November is the time for pumpkin pie, the wonderful scents of turkey basting in the oven, giving thanks, and spending time indoors with family and friends. So much togetherness is happening, in fact, that often arguments break out.
Our family jokingly called it the “Annual Thanksgiving Day Fight”, and it was always over some nonsense like cleaning the basement. This year there is a lot to argue about pending a heated election amid many changes taking place. That said, It’s important that we take a step back and remember the importance of family, and giving thanks for each other.
Inspiration:
Spending time with family and in our case, avoiding family arguments, requires some planned activities that are fun and festive. Halloween is over, but it is still decorative gourd season! Why not create some fun and colorful decorative gourds to use as a centerpiece?
Everyday Art Lesson:
Concept Focus: Decorative Gourds
Mess Factor: Low
Ages: Can be modified for ages 0-18 years
Objectives: Younger kids will create decorative gourds and pumpkins out of clay while older kids create pattern pumpkin place mats.
Suggested Materials:
Babies, toddlers, and younger kids: 3-D Decorative Pumpkins
• Playdough Red, Yellow, Blue (see reference below for making your own)
• For ages 3+: Crayola Model Magic Red, Yellow, Blue, or other air dry compounds
Younger kids can easily mix secondary colors from the 3 primary colors, Red, Yellow, and Blue (R+Y=Orange, R+B=Violet, Y+B=Green).
Mix the colors to get orange by using twice as much yellow as red. Mix the stem and leaves of the pumpkin by mixing twice as much yellow as blue to get green.
Create a ball by rolling the orange between your hands, then press in the center. Take a pencil or dental floss to create the indented bands around the pumpkin (see visual tutorial below). Then, put the stem and leaves in the center of the top of the pumpkin, and decorate with other colors!
Older Kids: Pattern Pumpkin Placemats
• Thick white paper
• Sharpies, or permanent fine tip markers
• Watercolor paints or colored pencils
• Examples of different patterns for reference
• Clear contact paper to cover finished work so they can be used as placemats.
On the thick, white paper, sketch a large pumpkin by drawing 2 large ( ) parentheses.
Kids can then create abstract patterns and designs in the spaces, each space a new pattern or design. Patterns should have variety.
To create the illusion of a 3-D pumpkin, lighter patterns can be placed toward the center while darker patterns flank the spaces around the edges. Once kids are happy with their patterns and placement, they can sharpie in the drawings.
Kids begin painting in the white spaces over the permanent Sharpie patterning with watercolors. They can keep the colors to different shades of orange or use whatever color combinations they want. Each section should be painted, lighter color towards the center to make the pumpkin appear rounded.
Optional: use clear contact paper to adhere to the surface of the painting so that they can be used as festive placemats!
Differentiation:
This project is very user friendly. That said, students having difficulty creating an abstract pattern can choose 1 shape and repeat it in different sizes and variations of patterns. They may also create a pattern menu with different variations of lines and shapes to create variety within their piece.
(TIP: Always check for the ASTM d-4236 standard and ACMI AP seal, which should be on all art materials given to children. Materials are like ingredients. Many things can be substituted for what you have on hand.)
References:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/no-bake-play-dough/
Jennifer Barrett is the Arts Liaison and Performing Arts Coordinator at a public junior high school in Brooklyn, and has taught visual arts there since 2002. She founded Creative Space Arts in 2014 to offer a different kind of art studio, always changing and inspired by the immersive environment of galleries and other creative spaces. She has also guided countless students through the rigorous audition process of portfolio development, with many gaining acceptance and even scholarships into some of NYC’s most prestigious art schools. Jennifer’s paper creds include: B.F.A. in Drawing, M.Ed., S.B.L Certification.
Our family jokingly called it the “Annual Thanksgiving Day Fight”, and it was always over some nonsense like cleaning the basement. This year there is a lot to argue about pending a heated election amid many changes taking place. That said, It’s important that we take a step back and remember the importance of family, and giving thanks for each other.
Inspiration:
Spending time with family and in our case, avoiding family arguments, requires some planned activities that are fun and festive. Halloween is over, but it is still decorative gourd season! Why not create some fun and colorful decorative gourds to use as a centerpiece?
Everyday Art Lesson:
Concept Focus: Decorative Gourds
Mess Factor: Low
Ages: Can be modified for ages 0-18 years
Objectives: Younger kids will create decorative gourds and pumpkins out of clay while older kids create pattern pumpkin place mats.
Suggested Materials:
Babies, toddlers, and younger kids: 3-D Decorative Pumpkins
• Playdough Red, Yellow, Blue (see reference below for making your own)
• For ages 3+: Crayola Model Magic Red, Yellow, Blue, or other air dry compounds
Younger kids can easily mix secondary colors from the 3 primary colors, Red, Yellow, and Blue (R+Y=Orange, R+B=Violet, Y+B=Green).
Mix the colors to get orange by using twice as much yellow as red. Mix the stem and leaves of the pumpkin by mixing twice as much yellow as blue to get green.
Create a ball by rolling the orange between your hands, then press in the center. Take a pencil or dental floss to create the indented bands around the pumpkin (see visual tutorial below). Then, put the stem and leaves in the center of the top of the pumpkin, and decorate with other colors!
• Thick white paper
• Sharpies, or permanent fine tip markers
• Watercolor paints or colored pencils
• Examples of different patterns for reference
• Clear contact paper to cover finished work so they can be used as placemats.
On the thick, white paper, sketch a large pumpkin by drawing 2 large ( ) parentheses.
Kids can then create abstract patterns and designs in the spaces, each space a new pattern or design. Patterns should have variety.
To create the illusion of a 3-D pumpkin, lighter patterns can be placed toward the center while darker patterns flank the spaces around the edges. Once kids are happy with their patterns and placement, they can sharpie in the drawings.
Kids begin painting in the white spaces over the permanent Sharpie patterning with watercolors. They can keep the colors to different shades of orange or use whatever color combinations they want. Each section should be painted, lighter color towards the center to make the pumpkin appear rounded.
Optional: use clear contact paper to adhere to the surface of the painting so that they can be used as festive placemats!
Differentiation:
This project is very user friendly. That said, students having difficulty creating an abstract pattern can choose 1 shape and repeat it in different sizes and variations of patterns. They may also create a pattern menu with different variations of lines and shapes to create variety within their piece.
(TIP: Always check for the ASTM d-4236 standard and ACMI AP seal, which should be on all art materials given to children. Materials are like ingredients. Many things can be substituted for what you have on hand.)
References:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-for-kids/no-bake-play-dough/
Jennifer Barrett is the Arts Liaison and Performing Arts Coordinator at a public junior high school in Brooklyn, and has taught visual arts there since 2002. She founded Creative Space Arts in 2014 to offer a different kind of art studio, always changing and inspired by the immersive environment of galleries and other creative spaces. She has also guided countless students through the rigorous audition process of portfolio development, with many gaining acceptance and even scholarships into some of NYC’s most prestigious art schools. Jennifer’s paper creds include: B.F.A. in Drawing, M.Ed., S.B.L Certification.
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