Tissue Paper Dragon Mural

Every few years I pull out this lesson for my first and second grade students. This year, we assembled our dragons together to create a mural. (I'm channeling my favorite art teacher over at Painted Paper here!). Tissue paper is so much fun to work with and despite it being flimsy and light, the organic nature of this project tends to be satisfying and not at all frustrating. You can pick any subject matter for this project. I was inspired by the new movie "How to Train Your Dragon" and I thought the kids might be as well.

The process is simple. Tear tissue paper and brush liquid starch (laundry aisle of grocery store), watered-down Mod-Podge or even watered-down glue to paper.

After the piece dries, the kids use oil pastels to create an outline, add details like scales and teeth.

Cut out to paste onto a huge mural. This was a quick, satisfying and colorful project.
Can't ask for more!

Cardinals in Winter Art Lesson

I believe this idea originated from the fabulous Painted Paper Flicker Stream, although it may have come from a link. I'm terrible at organizing my bookmarks, so I apologize to the creator of this beautiful lesson. My second and third graders did this lesson, but it would be appropriate for fourth grade as well. It's very easy considering how stunning it is. I didn't create a handout for this lesson because you really don't need one; just a quick demonstration on the whiteboard is enough to get the kids drawing.

Supplies:

• 12" x 18" white paper
• Blue metallic tempera paint (Michael's craft store will have this paint)
• Pencil
• Black, red, yellow and white tempera paint
• Q-tips for snow

This is the picture I used sourced from the internet as an example of a cardinal. Explain however, that it's not necessary to draw the entire body, just the head and neck area.
After drawing the bird in pencil (yes, pencil! No eraser though), draw branches and lines for twigs. Set out the metallic blue paint and paint the background first.
After painting the blue background, paint the red cardinal, then the yellow beak, brown twigs and then finally, the black mask and outline. Final step: snowflakes using a q-tip dipped in white paint.
Second and Third Grade Results!

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!

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!