3 + 3 with Kindergarten

Three lines and three colours — straight, curvy and zig-zag with the primary colours plus black and white. The lines were painted in black earlier in the day and the colours blocked in later on, unfortunately the black wasn't 100% dry so it muddied the colours in parts. I'd never been with this class previously, so it was a bit of an unknown bringing out the paint... but I think they did a great job!

I recalled seeing this lesson on Christie's Fine Lines blog and really should have paid more attention to her instruction to wait until the black is dry : )

Tiptoes In

The night before I was called in to take this kindergarten class for the day, I came across Standing at the Edge of the Water by Helena Wurzel.

I really like it. I hadn't planned to use it as a lesson so soon but it was a warm Spring day (34 degrees celsius to be precise) and we had some time, so we dove right in... I mean tiptoed in! As it was a bit of a spontaneous lesson, I'd like to improve my delivery next time. The classroom had no smartboard to display the art with, so these were created sight unseen. This would be the most important improvement — to show and discuss the artwork being imitated beforehand. I'm not usually a fan of copying an artwork so directly, but as we say in our house "rarely say never".

Each child traced around their own feet with a lead pencil (they loved getting their shoes and socks off). These pencil lines were then traced with a black permanent marker (I was trying to avoid them having marker all over their feet). They were also asked to add in their toenails and a gently waving water-line across their feet spanning from one edge of the paper to the other. In future I think I'll try and have the students allow for the bending of the water line as it curves over the feet.

The feet were coloured with oil pastels before the sand and sea were blocked in with water colours. To be honest I've had little experience with water colours and I've never used them with kindergarten before. I'm pretty sure it was their first time too and they seemed to enjoy them. As I said I'm looking forward to better presenting this artwork as a lesson again one day. I'm thinking it could be great for colour-mixing with older students. Please share any suggestions you have!

Fish Finger Prints

I usually subscribe to the mantra "less is more", but I'm still in two minds as to whether that applies with this lesson! Although for the kindergarten class who created these artworks, getting their fingers in the paint was reward enough. Maybe it would be more exciting if the children were able to add some seaweed or sand, or maybe these paintings should float home to adorn the fridge as they are — what do you think?

The blue water background was made with some slightly thinned regular classroom paint, painted on with brushes. I tried to encourage the children to notice and deliberately make water-like lines and patterns with their brush strokes. Next, each child was given four rectangles of paper, and they chose four colours before making separate "fish finger" monoprints.

The prints were made using the same technique described in my Finger Paint Printmaking post, except in this instance they drew fish instead of lines. Once dry, the children cut out their fish and stuck them onto their watery background. Most of the children were handier with the scissors than I expected, although a number of students found drawing the fish in the first place quite challenging. A day in kindergarten is always full of surprises though!

Finger Paint Printmaking

These Kindergarten children had a choice of three warm colours or three cool colours. The regular classroom paint was spread directly onto their class desks by myself and then the students took turns at finger painting straight, curvy and zig-zag lines – one line type per colour. We made a single print from each. Once they were dried the children decided on the order and orientation they preferred for presenting their three prints. The shock, horror and pure joy of seeing their school desks smeared in paint and then painting with their fingers was a big hit with the students and they really enjoyed seeing their prints come to life as the paper was peeled from the table.

For me the really appealing part about these prints is the brush patterns created behind the finger lines. On a day when I'm feeling more adventurous I'd like to let the children be responsible for this part of the process too, and experiment with variables like more or less paint, sponges, squeegees etc. But as a relief teacher I'm always in someone else's room, with a class I don't know back to front, and in this case already with paint smeared over half their furniture, so I often end up erring on the side of caution... Perhaps I'll try this with an older class where the children are obviously up to the responsibility. I'm guessing that students of every age would relish the chance to get their fingers wet!

I first encountered this finger painted printmaking technique in a primary art teaching class while undertaking my undergraduate studies in primary education at UTS. Anne Bamford was our lecturer and I really looked forward to being in her art room each week, where the learning was always hands on. In hindsight I would like to have chosen visual arts as my major, oh well. I have kept a large folder of resources we made as part of that subject and still refer to it for inspiration. Looking through it a few months ago I was reminded of this very idea and had opportunity to use it only a few days later. And by the way, even once dry the paint easily comes off the desks with a wet cloth!

Autumn Leaves

I think the technical term is mixed media... real Autumn leaves and paint in this case.

It must have been nearly 10 years ago. I was doing a uni prac at Gunning Primary School in the Southern Highlands. It was a breath of fresh air to be out of Sydney where I was living at the time. I was with a great K-2 class and was lucky enough to have some art time with them. Autumn was in full swing so it seemed natural to get out and play in the deciduous leaves before collecting some and taking them back to class.

We tore the leaves up into small pieces and stuck them down in a single tree shape. The next day we added paint and then some oil pastels the day after. It was great fun and really effective. I've always been meaning to repeat the lesson but haven't had a chance till this more recent episode.

The Autumn scenes here are the result of a collaboration between a kindergarten class and their 5/6 "buddy" class who I was with earlier this term.

Time was tight so I brought the leaves in myself, also there weren't any deciduous trees on the school grounds. The first 40 minute lesson was spent gluing down the leaves. It was helpful having the older children here as this can be a bit fiddly and frustrating. During the second lesson the kindergarteners painted in the rest with some guidance from their buddy if necessary.

I think the kindergarten children were happy with their results, I know the 5/6 students certainly enjoyed it — in fact I'm pretty sure they were a little disappointed they didn't get their own ones... If I have the opportunity again next year I'll repeat this one for sure.