Postcard templates

I designed this template for a unit I am working on for United States Geography.  I plan to have students use this template during a study on a selected state.  They will draw a picture of one important location from the state and write a letter to the class as if they were visiting the location.  I also am going to send mystery postcards from mystery locations and have the students research where the postcard came from.

This template could be used for many activities, though.  Such as: students could write a postcard from the prospective of a character from a book and draw a setting; foreign language students could choose a location from the country they are studying, print a picture and write the postcard in the language they are studying, in math students could draw a tessellation...  The opportunities are endless.

Silhouette Art

We did this project for Halloween, but it could really be done for any season.  It is a simple project and turns out beautifully.

Materials

• Small pieces of watercolor paper
• Paint brushes
• Water color paint sets
• Black construction paper OR black tempura paint
• Glue

Steps

1. Paint a skyline with watercolors, covering the entire watercolor paper (may need to discuss the colors of the sky at different times of day).
2. Cut a scene out of black construction paper or paint it over the water color with tempura paint after it dries.
3. Glue the scene onto the water color paper.

Dr. Seuss Art

This project is a low-prep, fun way to honor Dr. Seuss!

Materials

• 11 x 17 in white construction paper (twice as many as you have students)
• tempura paint
• paint brushes (small and large)
• black permanent markers
• pencils
• glue (school or stick)
• Dr. Seuss books for reference

Steps

1. Students paint broad horizontal or vertical stripes across their first piece of construction paper in a single color, leaving the background white.
2. While the backgrounds dry students draw their favorite Dr. Seuss character lightly in pencil.
3. Paint over the pencil with tempura paint.
4. Once the paint dries, outline the character in permanent marker (optional).
5. Cut out the character.
6. Glue character onto background.

Stained Glass Craft Project

2013 Student Samples

This is a semi-complicated craft that the kids love!  It can also be done around any holiday with holiday-themed templates.  It could be done with any grade level, but it is pretty complicated.

Materials

• Sharpies (Various colors, lots of black, at least the number of sharpies as you have kids unless you want to do this in stations)
• Plastic wrap (1 roll, any brand)
• Heavy duty aluminum foil (1 roll, any brand)
• Paper plates (just the basic cheap kind)
• Tape (any kind, really, it goes on the back.
• Stained glass or mandala templates printed on plain paper (see below)

Preparation

1. Cut aluminum foil and plastic wrap in square or rectangular sheets that are big enough to cover the paper plates.
2. Print mondala and/or stained glass templates on normal paper.

Steps

1. Crinkle up aluminum foil into a ball (not too tight because you'll need to flatten it out!)
2. Flatten out the aluminum foil.
3. Cover the bottom of the paper plate with aluminum foil and tape the corners on the other side.
4. Choose a stained glass template and wrap the plastic wrap tightly around the template.  Tape it on the back of the template.
5. Color the plastic wrap with colored sharpies, starting with the inner portions of the stained glass.
6. Outline the colored portions in black sharpie.
7. Remove the plastic from the template. (Template can be recycled)
8. Cover the aluminum foil plate with the plastic wrap and tape on the same side as the aluminum foil was taped.

Modeling Points

• Color in gentle, even strokes.
• Wait to outline until the very end so mistakes can be covered.
• Work from the center outward so the marker doesn't get on your hands or get smeared.
• Spread the plastic wrap gently with your fingers as you color to prevent wrinkles.

Step-by-step pictures to follow.

Rotational Symmetry

What's better than combining art and math!?  Just cut out a thin shape out of cardstock, punch a brad through the shape and a small piece of paper, turn and trace.  So easy, cheap, and looks fab (not to mention illustrates the concept fabulously).  Thanks to my co-teacher for the idea.