. Then they use the paint to "wash" their heart.
Have the kids place their finished watercolor heart on their "tray" and move to the next station.

Station #2: Tissue Paper Collage
Using scraps of tissue paper, the kids brush on either liquid starch or Mod Podge (watered down) on their paper heart to moisten. Then they begin adding layers of tissue paper, brushing each one flat.
Tip: It's fun for the teacher or an adult to carry around a jar of glitter. As the kids finish, a sprinkling of glitter can be added to the wet heart. So pretty!

Station #3: Metallic Mess
Set out a tray of regular tempera paint in white, red, lime green and yellow. In another tray, set out metallic tempera paint in gold, silver or bronze.
Show the kids how they can mix the metallic paint with the regular paint, swirling and blending, splattering or dabbing.

Station #4: Paint and Sequins
Set out a tray of tempera paint and trays of buttons, sequins, etc. Anything you have laying around the art room would work for this random collage. Let the kid's personal expression come through, with no specific direction. Let them create.

End of Day one...I know, what a mess!

Day Two...

Using the "tray" from the last class, have the kids stack their now dry hearts into a pile. This part is fun and can be done in many ways. I set out rollers with funky patterns on them and trays of lime green and pink paint. I tell the kids to roll on their favorite color, making sure to roll all the way to the edges.
Next, I set out small tubs of yellow and red paint. Using small brushes, I have the kids make small jelly bean shaped dots, hearts, swirls or anything they want on the background.

Final step: Glue the hearts to the background.
Ahhh! It's done and by now, the kids are covered in paint but mighty proud.