Visit Two: Colors of the Seasons

What is the best thing about the seasons? COLORS! 

As a part of the First Grade curriculum, they learn about the characteristics of the different seasons. I decided to use that comparison mindset to teach a little color theory. I knew watercolors would be a fun medium for them to experience, and would lend to the content. Instead of teaching mixing and using lots of paints, I wanted to continue with my theme of "observations" and have them focus on comparing what colors are found in which seasons, and the effect of colors on our senses!

I prepared by cutting templates of leaves on white watercolor paper. I had each child choose four, one to represent each season. Mrs. Ackley had provided for all the other necessary materials; water color pallets and paint brushes. I began this lesson with an activity in imagining a walk through the forest. As the students closed their eyes and pictured the forest, I prompted them to think of a specific season, and asked which colors they were seeing. I wrote a list of this brainstorming on a board for the students to refer back to. 

After going over some basic watercolor etiquette, I set them off at creating 4 leaves of their own, each to represent a season. I wanted the kids to have a larger degree of freedom on this activity so I allowed them to create any pattern or picture or design on their leaves. I saw many of them working to use the correct color pallet for the seasons, and there were a few who were just having fun with colors! 

As they worked, I set up a bare tree with four large branch partitions in the hallway. As they finished, we divided them into seasons, and then I attached Spring to the left branch, Summer to the next, Fall to the next, and Winter to the far right. 

Our Seasons Tree was a unique take on combining the colors of the seasons into one tree. I was very pleased with how this activity turned out, and admirers got to see the wonderful tree as they passed in the hall!

I cut this quickly out of butcher paper and created a place for us to put our leaves.

Spring Branch

Summer Branch

Fall Branch

Winter Branch

Check out my lesson plan for this visit! Bring some color to your students:

Colors of the Seasons

Finished Product: Seasons Tree!

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Visit One: Apple Observations

Welcome to Fall!

 Welcome to a new school year! 

Welcome to Mrs. Ackley's First Grade Class!

 Let's celebrate with Apples!

For my first visit to teach visual arts, Mrs. Ackley and I collaborated to create a lesson on this week's Science topic: the lifecycle of an apple. I thought we should start out with some drawing basics, but also wanted to have the class using a new art form. I decided that they each should create a still life using pastels.

Mrs. Ackley wanted to introduce Apples with a discussion on the Life Cycle of an Apple. She took them through seeds to tree to blossoms to fruit to new seeds! Meanwhile, I scattered a couple dozen apples on the table. I got these apples from a friend with an orchard who was willing to bring me some at a variety of stages. I had the children share some of the observations of the colors and shapes. I wanted to have them tune into really using their visual sight to create art.

We introduced some Art History with French painters Cezanne and Matisse. I showed them pictures of the apple still lifes that these artists created, and we talked about the different styles. Here are some of the pictures that I used:

We were able to see how there are distinct shapes of color in these apples. I handed out some of these pictures to the students and had them trace the shapes of color that they could find. After this, I had them each grab an apple and take it to their desk. They had the opportunity to hold and describe the apples, and I asked them to trace the shapes they could find with their fingers.


We arranged all the apples on the middle table and had each child pick a still life they would be focusing on. I demonstrated how to draw a horizon line and position the apples we see on the paper. I had them take five minutes to sketch three to five apples that they chose. This is the part where I wish I had set up a little better. I wish I had talked about perspective as well as placement of the apples. We had a number of crab apples and I think that it through off some of the sizes, as I watched a number of the first graders draw really small apples! This demonstration and explanation helped me see that I have a lot to learn to be more clear with the first graders and enable them to be more successful in the art skill we were focusing on. I primarily wanted them to learn the power of observation and looking for a long time as we draw and see shapes. I saw a few students taking the time to look at their still life, and I was really happy about that.

The children loved the oil pastels.  "They're so soft!" "Look at the colors" They had fun trying to see the colors and shapes in their still life. I was very pleased with the chunky colors I saw and the shifts in value. I think most children had at least one apple they really looked at to see the color shapes. We ended up with really fun, multi-colored apples! 

Check out my lesson plan here: 

http://karaleighsartsbridgeexperience.blogspot.com/p/lesson-one-apple-observations.html

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