Monster Surprise Art!

These fun projects would be great for the Halloween season, or anytime really.
 But, they aren't directly Halloween related, so if your school doesn't celebrate, these might still pass.  They've been all over pinterest lately.  Here are a few fun links.....

What to do with those left over Easter Eggs? Make Maracas! - VIDEO

I found this fun video where she does a super easy project of making Maracas from leftover Easter Eggs.  Ask your families for their leftover eggs, and maybe some rice too.  I'd use spoons instead of forks.  You could also use masking tape on the egg and that way the kids can decorate it with markers or paint.

Art For Kids Hub! - Daily Art Lessons

I started following this channel on You Tube a while ago, and I have been repeatedly impressed with the art lessons that are shared here.  Super fun to share with kids as a daily drawing lesson or as a reward once in a while. Also can provide you will some fun lesson ideas and activities to do based on themes and holidays.  They do lots of drawings, but they also do painting, finger painting, origami, clay and more.  Check it out!

Remember, if you are getting great content from a You Tube channel, watch the whole commercial and "Like" the video. That helps support their channel.

Encourage Creativity - Teach Skills & Techniques

We are always looking for ways to encourage creativity in kids.  A kid with creativity can solve problems, make informed decisions and think in new an different ways!

One of the ways I encourage creativity in kids is to teach them new skills and techniques in art.  Most of the greats went to art school studied the previous masters and spent years honing their craft.  But we often just give kids the supplies and expect them to be creative with them.  What often happens is that they don't get any better at it and that is frustrating, of course.  If we spend some time teaching techniques and skills they will get better and will be able to get closer to making the art they actually want to make.

It's okay if you don't feel like an artist.  Look up videos on You Tube and learn yourself and then teach.  Or show the kids the videos.  I don't just mean showing How To Draw videos.  Those can be fun, but usually only show a single drawing. Unless you find videos that mix the learning of different techniques in with the drawing.  That would be great!

Some skills kids can have fun learning.

• Color Mixing
• 
  

  
  
  Sketchbook: mix 100 colors. I like this 'challenge' so many kids mix the colours all into one lifeless muddy grey.
• Sketching before you paint.
• 
  

  
  
  How To Draw. "How to Draw" is a collection of tutorials that will teach you everything from perspective basics to shading chrome. Never picked up a pencil before? Fear not! From simple line drawings to modern art and easy animations, we've got you covered. All projects come from Instructables.com and contain pictures for each step so you can start your masterpiece today!
• Water Color techniques.
• http://www.pinterest.com/pin/119134352616180281/  
• https://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=BhN6PmA3rjM
• Where to place shading and shadow.
• Using slightly darker or lighter paint to show shading and shadow.
• Paper Sculpture
• 
  

  
  
  Paper sculpture techniques

There are so many more, but these should get you started!  Have fun and get those kids creating!!!

My Favorite Part! Sneaking in learning afterschool!

My Favorite Part Making Connections to
Literature by Drawing & Writing +Sub Plan

We want kids to keep learning afterschool, but in a fun way!  One of my sneaky ways is to get them to write and draw about their favorite part in a chapter book or picture book that I have read to them. 

They love to see these up on a bulletin board and show their parents.  The bonus is that they will also be able to recall the story and retell it, now that they have synthesized it into their own words and pictures.  Sneaky reading comprehension!!!  I have a worksheet available to make this process easier, including different size pages for different grade levels, at Teachers Pay Teachers, for only $1.25.  However, you could also make your own.

Quick Tip - Card Stock = Toilet Paper Tubes

You know how you find all of these cute projects to do with toilet paper tubes, but would have to save them for 5 years to get all of the tubes you need? Easy fix!  Use card stock, in any color, cut it to size and roll it.  Staple the top, bottom and middle.  Now you have the tube you need!

kidsactivitiesblog.com

from Kids Activities Blog

Marble Tubes Game

This Marble Tube Toilet paper Tube Craft allows children to get their hands dirty (with fine motor work) and then get tons of visual skill work (and fun) with it later on! From Kids Activity Blog

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Handwriting With Katherine

Fine Motor Skills

kidsactivitiesblog.com

from Kids Activities Blog

12 Toilet Paper Roll Crafts for Kids - Recycle Toilet Paper Tubes!

12 Toilet Paper Tube Crafts for Kids! I have never been able to put so many Pinterest craft ideas to use so quickly! The binoculars were an instant hit!

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Anjelica Eitel

Craft Ideas

abirdandabean.com

from A Bird and a Bean

cute owl craft

One Line Drawing Art Project SUPER FUN!

Click the image for a great site with lots of fun art projects.

 

I love this project because it is easy for all grade levels. Basically it is ONE line that does not cross over itself. Straight, squiggly, curvy, whatnot, just cannot go over another line and should fill up the page.  Once the page is full, draw some geometric shapes and chose similar colors to color each shape. 

To me the circles looked like planets.  If you are doing a space theme have the kids draw circles in different sizes and tell them what colors to do for the different sizes and they could cut them out and glue them onto a piece of dark blue construction paper.  Use yellow or white crayons to add stars!

http://splishsplashsplatterart.blogspot.ca/2011/10/longest-line-drawings.html

Awesome Art Projects from Pinterest

If you haven't discovered Pinterest yet, where have you been?  Oh yeah, dedicating your life to kids.  Okay, I forgive you!  There are SO many cool projects and ideas there.  Here are some fun ones that I found recently. 

I always like to do some fun and invovled projects at the end of the year.  Things are starting to wind down at school, but you need to keep those littles busy so they don't go "summer" crazy. 

White Crayon Resist Watercolor Painting


Animal Water color tutorial










The monsters game and hand knitting are great free time fillers!

Follow my After School Awesome pinterest board for more fun ideas!
 

You must love ART!

He is a swell guy!  He must have been to have all of that creative stuff named after him.  ;-)

Great Blog with lots of Art Ideas.
Finding My Marbles