Pumpkins with Shadows, 1st Grade

1st graders were given step by step instructions on drawing their pumpkins with shadows. We talked about the horizon line for our background and used tempera paint for color.

1st Grade Fall Trees

We spent two separate art classes to create our fall paintings.  The first week we talked about what a background is and than painted ours.  Where do kids get that whole idea that you paint the sky up high and the grass down low and leave a big white space in between?  How many times I said no white spaces I don't know.  

The second week we painted our trunks and used straws to blow the paint for the branches.  The leaves were made with q-tips.  Two paint spills and I stayed clean!

2nd Grade Autumn Leaf

First off, I'm back, I think....every time I think I have everything under control and scheduled something gets pushed off the edge.  So, I'm sorry I've been absent so long but I am going to try to post twice a week during the school year.
This project isn't difficult but makes a nice presentation.  I enlarged an oak leaf and had my students paint them with warm colors after drawing the veins of the leaf with crayons. The following week they cut them out and glued them to construction paper that I had hole punched.  Using yarn they "sewed" a border.  Happy to have my first fall project photographed and ready to hang in the halls.

Kindergarten Fall Trees

 I used to have a hard time with kindergarten.  It was a challenge coming up with projects that they were able to do and turned out the way I anticipated.  I have learned that you have to let children experience things in order for them to learn and every project doesn't necessarily need to look the "right" way.  I've also been able to let go and let things get messy.  Paint no longer freaks me out and even yesterday when we used chalk pastels I was okay with wiping a few faces at the end.  These trees to me show what the child has heard from me and shows how they interpret my examples.  I also can see their personalities in each one.  Love them!!
I need to let you know that if you leave me a comment the only way I can respond is thru your email or own blog.  For some reason I can't comment on comments.  Anyone know how to fix this on blogger?