Circle Grid Tree

This is a perfect back-to-school lesson as well as a perfect end of the year lesson. Simple materials, straightforward directions -----> perfect for those times of the year where it can be stressful or hectic.

I've posted about this lesson previously HERE.

I found the lesson HERE.

I use markers for this project but you could also use coloured pencils or crayons.

I have different marker brands organized in different bins.

I print the template onto regular 8 x 11" photocopy paper. I've also used larger sizes before but they take a really long time to finish and students can lose motivation. 

I encourage the students to create a pattern within the tree. I give them free reign in terms of colours. 

They write down the colours they use on the bottom of the paper so they know which colours to use next class.

These look so beautiful hung up on a bulletin board!!

Some Grade 4-6 results:

Watercolour Leaves with resist

This is a lovely back to school project to inject some colour and pattern into your first bulletin board display. I found the lesson here on the Art Projects for Kids website. 

You'll need: heavy white paper, sharpies, oil pastels, watercolours (we used liquid).

On heavy white paper, Grade 3 students drew a leaf with veins. Fill the page- nice and big!

Outline the leaf in Sharpie. Then fill in the leaf sections using different lines and patterns using oil pastel- press hard for the resist to work!

Draw concentric lines around the leaf with a white oil pastel. 

Then paint everything using watercolours. 

Architecture Oil Pastel Batik

I've done a few projects using variations on the faux batik method. I've tried it all- tempera, wax crayon but I think my favorite process uses oil pastels.

My Grade 10-12 mixed class had to choose a photo of architecture to draw. I encouraged them to choose a personal place- somewhere they've visited or would like to visit or a place with some sort of special meaning. They drew this onto heavy white 12 x 18" paper. 

Then they outline all the pencil lines using coloured chalk.

Then they colour in the entire design using oil pastels making sure to not go over the chalk lines. It's best to stick to lighter colours. These need to be applied in a thick, opaque layer in order for the next step to work!

Then mix up some dark acrylic paint or India ink. Water down the acrylic paint to an ink-like consistency. Paint over the design and wipe/blot/dab off the excess with paper towels.

Some of my students work:

Stencil with painted background

This is a cool stencil project that offers endless creative possibilities for high school students.

I'm super paranoid about using x-acto knives with students so I generally only use them with my high school students (Grade 10-12). Of course, if I have a particularly mature lower grade, they will use them as well. 

The first step is to create a stencil out of cardstock. This can be white or colored cardstock, but it needs to be a heavy paper. I left the subject open for my students. You can see below this student chose two Game of Thrones sigils- the House Stark direwolf proved far too challenging so he switched mid-way to House Greyjoy sigil. 

Once the stencil is cut out, he students design a background for it. This could be painted background or anything really. The students below chose to collage magazine pages to the back of her landscape stencil. 

Below you can see this student used a marker-watercolor technique 

for her background.

 

Some Grade 10-12 artworks below: