HAND AND SPONGE ART

This project takes several days to complete.  You need plenty of counter space to 'dry' each part of the art.  An alternative is Kids Texture taken from Copycat Press.

Start with each student sponge painting a blue background all over the white construction paper.  Sprinkle salt to add a neat effect to the paper.  Let dry.  Next, have each student dip an arm from elbow to fingertips in brown paint and help place their arm on the center of the paper toward the bottom.  Let dry.  Then, have students dip the side of their fist for flowers.  Have a choice of colors, but make sure that their arm is clean for each new color and remind the students not to print over an existing wet color because it will turn muddy.

TURKEY PLATE

This is so cute and easy to make.  It is also a way to use those scraps of construction paper you always have after major projects.  Have students tear seasonal colors into little pieces to cover a paper plate.  One change I made was to trace the student's foot and bent thumb.  The foot is the brown part of the turkey and the thumb was the red part.  Once everyone is finished, demonstrate how to make the eyes and lines needed.  Students can do it with pencil and then when they are satisfied, they can trace with Sharpie Pens.

TEACHER SAMPLE ON DOOR WITH FEATHERS

HUGS FROM US

Materials needed:

SAMPLE KIDS FOR STUDENTS TO SEE.

~ 18"x4"construction paper - various colors

~ Face templates 7 1/2" for students to trace - white, tan, and light brown construction paper

~ Construction paper for students to trace their hands

~ Various colored scrap construction paper for details

~ Heart Stickers

Directions:  Students trace a face from the template and cut out; trace their hands and cut out, choose a 18x4 color strip; draw their face with pencil and finalize with markers; glue hair, ribbons, other details; glue face to arm strip and add hands.  MAKE SURE THE HANDS ARE PUT ON CORRECTLY.  Fold the arms and place a heart on the inside left body.

Can have students write on the inside for a message:
Love Always Protects
Love Is Kind            
Love Always Hopes
Love Forgives 
God Is Love
Love Always Preserves        
Love Is Not Rude 
Love Is Patient
Jesus Loves You

Post on the Hall Wall. Very Nice!            

OH DEER, THE GANG'S ALL HERE

Another fun project using the child's foot and hand.  I love these projects, because a parent will always be able to see how small their child really was in your grade.

REINDEER CARD HOLDER HANGER GIFT

WONDERFUL GIFT PROJECT - USES STUDENT'S HANDS.

RED-NOSED REINDEER

VERY DRAMATIC IN A CLASSROOM ON A DREARY DAY!

ALL ABOUT ME HAND

GETTING TO KNOW YOU PROJECT FOR THE NEW YEAR!

Students trace and cut out five (or more) hand prints.  On 1st, ALL ABOUT _______ with thumb-stating name, pointer-stating age, middle-stating grade level, 4th finger-stating height and pinky-stating hair color. On 2nd hand, MY FAVORITE BOOKS - each finger names a book.  On 3rd hand, MY FAVORITE PEOPLE - each finger names a person.  On 4th hand-MY FAVORITE FOODS - each finger names a food. On 5th hand-MY FAVORITE THINGS TO DO - each finger names an activity.   These topics can change according to your interest.  When you are finished, staple together at the wrist.  You could add one more hand.  Write What I Want to Be When I Grow Up - list one occupation on each finger, OR My Hopes and Dreams....  And it could go on.  Definitely, I would only do one hand at a time, with younger students, to get a better result.

A HAND WREATH

Make individual ones for the students to take home.  Make sure you put a date!  Another choice is to make a class wreath to hang in the hallway.  Every hand would have the child's name.

CHRISTMAS HANDPRINT BELL

What a beautiful memory gift to parents of young students!

Print Bell on white construction paper.  Have students cut out four Holly Leaves and six red berries.  Students glue 2 hollies and 3 berries at the top of the bell on each side.  Have students print their hand in red and sign the bell.  Be sure to date it.

SANTA HAND

Make sure you have red construction paper for the students to trace their hand.  Have pink circles for the face.  Have boot, hand, belt and buckle pieces ready.  Each child gets one of every piece needed plus one cotton ball.  Give detailed directions.  Be sure to show that the thumb ends up being part of Santa's hat.  Show how to stretch and pull a cotton ball.  See other example.

STOCKING ORNAMENT

Wonderful way to put a little bit of the child on an ornament.  Get a wooden stocking from hobby store.  Need to drill a hole in the top for a hanging ribbon.  Have the student paint it white.  Let dry.  Draw lines for the student to paint toe, heel and top red.  Let it dray.  I would have the student write his name and put the date.  Let it dry.  Student put a fingerprint on the stocking and decorate it.  Ideas come from books Ed Emberly Books.  Tie a ribbon for tree hanging and it's ready to go home as a MEMORY GIFT for parents.

FOOT TURKEY SUNCATCHER

A NICE MEMORY FOR PARENTS!  Students draw streaks of color, starting center and drawing to the outer edge, on a coffee filter with watercolor markers.  Then fold the filter in half 4 times.  Dip the point of the folded filter into a bowl of water so the colors bleed upward.  Unfold the filter and let it dry on wax paper.  Then cut the turkey body from a traced foot (teacher traces) of the student, on brown construction paper.  Glue the foot to the dried filter.  Decorate with feet, a beak, eyes, and a wattle.  Make sure the student's name and year is on the body.  Every time a parent see it, they will think, 'was my child's foot ever that small?'

GHOSTLY HAND ART

A cool way to do this art project would be to start with blue construction paper.  Use popsicle sticks to build a 3-D fence.  Make a pumpkin face out of orange construction.  Glue on.  Make a moon out of yellow construction.  Glue on.  Have students place hands in white paint, then place on blue paper.  Let dry.  Student draws face on ghosts.  Make sure to DATE paper on the FRONT. WONDERFUL KEEPSAKE FOR PARENTS.  May write a story and publish for extended activity.

TURKEY FUN

Season/Month: Thanksgiving-November
Age/Grade: Primary
Groups: Whole, Small, Center, Individual
Materials: book, white paper, Turkey Music

1. Choose an appropriate book about turkeys to be read: 'Twas the Night Before Thanksgiving by Dav Pilkey.
2. After the story is read, pass out white sheets of paper, having students place the paper horizontal.
3. Illustrate on the board how to draw a "Hand Turkey".  Show them how to add feathers and markings.
4. As the students are working on their turkeys, play Turkey Music in the background.
http://www.songdrops.com/funny-kids-songs-for-children/the-turkey-song-a-funny-thanksgiving-song-by-bryant-oden.html
http://www.dltk-holidays.com/t.asp?b=m&t=http://www.dltk-holidays.com/thanksgiving/poetry/c-albuquerque.gif
http://dltk-holidays.com/thanksgiving/aturkeysatonthebackyardfence.html
5. Talk about different environments the turkeys could be in.  Have students draw an appropriate background for their turkey.
6. Share the turkeys, telling their name, all about it....
7. This could easily lead into a writing activity.
8. The Turkey Art could be displayed in the hallway or Website.
9. After the season place turkey art/story in the student journal.
OR SEND HOME AS A MEMORY GIFT...
1.  Have the students make their turkey and glue it onto colored paper.
2.  The students copy poem (below) from the board.
3.  Encourage neatness!
4.  Glue the poem beneath the turkey.  Send this Memory Gift home for Thanksgiving, making sure to have the student sign and date it!
POEM:
This isn't just a turkey,
As anyone can see.
I made it with my hand,
Which is a part of me.

It comes with lots of love
Especially to say,
I hope you have a very
HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!