Painted Paper Fish

I start this project by having each child make a "bubble painted" paper (technique is posted in painting techniques).  This time because of time constraints,  I prepared the painted paper but they could do that as well.
(To make the painted paper in a very quick and easy way I just paint the top of the construction paper with a large paint brush and tempera paint.  I paint pretty thick.  Then I press another piece of construction paper on top, rubbing it into the paint.  Lift it off and you have two painted papers!)

Step One:  I make fish tracers out of file folders.  Child picks out a tracer, traces the fish and cuts it out.  I also make fin tracers.

Step Two:  Add details with crayons.

Step Three:  Glue on fins.

Step Four:  Glue to the bubbly paper.  Add details to ocean.

Step Five:  This is the final detail - adding sequins and little beads. 

It's Bubbly Print Making!

This makes a great "ocean" (water) background for painted paper collages (make fishes out of painted paper).  It is super easy and  I do have some very helpful hints to make it a sure fire success.  I video taped the process of making a bubble print - for visual learners like myself (if I see it, I can do it!).   

What you will need:
liquid dish soap
paint
paper (heavy paper like cardstock or watercolor paper - Tip: construction paper does not work well)
plastic straws
a straight pin

Fill your basin with water.  Any size basin will work - it just needs to be bigger than the size of your paper.  Add a very healthy amount of dish soap.  Think of it this way - the soap bubbles carry the color pigment.  I probably add about a 1/4 cup or more (depending on the size of the basin).   Next add a healthy amount of paint.  I add about a cup of paint or better (keep adding paint if your prints are not showing the bubbles).  This is a very "intensely-soapy-pigmented" water!!!  But it works like magic!  (note - not all paints are equal in their vibrancy.  Play around with it to achieve the look you want.  I like to add a little cheap acrylic paint to my tempera to up its depth.)

There is no other way to mix the batch without putting your hand in the basin.  The pigment of the paint falls to the bottom and you really need to get your hand in there to stir it up into the bubbles.  You will see the bubbles change into a deeper color as you stir with your hand.   (Do this regularly as you print to keep it vibrant - I also use a paint brush to stir but you will need an occasional hand stir.)

Method:
Give the student a straw to blow bubbles into the water (tell them to "blow out").  Once there is a dense covering of bubbles, lay your paper on top of the bubbles.  Let the weight of the paper pop the bubbles.  Do not push the paper down!  This will dip it into the water and ruin the bubble prints.  Pull it out before it hits the water.

TIP:  Poke a hole in the straw to help keep students from sucking up the soapy water.

Watch the printing process:


Bubble Print Making from Fairy Dust Teaching on Vimeo.

Drawing Tiki Masks

It has been so crazy with my daughter in the hospital and trying to get things done at work.  I did not capture the completed tiki masks.  Just looking at their drawings - you can imagine - they were so cute. 
What you need:  white cardstock, sharpies, watercolors

 Step One:  Draw two circles for the eyes.

 Step Two:  Draw another circle around those circles.

 Step Three:  Draw a triangle with curved corners for the nose.

 Step Four:  Draw a mouth in the shape of a banana.  Draw a line in the middle.

 Step Five:  Draw a line across the top.  Make design like diagonal lines.

 Step Six:  Draw a line at the bottom and make a design.

 Step Seven:  Watercolor your mask!

Coloring Shells

This was a clever idea from my friend Sue Tarr.  She went to restaurants that sell oysters in a half shell and asked to have the leftover shells!  Free shells.  Then she drilled holes in them for hanging.  I thought this was such a great idea for a cheap craft project.   (Be sure to clean the shells well before using.)

 I provided an assortment of seashells for the children to color.

 The children used basic markers to color the shells.

The shells can be colored and enjoyed as is or you can hang them on a string or wire.

Ocean Block Play

This week the children reminded me of the incredible value of providing materials for block play.   With each change of theme - I like to put out new cloth and items related to our stories.  I put out blue fabric for water, green for earth and brown as well.  I had an assortment of sea creatures that I added.  

This is what one group of boys created earlier in the week.  It was such a wonderful cooperative play moment and they literally created a world with the materials.  

Adding materials to block play and keeping it fresh and related to the classroom conversations provides a whole new level of play experience.  I love to listen to their conversations as they "play" out what we have been learning.  It is pure gold.

Fish Glyph

This is such a cute glyph that Mrs. Goodroe did with her class.  Mrs. Goodroe has the best ideas!  I have posted her Fish Glyph that summarizes what each element represents.  The handprint fish are super easy to do. 

Fish Glyph

Playstand Transformation - Tiki Hut

 This week the theme in the kindergarten classes at my school is "Hawaii."  We make volcanoes, have an Hawaiian Luau, to name a few things.  So, of course, I had to transform the playstands!  I found lots of Hawaiian themed items at my local party supply and Big Lots.  It does not take much to create the mood.  I purchased a bag of cardboard tiki heads to decorate the ends of the playstand.

 I was given a nice little stash of fabric.  I found some to drape on the top that looked close enough to "Hawaiian."

 Assorted woven and wood materials.

 Grass skirts make great sides to the hut!

Must put in the Hawaiian leis!