March of the Penguins

I let the students study photos of real penguins before starting. 

Cut Paper Flowers

New students have trouble using scissors.   This project helps them to practice and make a beautiful abstract.  I stress moving the paper, not the scissors, when cutting curves.  We often fold construction paper and cut symmetrical shapes to create the flowers.  We make all the paper flowers first, clean up, then get out the glue.  Using glue is often problematic with young artists.  I suggest to the students to use only two drops and spread it with their pinky fingers  "Pinky Glue".

Winter Cardinals

The bottom artist a 3rd grader; the top artist is in Kindergarten, so this lesson is great for all ages and talents.

This project is great for the winter! I give the students a funny shaped template that is just the outline of the bird. Most students don't know what the shape is. I have them draw the side wing, tail, and legs. The branch is added with pencil and the berries and leaves were the students ideas. The sky and bird can be colored with colored pencil or crayon, making sure to press hard when coloring the branch. I usually give students inspiration in the form of printed images of cardinals and branches.

Rolling Landscapes

I don't tell the students what we are drawing when I give them the directions for this artwork: Hold your paper portrait and make 7 wavy lines, letting your natural top-to-bottom hand motion create the rolling hills.  Turn your paper landscape and draw 3 mountains.  Add 5 trees (no lollipop trees), 3 patchwork fields, 1 barn, 3 animals, and 1 fence. (barn, trees, and animals must be smaller than mountains)

I often let the students do anything else extra creative as long as their drawings have the few required items.  These suggestions help younger students be creative and help them to fill the page. We finish with marker outlines and colored pencil.