• SCIENCE INTEGRATION •

Link To: Earth Lesson Plan

This was an AWESOME project. I loved how the teachers showed the results from the different methods, what a helpful tip!! I can see that students of all ages would love do this type of activity too. Playing in the shaving cream and then swirling the colors gave each student's planet a unique look! I found that I wished I had more planets to create. I also love how the process added texture!

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

I will have students create their own topography and then explain to the class what the different areas are. I think this abstract social studies project will really open up the student's imagination. 

• CLAY •

Link To: Pinch and Ribbit Lesson Plan

This was a great project. Although it was messy, kids would LOVE it. Every step was fun. I really liked the molding of the pieces and the simplicity of it. The clay drying on its own was another aspect I really appreciated. During the presentation the two teachers showed how frogs look very different, this helped relax the students so they felt comfortable with their frogs being unique! I think this would be a great craft for both boys and girls, although I think it would be better for older students.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

This project would be awesome to integrate into Science! I think it would be great for the students to make clay models of the life cycle of a frog and then present it on Parent's Night!

• LANGUAGE ARTS INTEGRATION •

Link To: Pop Up Book Lesson Plan

This was a fun project with the spin of each student making individual characters, plot and setting, that were then combined with other students' to create a complete unique finished story. One hour definitely is NOT enough time to do this project! It was wonderful in sparking students to want to write a story, however the act of creating the illustrations could have easily taken the whole hour in itself. For younger students I would have had the story already created and had each student illustrate their own pop-up book. For older students, I would have had them create their own individual book that could then be shown to the class. I did like the simplicity of the project and will definitely use it in my future classrooms as a Language Arts project though!

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

Students could create a flyer or sales brochure for their pop-up book. They could also give a presentation as to why other students should read their book as a persuasive speech activity or visual production.

• CRAFTS •

Link To: Dreamcatcher Lesson Plan

This project was more difficult than it would seem. I feel if I were to have my future students complete this activity I would make sure that my beads were easily strung. I did like the integration of Native American belief into this lesson. Dream catchers are something that are very common in our society but not many people understand what they are believed to do and how. I think students would find this to be very interesting.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

Native American customs are very interesting. With the history of our state being what it is, I think it is very important for our youth to learn about this culture. I would have students research other cultures customs and prepare a presentation for the class. I feel this would help with acceptance and understanding of other cultures as we become a more blended society.

• SOCIAL STUDIES INTEGRATION •

Link To: Aztec Sundial Lesson Plan

What a fun project! My favorite part of the whole project was actually taking the finished sundial outside to "see if the technology" still worked! The steps are very easy in this project and could be accomplished by young children and older grades as well. Having the central image resemble something important to the students or geometric shapes similar to Aztec designs was interesting as well. I can foresee that this project is one that I will definitely use in my multi-grade classroom!

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

I WILL have students investigate other "lost technologies" that have been replaced by current inventions and have them create presentations that would be presented to parents and other classmates! 

• PRINTMAKING •

Link To: "Egg"citing Printmaking Lesson Plan

Printmaking was a lot of fun. I loved the idea of the students making their own designs in the Styrofoam! I also like the of having the children write about their project. I am not sure how I would use the different type of paint. It makes me nervous using a paint that seemed temperamental and sticky but I loved the process otherwise.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

Printmaking can be used in many areas. I could foresee using this technique in Language Arts. Students are expected to write many thanks you for various people. For example, they may need to write a note of gratitude for circus tickets that were donated while they are in elementary. Students could create a design on different circus shapes such as elephants or a big top tent. They could then use them to design the card or to create a picture for the person who paid for their tickets.

• 3D DESIGN •

Link To: Origami Lesson Plan

This project's homework made this project, fantastic!!! The origami aspect was fun and easy when it was led step by step. I liked the idea of getting to color the creations after they were complete. Writing the short story was the very creative and exciting part of the assignment for me. I will definitely use this in language arts!

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

For my future classroom I will use this project as a writing prompt for my Daily 5! I think the students will like creating their own animal and writing a story or series of adventures for their animal! 

• SCRATCHBOARD •

Link To: Nighttime Wonders Lesson Plan

This project was a LOT of fun! I really like the fact that this process can be recreated relatively easily and quickly with materials that are usually on hand in any classroom. I also liked that a wide range of students could do this project successfully. Also, it is very easy to make this project creative and unique! I will definitely be using this in the future!!!

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

For my future classroom, I would use this throughout the year. One way I would use this scratch technique is to have students design a name plaque for their locker. This would help students to feel like they have a personal place within the school that is uniquely theirs.

• SILHOUETTES •

Link To: Silhouette Lesson Plan

The process of drawing a silhouette was more complicated than I thought!I loved the idea of finding images that represent the student in magazine however! I also like the idea of having students write positive words that they feel describe them. So often how we perceive ourselves is different than those around us, I think this project would give great insight into how a student views themselves.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

l think I would use this type of project as a beginning of the year activity. It would help students introduce themselves to new people in the class, as well as giving me a better picture of the students I will be teaching for the year.

• PAINTING •

Link To: "Fin, Noggin', Duuude" Lesson Plan

The painting project presented in class was very engaging and fun! I loved the idea of having children draw an animal and giving them a simple pattern to complete the task. Many children who haven't had a lot of experience with drawing or painting could find this project overwhelming. However, the teachers showed step by step how to complete the basic outline and then let the student design the shell themselves. This part of the activity lets child be creative without being intimidated by the process. The final part of the project was to create the water effect using paint. I think students would really like using paint as it isn't used very often. AWESOME!

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

I could use this in language arts as an extension project for a literature project. For example, while reading a book to the class, the children could be presented with the basic outline of an animal that is featured in the book. The students could predict what they think the animal looks like or use details from the text to paint the animals appearance.

• DRAWING •

•  CLASS DISPLAY • 

     

•  TEACHER'S EXAMPLES •

  

•  INDIVIDUAL EXAMPLES • 

Link To: Speaker of the Trees Lesson Plan

Our project was centered around drawing, Earth Day and citizenship. We asked the students to draw a close up and landscape image. They were also asked to use two separate kinds of media. I enjoyed this project because it was based on being creative, not on how talented you were. I also think it was great to have the students use paper that was different than what they were used to and media that they were unfamiliar with.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

I could foresee using this project for many subjects such as Science. An example could be for the students to draw a close-up of a leaf from a tree and then a landscape image that includes a full version of the tree that the leaf came from.

• 3D DRAWING •

What a fantastic project that could be used for almost any elementary grade! I love that an artist of any level of expertise could succeed in this project! I also loved the concept of drawing upside down. As a person who is NOT gifted, I saw my drawings were actually much better using this process. I will definitely use this in my future classroom!

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:
I would use this as a possible activity for my students to draw their favorite character from our class story or reading group book. I can already imagine them wearing their red "superhero" glasses and looking at their fellow students drawings! F U N!!!!

• DIFFERENT MEDIA •

By using different media which consisted of different drawing tools and different background, I found my creativity was sparked. I think that this process would also be beneficial to students of all ages.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:

I would consider having students use multiple drawing media on a single Visual Arts project and then journal about what they liked about each media and where each could be used it in the future. This summary could be affixed to the back of the project or in an "Art Journal."

• ELEMENTS & PRINCIPLES •

The red bush found in our pasture is an example of an ORGANIC SHAPE.

Our pool balls demonstrate depth within a photograph. This is known as SPACE.

Our four plastic plates show the use of COLOR in a picture.

The blue and white tin Ford signs displayed in this image are an example of UNITY.

Last, our faucet is a display of MOTION in photographic form. The water is moving while the rest of the picture is stationary.

EXTENSION ACTIVITY:
Students to find examples of each of these elements and principles in catalogs. Using the pictures they would then create a collage on a piece of poster board and present it to the class.

• INTRODUCTION PROJECT •

As an introduction project have each student trace their foot print(s). Using whatever resources they can imagine they must add to their footprint details that help to describe who they are and what they like. I have included a picture of mine. There are many details on my foot print. They include:

• Shape "L"- My first initial.
• Red & Blue- Represent my sons names that start with "B" (Blue) and "R" (Red)
• Pine Branches- The Rocky Mountains where I spent most of my childhood in Colorado and they became one of my favorite places of solace.
• Cotton- Snow is something that I have loved since I was very young. Still to this day, Winter is my favorite season and I LOVE to snowmobile with my family.
• Book Print- I have always loved reading and try to read all different types of genres. Historical fiction is my favorite!
• Multi-Colored Shadows- I do not have one set favorite color it really depends on the day.
• ABC & 123- I love teaching children how to read and early math. Seeing their faces light up the first time the read a word on their own is PRICELESS!
• Sand- I have had the opportunity to see both the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and the Pacific Ocean in California. My love of the ocean is rivaled only by my love of the mountains.
• Movies- On any given night you will find a movie on at our home. We actually watch very little cable TV.
• Aluminum Foil- As a photographer, I have had to learn to use reflective surfaces especially when I shoot pictures for prom.
• Airplane- I traveled and was blessed to see much of the lower 48 states when I was younger. The opportunity has led me to love traveling and flying as much as I can. I especially love see historical sites!

EXTENSION PROJECT:
I could see having a student interview a relative and create a footprint of an elder or someone that is from a different generation. This activity would show students that although adults seem very different we may have many of the same interests as they do. I would also consider letting this be the beginning of the social studies unit on the student's community!