Sometimes an art teacher needs activities that fill time. Let me explain: My first graders are in the middle of creating a self-portrait. That's 28 six year olds, painting 28 different portaits, finishing at 28 different times. What usually happens is this: MRS. C I'M DONE! I'M DONE! WHAT CAN I DO NOW? If I don't have something planned for the early finishers then all h. breaks loose. They ask if they can get a drink but they don't know where the water fountain is. Or they'll play with their paintbrush water. Or they'll ask for a band-aid for no apparent reason. Or, and this is a repeat offense, they'll start painting their hands. Sigh. There's absolutely nothing you can do to prevent this behavior UNLESS you have an easy activity for them to grab when they finish their project.
There are two books that solve this problem. Both books are open-ended, meaning they exercise creativity rather than limit it, and they can be xeroxed into easy hand-outs for the little ones.
642 Things to Draw was a gift from my good friend Jessica. It's a blank journal filled with 642 ideas of things to sketch. Things like bugs, people, cars, food, or you know, luminescent plankton. Just photocopy a few pages and the kids are set.
The other is called Lets make some great art by Marion Deuchars. I don't own this book (yet) but it seems very similar. It also looks pretty and pretty things are just the best.
Know of any others?
sc
No comments:
Post a Comment