Hey there Roller Families!! It's your friendly, nieghborhood elementary art teacher here! I just wanted to update everyone on some "At-Home" projects you can work on with your students! So here we go:
- Printmaking (students in grades 2nd - 6th were working on this)
At-Home printmaking is simple and requires very little to do! I will give you two different versions that you can use at home with your kiddos along with alternate materials, if students want to "take it up a notch". For the first lesson you will need:
- Foam plates
- markers
- paper (computer printer paper works jsut fine!)
- water
First, have the student draw on the flat side (bottom) of the foam plate with the markers. While they are doing that, dampen the paper with the water using a sponge or paper towel. Have the student put the drawing down on the damp paper and and press down. The image will then print onto the paper. Keep in mind, if there's too much water, the marker will run and the image will print backwards from what they originally drew as well. This can be messy so be prepared for that.
For the second version, some different supplies are needed.
- Foam plates
- marker
- dull pencil
- paper (Any will do. Printer paper, construction paper)
- paint
- paint brushes
Have students use a marker to draw out their design on the botton of the plate (to make this easier, you can cut the rim off of the plate). Have the student take a dull pencil (or a pen, but a regular ballpoint will work the best. Others may tear the plate apart) and trace the lines of their drawing, making sure to not push to hard so they dont go through the plate. You want to be able to feel the lines on the plate when you run your hand across it. Using a paint brush, apply a relatively thin layer of paint on the plate, across the image (you may get paint in the lines but you can easily clean them out with the pencil, a toothpick, bobbi pin, etc) and then press it onto the paper. Remove and you have a print! Remember, this is messy as well and the image will be backwards when you print.
*Students would do this by carving an eraser, soap, apples (cut in half to make an apple print), potatoes, foam, etc.
2. At-Home Butterflies (students in grades k-1st were working on these)
At home butterflies are a relatively easy and low cost project to complete at home. Students were learning about patterns and how butterfly wings are exactly the same on both sides called a mirror image/reflection (we also watched/listened to the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. The read aloud is on YoTube.) The supplies you will need for this assignment are:
- paper plates
- the cardboard from a roll of toilet paper or paper towels (paper towel rolls will have to be cut)
- paint/markers
- black marker
- glue or stapler
- extras that you could use but don't have to are google eyes, pipe cleaners, glitter, shape stamps
Have students first paint the cardboard roll. If paint is not available, you can use markers for this or crayons. If you are not painting, make sure they draw on a face first and color around it. You won't be able to glue the eyes on (if you use them) if they use crayons to color it. While that is drying, students can paint the plate one color. Set aside to dry. Once both are dry, you canbegin to add things like google eyes to the cardboard roll and a pipe cleaner can by folded in half and stapled to the back of the roll (or taped). Then go back to the plate. You can cut the plate straight through the middle using eith a straight line or a curved line. I find that a curved line, similar to drawing a yin yang, works best. Take the two pieces and staple the outside/rounded edges together, forming your butterfly wings. Have teh student decorate the wings, making sure that both wings look as close to identical as possible, using either crayons, markers, paint, stickers, glitter, shape stamps, whatever is easiest for you. Attach the body to the wings once everything is dry using either glue or by stapling it to the plates. Now, you have your butterfly!
3. Using Markers are Water Colors!
This is a great way to let students paint without the hassel of buying paint. Here are a few tips and instructions on how to do this!
- First, trying using different types of markers if you want to to see which type works best. The markers don't need to be the most expensive brand to work! Even markers that are drying out can be used, as long as pigment/ink os being left on the paper, that marker is good enough for this.
- Just like with water colors, make sure you are working one section at a time. You want to let each section dry completely before moving onto a section that borders it or else the colors will bleed together.
- You only need markers, water, paint brushes, and paper for this. Though watercolor paper would be ideal, printer paper will work too.
- Use this method to "paint" a still life (they draw what they see), their favorite animal, their friends/family, sports, video games, comic book characters, etc. The choices are endless.
I can't wait to see what everyone comes up with!
Please keep checking back here periodically for more at-home projects and art tips! Make sure to send a photo of what you create so I can add it to the photo gallery! Please check out the lins section for even more at home projects/drawing tutorials!
