ELF CRAZE!

I've noticed each year the 'Elf on a Shelf' becomes more and more popular. I have a couple Kindergarten classrooms that have their very own elf this year too. By special Kinder artist request, they asked me to create an elf project for them. So here are the very fun results! We did step by step focusing on geometric shapes and layering. Some students even bent the arms and legs like a real elf. Here are the measurements I used:

Green-background: 9X12

Red (2) hat/torso: 3X4

Brown-shelf:1x9

Brown-hair:1X3

Peach-face: 3x3

Red -Legs/arms: 3X6 students cut in long strips for 2 arms/2 legs

White-hat rim/collar/mittens: 2x3

Shape Reindeer

I love having the kids use basic shapes to create. I believe it helps them learn to draw later on by breaking things down into shapes. Students were given: Blue 9x12, brown 6x9, white 2x9, tan 6x6 & red 2x2. I gave them an example and let them go to town on creating their own reindeer. They all have their own little personality too!

Gingerbread Houses

First week back from maternity leave this week! It's been great getting back in the groove! To ease back in, I've started a few of my 'go-to' holiday lessons, they can be found here. Newer things will have to come next year, being gone for 6 weeks throws a ringer in starting everything from scratch!

I found pictures of the gingerbread project 5th graders did a few years back. We used cardboard, hot glue and lots of paint. Students worked in groups since it was such a big project -6X6 square. A great way for kids to work in teams which doesn't always happen in art. If you prefer individual work try making smaller homes-(4X4 or 3x3). I assisted with the hot glue and you could even have them pre-made for student use. Students looked at several examples, painting all with brown and then added windows, doors...ect. This took about 3 classes. We finished with clear glitter for the roof top.

Snow Globes-4th Grade

This project was back by popular demand! I saw a similar idea over at:http://oodlesofart.blogspot.com/, but we changed it up a little. Be prepared, this project took us a good 4 classes! Yikes, I know, but the results were SO worth it! We learned so much vocab with this one: perspective, close-up view, transparent, trapezoid, landscape, winter scene & fore, mid & background. The students really got into the inside drawing since it was supposed to look close to their home...some added some things like a fireplace :)! We started with the outdoor scene in the snow globe, drawing, colored pencils and diamond dust glitter in the snow. We added a trapezoid as the stand. Then we created our background, we drew the perspective part together, then they added their own home-like ideas, colored in with construction paper crayons. They look amazing hanging in our hallways! Great job 4Th graders!

Angel-1st Grade

I take art work to the local Culver's Restaurant every month. I needed something Christmas and quick for the December display. I started the students out with a 'U' shape to help them get the proportions correct, we drew step by step with sharpie. Student colored in with crayons and added glue and glitter for the halo. Nice work first grade! This took us one 60 minute class.

Giant Christmas Lights

Kindergarten finally did their first painting with this project. We had to draw colors from a hat and trade if needed, this way we didn't have all pink or red lights. I created a large light shape

template, students traced on thick 12X18 paper, cut, made curved line for the top and painted below. The results are always great! I saw this project my first year teaching from the pre-K teacher, thanks Ms. Housewright!

Candy Cane Overlap

I saw this project last year over at Oodles of Art. We changed it just a bit. I did the project with second grade but it was quite a challenge. I let my older graders do this as a holiday bonus project! The results are always great!

Santa Faces

I snagged this project from another art teacher I work with and also a fellow blogger at: http://mymessyartroom.blogspot.com/

Teaches students patter with the fan fold, used texture with the cotton and just all around holiday fun! Thanks for the idea Mr. R!

Off Center Snowman

I've seen this project floating around the blogs for a year or two now. It's a great way to help students understand that art doesn't always have to be straight and in the middle. We did a simple drawing with pencil, painted everything in & dotted the snow with q-tips. We also added a little glitter just for fun!

Basic Shapes Reindeer

First graders created a reindeer by using geometric shapes. When

I showed the students the example they thought it looked too hard, but then we talked about breaking it down into small shapes like circles and ovals. The students did well with this! I gave them two 9x12 pieces, 1 blue & 1 brown. We started by drawing an oval standing up for the head and a oval laying down for the body, 4 rectangles for legs, and a triangle tail. Once we piece the body together we added the eyes, nose and then created the background.