OK everyone out there in Art Teacher Land... This next school year (2012 - 2013) I am going to be getting Kindergarten classes for the very first time in 24 years! I am getting five of them to be exact. Our school district is going to a full day Kindergarten next year. With that said, I am very excited to have them. However, now I need to put together a file of ideas that I can use for lessons next year. I was wondering... If you have Kindergarten classes, what are some of your favorite lessons? Are there things you have done but will never do again because it just went really bad (fast)? Any Tips, Tricks, Thoughts and Helpful advice on this subject? I have already started to collect ideas and pick the brains of our Kindergarten teachers, but would love to know what some of your favorites lessons are... Please leave a comment and let me know... :)
I'm not a huge fan of kindergarten, at least in the fall when they are still such babies, but by now they have grown on me. Take baby steps with your K's - simple instructions, not too many steps. With that said, here are faves:
ReplyDeleteTexture collections - we talk about what texture is and discuss a bunch of examples. I have a bin filled with chunks of textured wallpapers, and I provide the kids with small squares of white paper (maybe 3" square). I show the kids how to do texture rubbings with unwrapped crayons, and after each rubbing, they glue it to a sheet of 12x18" colored construction paper. You'd think this was the most amazing thing they'd ever seen.
Right now, just before Easter vacation, I'll be making "Spring Hats" (I'm Jewish so I don't call them Easter bonnets). I punch holes in the sides of paper plates, and then string through some soft heavy yarn or ribbon toward the end of class. I put out rolls of colored paper tape, scissors, and little moist sponges (for the tape). I show the kids how to zigzag fold, twirl, fringe, make loops, etc with the paper tape, and then they make crazy hats. We'll be making them a week from tomorrow, so I'll probably post photos in the following week sometime.
Other than that, they love love love to paint, so lots of painting with baby steps as they learn to handle brushes, and use alternate ways to apply paint - fingerprints, sponge stamping, etc.
I don't know why I spent so much time writing this when I'm probably the WORST at kindergarten - so many bloggers have wonderful Kinder ideas.
Thanks for all your info Phyl! I appreciate it all even if K is not your fav! I was talking to some other art teachers from our sending district at curriculum today and they were expressing the same feelings as you of not their fav. But they were also saying alot of motor skills activities,cutting,etc... All my kids( 1st - 5th)love rubbings! I have a stack of rubbing plates in both my art rooms at my done early activity stations and they are definilty one of the most used items! Thanks again! :)
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ReplyDeleteFeel free to check out my blog. I must admit Kinder is the hardest for a lot us in art teacher land. But there are a lot of pre-school ideas that work good for the beginning of school. Have fun be animated and go with the flow. lol :)
Thanks and I will check out your site! :)
DeleteKindergarten projects can be challenging,but if you provide clear guidelines the students will follow.
ReplyDeletePlease check my Kindergarten label for some examples of projects.
Thanks for commenting! I will check out your site! :)
DeleteI'm like Phyl, the wee ones are not my favorite grade level to teach and I've only been doing it for 3 years after 33 years of NEVER teaching that level. Sigh......That said, I always start each class with a picture storybook and then try to design a brief activity that relates to the story somehow. I collect storybooks like they're going out of style so I have a huge library to choose from. My classes for Kinders are only 30 minutes so we do simple coloring, cutting, watercolor painting projects. I learned early on to never give them glue sticks because they twist them out too far, smash them onto the paper too hard, etc. I use yogurt lids with Elmer's and they have to dip their "Pointer Finger Only" into the glue and make their finger do the "Swirly Dance" to get them used to spreading the glue out to the edges of their shapes. I know I am rambling, but I thought this might help.:)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice Pat! :)
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