Rainbow Spider Webs

My Grade 3s created these happy little spiders in rainbow webs inspired by this activity on Artsonia by Gateway Elementary. This is a great activity for Halloween but one that kids enjoy any time of year.

They first learned to create a pattern using line to draw their web. Students then used coloured pencils, crayons and textas to colour the different areas inside their web. 

Once they had completed colouring their web students created their own spider by making a mini pompom. Making a mini pompom using a fork is a great little textile activity for this age group.

If you haven't seen this before you can see the instructions here at 'Jellyfish Prints'.

My students made spider legs from pipe cleaners and added googly eyes to complete. Students glued their spider to their web drawing. 

 

Warm and Cool Landscape Drawings

 

These landscape drawings were created by grade 3 students. We discussed different types of landscapes, the difference between warm and cool colours and different line types they could explore. Students then created their drawings in pencil, outlined in fineliner and used coloured textas or markers to add colour.

Tie Dye with Baby Wipes

This is a really easy project that I enjoyed as much as the students. I did this with grade 1 students but I'm sure any year level will enjoy it. The idea comes from 'I Can Teach My Child', where Jenae says you can use either regular textas/markers or liquid watercolours. I found the markers weren't as effective so we used tempera paints. I also discovered that very few children this age could wind the rubber bands around the wipes so you will probably need a helper for young children.

The results were exciting though and once dry you could incorporate them into another art work. We simply glued ours onto card as an example of experimental painting. We also completed 'Spin Paintings' in the same lesson. With older students you could discuss more about the history of the artform and perhaps link it to similar techniques such as Batik.

  

Animal Pattern Prints

 Grade 3 students made drawings of animals that travel together in groups before choosing one design to draw and engrave into a small styrofoam block. The process of block printing was demonstrated to students and they then repeated their print as many times as they could fit onto an A4 page. 

Once complete, students used a coloured dye to paint one section of their pattern to act as a focal point.