Nutcrackers in golden frames - grade 1/2

 Here's a cute, simple project I did with grade 1/2, in the two weeks leading up to Christmas. I've always loved nutcrackers - something about their boxy faces and giant teeth that I just can't resist. I used the poster from the Nutcracker movie as inspiration for how to draw these simplified nutcrackers.

Students got to pick a frame from the Melissa and Doug picture frame pad (can't recommend this enough!) then sat down to begin their work. We did a group draw to make the exterior of the nutcrackers - students started with the heads, filling in the eyes, mouth, nose and mustache, then traced straight lines down to the edge of the paper to make the bodies.

When they were finished adding in buttons, lapels, and any other details, they traced their drawing with thin Sharpie. Even though we use Sharpies all the time, the thin Sharpies were a big novelty for them. They were so excited to be using what felt like a pen in art class!

The next time they came to my class, they colored in their nutcrackers using markers. Very cute, very simple project!

Shaded Christmas balls - grade 5/6

This is a project that was born out of necessity. The Friday before Christmas break ended up being.. wait for it.. another snow day! If you're keeping track, that makes THREE snow days in a period of two weeks. Sometimes when attendance is low, we'll pool classes together to give teachers extra planning time. My colleague offered to take the classes to the gym, after which I would take the classes for an art lesson. While they were in the gym, I desperately searched for a quick, Christmas-y related project that I could do with the supplies I already had, in about 40 minutes.  I unfortunately don't even remember where I came across this idea - it was basically a similar picture and I just copied what I thought was going on! If this idea belongs to you, please let me know so I can credit you!

Anyway, this project was as simple as it seems - students drew branches using chalk pastels onto black paper. Then, they drew Christmas balls on white construction paper using oil pastels. They cut out the Christmas balls and glued them to the black paper. The last step was to use gold Sharpie to draw little hooks. A very quick, very satisfying 40 minute project for a group of snowed-in students!

(Before you get to the photos, I'll add - they don't do this art justice! I had to take quick pictures with my iPhone, as the kids were taking these home for Christmas break.)

Ugly holiday sweaters - grade 4/5

 This is kind of the project that never was. We started it with three Mondays left to go before Holidays. Students were given an outline of a sweater, predrawn, that they got to decorate using bold patterns, drawings, and lines, a la Ugly Christmas Sweater. By the end of the first period, most students had finished the drawing, which meant they could paint them with watercolor the next week, leaving us a final week to do a Christmas card or something for their parents.

Fast forward a week later - our first snow day of the year! Most students weren't there that day, and the ones that were sort of staggered in late. Anyone who came worked on their painting, but most of the drawings sat untouched on my art shelf. I recalculated in my head - the next Monday, the last week before break, the rest of the students could finish up their paintings and at least have those to bring home for Christmas.

The following Monday, guess what...ANOTHER snow day! Most of the same students were there, so they finished up their paintings and glued them on cute paper, but really, all told, maybe 6 or 7 kids finished? The rest are, still, sitting in a pile on my art shelf. *Sigh.* I do really love the ones that were finished, though!

Homemade Christmas crafts - grade 5/6

I have been dying to post these for a while but wanted to wait until I was *sure* (hopefully?) that the parents in my class had been gifted these works of art, so that I don't spoil anyone's presents.

This year, for our Christmas gifts to parents, I taught my class how to embroider!

We began the process in early December, with a trip to the computer lab where students picked out simple designs that they thought their parents would like. After collecting some embroidery hoops from parents, and purchasing the rest from Michael's and Fabricland, my students began to work on their embroidery!

I found some photos online showing how to do a splitstitch (my stitch of choice, it's great for beginners because they don't accidentally leave gaping holes between two of their stitches). I gave each student a copy of the photos for reference, but I feel like it was easier for them to just watch me demonstrate how to do it. Some students struggled with threading their needles, but overall, the embroidery part of this went so quickly. Several students had time to do multiple embroidery projects!

When they were finished, they were given a frame, which they used to frame their projects. Hopefully we had some happy parents on Christmas morning!

 

Overall I would say this was one of the least difficult projects I have done of this kind (think: weaving, knitting, etc.) The kids picked it up really quickly, and seemed to really enjoy the process!

Quick and easy Christmas doodles

First of all, a big hello to my new followers! To me, a new follower is like a promise that someone is paying attention to me. This week, I've gotten about 35 new promises. Thanks so much guys - hope you all enjoy the blog! And now...

 What a day! Today ended up being a snow day, which always throws everything off and changes day plans drastically. We usually have about 3 a season, so I've gotten used to having a back-up plan for something to do with my kids.

Last time we had a snow day, I did this lesson with my kids, and it went over really well. I decided to do the same thing this year, with a holiday twist! I always start this lesson by giving the kids a sheet of 8.5x11 paper that I've drawn a border around. I find the border just gives them a good foundation in which to put their doodles. I could have them draw these themselves, but some kids would stress over the straightness, etc., of the lines (OBVIOUSLY not something I'm worried about!) and it's just simpler to get on to the actual doodles!

Once we've filled up the entire page with doodles, students drew a holiday or winter related object over top of their doodles, and colored in only inside of the drawing. We had about an hour of time today, and most kids were either finished the doodle part, or almost done. I'll post more as they finish!

 

Here's some closeup details from the drawings:

Easy santas - grade 3/4/5

I feel like it's been forever since I've had the chance to update! This is due to many factors, including recieving some wonderfully distracting Christmas gifts (loom weaving kit, good books, etc.) and a much needed trip to Boston.

With all of that aside, I am going to try and start catching up on projects from the past month.

This one was a VERY easy art that I did with kids from grades 3-5. It was a simple project that took very little time, an was great for kids who were finished their work early.

They were given a Santa template, already drawn, and used Sharpies to color in various patterns all over the beard. Then, they colored in his had red, and used cotton for the hat and eyebrows. When they were done, they glued it onto fun Christmas paper. Very easy, and super cute results!

Embossed Christmas Cards - Grade 4/5

 It seems like every new project is my favorite. This one really was SO much fun though!
With the grade 4/5 class, we used embossing paper (SUCH a treat!) to make Christmas cards.

Students had the option of using tracers, or they could create their own designs.

 They worked SO hard to write things backwards, and treated the paper so carefully. It was really wonderful how excited they were to use the special embossing paper.

I'd love to post pictures of all of them, as they really are all amazing, but they're nearly impossible to take good pictures of. I made the kids leave them with me though, as I plan on putting them in the school's art show (more about this soon!)

If you've never tried embossing paper, you must. It's really easy to do a good job, and the results are pretty spectacular. I went out this afternoon and bought more, since I have to do this project again.

Christmas themed door

I can't help myself. Christmas is my favorite time of year, and with about 4 and a half weeks to go, I feel it's only appropriate that I start decorating my classroom.

Here is how I decorated one of my doors, using an idea I found here.

I just need some kind of clever title to put above the reindeer.