Bunny with Glasses art project

This is one of those art projects that went viral on social media but I can't, for the life of me, find the original source. I think it's HERE, but I could be wrong. It's the website TES, which is a British based educational website. 

Nonetheless, you can find variants of this lesson (different backgrounds) all over the internet. 

Some templates are HERE and HERE. 

This would make a great sub lesson if you're going to be out in the Spring as it can be, depending on which media you choose, low mess and low prep!

Some finished artworks by Grade 3 students:

 

Chalk Pastel Easter Eggs

Here's a messy but fun Easter themed project that my Grade 4-6 students recently finished.

I showed them how to draw and shade an egg using chalk pastels. 

I've posted this lesson previously HERE, where I normally use clear glue. 

This time, to save time, we used black oil pastels for the drawing step.

Students started by doing a quick practice sketch planning out their patterns. 

Then they drew it on large 12 x 18" black construction paper and outlined all the 

pencil lines with a black oil pastel.

Then I showed them how to use a white chalk pastel to add the highlight down the center first. 

Then they continued colouring the eggs and blending gently with their fingers.

This is what they completed by the end of an 80 minute period. 

The next class, they tackled the grass and the sky.

Some Grade 4,5,6 finished artworks!

 

Abstract Air Dry Clay Sculptures

This is an abstract sculpture lesson using air dry clay. Perfect for teachers like me who don't have a kiln. My students really enjoy this project so I look forward to teaching it!

See my previous posts on this lesson HERE and HERE.

I buy one pack of air dry clay per student. I buy these at Dollarama (Canada).

Most students don't use the whole pack, for whatever reason.

I start off by showing them the work of Jean Arp and Barbara Hepworth. 

We discuss what abstract art is. Then, I do a quick demo and tell them to make any type of abstract sculpture. The only rules is it has to have a hole in it somewhere, and no parts can be thinner than a finger, as they will just break easily. 

Let these dry overnight, longer is better. 

I see my classes once a week, so they are fully dry by the next class.

The next class, students paint them using acrylic paints. They need to mix colours and use at least two.

I show them how to create metallic effects. 

Once dry, they are varnished. 

I paint on water-based varnish but you can also use a spray varnish.

This makes them shiny and helps protect the paint from chipping.

I'm a huge varnish fan and will varnish anything, lol!

Some Grade 7-9 finished sculptures: