First and second grade students made these beautiful hearts!  Together, we made a chart of warm and cool colors and used the chart to help sort the tissue paper squares.  It took one 45 to do this and fill a 9x9 inch paper with the tissue paper.  They LOVED this part of the project!  I was surprised by how much each class enjoyed working with the tissue paper.  

On the second and third days of the lesson, students made the painted papers and created new ways to use tools (scrub brush, medicine cups, Popsicle stick, bubble wrap, etc.) to make texture.  Second grade continued to focus on warm and cool colors.  I had first grade students pick a secondary color for their painted paper.

To finish, we traced a heart on the back of the tissue paper piece and glued it to the painted paper.  Then, we practiced our good painting techniques and added the black border around the hearts.  My first graders were so great with this step!  

Now to get the first grade hearts ready for the Night of the Arts in a month!

We created these turtles for the first time late last school year, and I knew they had to be in the Night of the Arts this year.  They are adorable and the kindergartners loved their turtles and the process for making them.

On the first day of this lesson, we made green, and more green, and more green until the paper plates (buy the thick ones!) were filled.  Some students took their time and delicately painted every speck, taking nearly the entire forty-five minute class period.  I don't want to rush anyone when they are working so well, so we do the printing during the next class.  I try to do this lesson after other printing lessons to build on those skills.  During the second day of making the turtles, we also trace the shapes for the legs and head.  We draw the eyes with oil pastels and cut and glue the pieces to finish up the turtles on the third day of the lesson. 

And then if we have a few extra moments, I let them play with their sweet turtles, because what five or six year old wouldn't want to?  

Exciting things are happening in preparation for our 5th Annual Night of the Arts!  Third grade created a mural for the first time last year, and that was displayed at the event.  This year, we are getting kindergarten involved, too!

Third grade has been working hard to paint this mural of the Ichetucknee River and kindergarten has made turtles who will soon be living in it!  I drew out the waves and the grasses and students worked together to fill in the pieces and to create patterns.  I finished it up by painting the black lines.

Recently, I had the agent at our county's University of Florida IFAS extension office come to talk to third grade students about aquatic plants since we had been painting this local river.