Red Birds in a Nest

Foam clay has to be the most amazing invention.  Ever.  It is so cool what you can create.  At the museum, I had the children make little nests out of the brown foam clay - adding sticks to give it the "nesty" look.

We formed our birds by making;

• a large oval for the body
• a small sphere for the head
• a little cone for the nose
• two flatten balls in the shape of an oval for the wings

Click here for step by step instructions from my clay birds.

So simple.  A great way to teach three-dimensional shapes in a hands on way!

Red Birds in Snow

This is an art project I did at the local museum.  I used the extra large black construction paper (24 x 36) which gave it such a "wow" factor.  We painted this in three stages:

1. Drew and painted the bird.  Let it dry. (Used oil pastels to draw the bird.)
1. Drawing Instructions:
• Draw a large oval for the body.
• Draw a circle for the head.
• Make a small triangle for the beak.
• Make an oval with a tip for the wing.
• Add a tail feather if you wish.
• Add legs.
• Draw a baseline for the ground.
2. Painted the snow using q-tips and brushes.  Let it dry.
3. Added little details with oil pastels.  (The beak, eyes, wing texture, and designs.)

This student wanted to add clouds to her painting.

Birds, Eggs and Nests: Playdough Fun

I love to use playdough as a medium for children to express what we are studying.  During our unit on birds - I put out three batches of playdough: brown for nests and limbs, blue for eggs and yellow for birds.   It was so popular!  The rule was "No mixing the playdoughs!"  And they did not!

I made three batches of playdough using Wilton food coloring (brown, yellow and blue).  I love their brown food dye as it makes such a perfect brown.

Playdough Recipe
2 cups flour
2 cups warm water
1 cup salt
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon cream of tartar
food coloring (I used Wilton food coloring - brown, yellow and blue)

Directions:
Place all of the ingredients in a medium size pan.  (I add the food coloring into the water)  Cook on medium heat and stir it until the playdough thickens.  Knead the dough until smooth.  

Making Clay Birds with Children

This summer, at the art museum, I had the children make clay birds.  The birds turned out so cute!  I failed to get photos of the finished birds.  I only have this photo - of a bird left behind by one child.

INSTRUCTIONS:

 The children will be making five basic shapes: an egg shape for the body, a sphere for the head, a triangle for the beak, and two "drops" for the wings.

 Attach the head by scoring the both sides with a plastic fork.  Add slip (which is watered down clay - this is like glue that will attach the two pieces.)

 Attach the beak in the same manner.

 Attach the wings.

 Smooth the clay with a wee bit of water on your finger.  Let dry.

This is the bird after being fired.

This is the bird glazed!

This idea was inspired by a picture similar online.   I broke this project into three sessions.  First session we drew the bird, second session we painted it, and finally we added the feathers and sequins.
What you will need is a white oil pastel, tempera paints, black construction paper, and feathers

 Step One:  In the upper right hand corner, draw a small circle.

 Step Two:  Draw a straight line out from the circle.

 Step Three:  Make a curved line from the line to the middle of the circle.

 Step Four:  Add three diagonal lines.

 Step Five:  Add curved lines to connect the diagonal lines.

 Step Six:  Add a little circle for the eyes and a triangle for the beak.

 Step Seven:  Add straight lines for the legs.

 Step Eight:  Draw a triangle for wing.  Draw curved lines to form the wing.

 Step Nine:  Paint the bird with tempera paints.

Step Ten:  Add feathers and sequins.

Make a Love Bird

This is a lovely project for Valentine's - making little love birds out of watercolor paper.  The sweetest part is writing on the back of the birds the things you love.   Isn't gratitude a wonderful way to honor Valentine's day?  I will do this with my class when I return to school (hopefully Friday or Monday).   I start by bringing the mood of awe and reverence for the many things we have in our lives that are wonderful - those scrumptious details of daily life! 

Making the Birds:  you will need watercolor paper, red and yellow paint, brushes, pink embroidery floss and gel medium (heavy glue).

 Paint a wash of color on the watercolor paper.  It is beautiful to add a tad of yellow.

 Cut out a bird tracer.  It works great to make tracers out of old file folders.  Here is a link to a pattern I used: bird pattern - this pattern is for sewing but I used as a tracer.

Let the children trace the birds and their wings.  Cut them out.

 Make a double-thread hanger out of the pink floss.  Put a dollop of glue on the bird.  Put the hanger's end on top of the glue and press the wing into it.  Hold for a few seconds to make bond.  Write what you love in life on the back of the birds.  Hang on tree, mantle, or make a garland of love!

How to Draw a Bird

 I think it is such an important skill to teach children how to draw.  It develops so many critical skills for learning - eye/hand coordination, dexterity, spatial perception, understanding of basic shapes and lines, the ability to observe as a means of knowledge - to name a few.   

All you need is enough black sharpies for each child, white cardstock, and watercolor paints.

I love the details the student added with the paint!

Is this not an amazing painting for a 5 year old?  I think the details are so sweet!

This is so easy for young children to draw.  I have done this one with four year olds!  Here are the simple instructions:

 

I ask the children to have their paper landscape (sideways).  I talk for a moment about the size of the paper.  I tell them to make a medium sized circle up at the top of the page.

 

Draw a straight line out from the bottom edge of the circle.

Draw a "u" shape starting from below the circle to the end of the straight line.

 Draw another "u" shape for the wing.

Draw a triangle for the beak.  Make a dot for the eye.  Add legs and claws.

Optional:  Add a wing with a straight slanting up and making a curve down.  I tell the children to add any details they would like - feathers, nests, trees. . .

Student working on wing.

Student adding baby birds!

 

This student is thinking about what other details to add.

Next, we paint!

I love the details on this bird!

Look at those happy birds!

What great details!  A nest in a tree.  I love the bird's tail.

I loved the expansive and swirling colors in this one and the tiny birds sitting on the mama's back.