Art Walk Ideas 6-10

This is the second post in a series of art walk/auction ideas. Click here to start the series from the beginning.

#6 - Tissue Paper Art 
To create this piece, the students drew circles on tissue paper. I cut them out and then the students glued them onto the canvas.

#7 - Fall Handprint Tree
This one is pretty self explanatory. I do recommend using acrylic paint on canvas. Tempera paint tends to chip off.

#8 - Every Child is an Artist
I found this quote on pinterest and had to copy it with my kiddos!

#9 - Let Them Be Little Quote
To create the hand print art, my teacher assistant laid contact paper (don't peel off the paper yet!) on the canvas. Draw the heart on the contact paper and cut it out being careful not to mess up the outside area. Carefully peel the paper off the contact paper and lay on the canvas. Fill the heart with handprints and peel off contact paper once it's dry. Add quote!

#10 - SMUSH painting
Doesn't this sound like the funnest thing ever!!! I think this one was my kiddos favorite! I mean who doesn't like to smush? To make this piece I started with a piece of card stock. The students chose three colors of paint (tempera) and drizzled, dripped it on the paper randomly. You might have to experiment to get the right amount of paint. You need enough paint that it will cover all the paper when you smush it, but if you use too much all the colors will turn into one. Next, place another piece of paper on top of the paint. (Like a sandwich with paint in the middle) Then, smush the paint around by pushing and moving your hands across the top paper. When you're done smushing, carefully lift the top paper off the bottom one. TADA Smush painting!!! 

Art Walk Ideas 1-5
Art Walk Ideas 11-15

Art Walk Ideas 1-5

A few years ago our school started an Art Walk. It has become my favorite event of the year. Each class sets up an area with art work created by their students. Families walk around the art walk and bid on the art work. It's a very successful fundraiser. Group pieces sell the best, as parents get into bidding "wars". I always have a couple individual pieces, so all families are able to participate. 

Art Ideas

#1 - Line Art 

This piece is great for any age group. Have students tape the canvas with masking tape or painters tape. Paint the areas inside the painted lines. When the paint is dry, peel off the tape. 

#2 - Celebrate Diversity 

Discount School Supply sells multi-cultural paint (colors like me). Create a piece of art work using each child's handprint. We usually create this piece after reading a multi-cultural book, such as Shades of People.

#3 - Art is Messy

First, we used sticky foam letters and placed them on a blank piece of card stock. Then, the kids used a sponge to stamp on different colors of paint. When the paint dries, remove the sticky letters. The picture frame is from Dollar Tree.

#4 - Colorful Portraits

1. For this piece, each child drew their portrait and wrote their name on a regular piece of printer paper. 
2. Using the copy machine, I sized them down to the size I needed for the freezer paper. 
3. I cut the freezer paper for each rectangle. (4x5 for this canvas, but will vary depending on canvas size) I traced each child's drawing onto the freezer paper using a black sharpie.
4. The child colored in their clothes with a sharpie and skin with multi-cultural crayons (discount school supply). 
5. Assist the child in coloring in their background.
6. Retrace the black outlines on the child's drawing.
7. Use Elmer's glue to glue down the freezer paper. I recommend glueing the rectangles one at a time. First, glue directly on the canvas. Then, place the rectangle on top. Then, paint over the top of the rectangle with glue. 

#5 - You're My Favorite Work of Art

Spice up abstract art with a quote. The artwork pictured was done in watercolor on card stock. 

That's it for today. More art ideas to come!

Art Walk Ideas 6-10
Art Walk Ideas 11-15

Don't Break the Ice

My teacher assistant brought in Don't Break the Ice. My kids went crazy over this game. They loved it. So my teacher assistant turned it into a literacy activity. 

This game is very easy to differentiate for different students. We reviewed upper and lower case letters, letter sounds, and sight words with a group of students using the SAME game! You could also review shapes, numbers, colors, etc. Another great thing about this game is how quickly it moves. So my younger kids had no problem waiting for their turn. 

To begin, write what you'd like to review on the ice using a dry erase marker. When the child begins their turn, tell them which piece of ice you'd like them to find/hit. 

Sit back and have fun!

Recycled Push Boxes

I heard about using push pins to strengthen fine motor skills at a conference a few years ago. The idea went into my head, fell to the back of my mind, and has been collecting dust. This year, many of my students were struggling with fine motor skills. I dug out the idea and dusted it off. While searching for a "platform", I found some empty tissue boxes in my cabinet. These worked out perfectly. It's easy for the child to hold, yet protects their fingers from the sharp push pin. 

For this activity you'll need an empty tissue box, push pin* (the larger pins are easier to hold), templates (you can download for free here), and tape to hold down the template. 

Letter, number, and shape templates also help reinforce recognition. Not only does this activity strengthen fine motor skills, but it also encourages the child to use a tripod grasp. 

You can download free templates here.

*Push pins can be EXTREMELY sharp and should only be used under adult supervision.