Bauer Elementary: Very Hungry Kindergarteners...I mean Caterpillars!

Kindergarten artists at Bauer Elementary had a blast with this lesson! This project concluded our Eric Carle artist study and was a big hit, especially because clay was involved! First, we read the classic book The Very Hungry Caterpillar, which the students read along with me. We then drew very large leaves - big enough to feed the hungry caterpillar, of course! Next, students used tempera cakes for painting the leaves. The following class period, students were each given a small amount of pre-colored green model magic clay (I mixed a batch of white clay with green tempera paint ahead of time). One of our learning goals was to create a sphere out of clay. The students had a lot of practice doing this during the lesson! They were given a few pom-poms at each table to use for measuring their spheres. Students lined up each sphere on wax paper and made a final red sphere for the head. The third and final day of this lesson involved cutting out their large leaves, hole punching where the caterpillar "munched," and gluing their caterpillars to their leaves! Small red pipe cleaners for antennae and sticky googly eyes (yes, they exist and are awesome!) added the final touch!

Learning Goals:

I can shape clay into a sphere

I can recognize art by Eric Carle

I can paint with care and use art tools appropriately

**Reminder: See you at the Art Show! Hudsonville City Hall - April 20-28!**

Bauer Elementary: Pre-Kindergarten Snowy Shape Houses

Pre-Kindergarten artists learned all about shapes during this cut and paste project. We named and identified basic geometric shapes including squares, rectangles, and triangles. Students practiced making a square by cutting a rectangle to make it shorter, and learned how to make two rectangles by cutting a square. They also practiced making a triangle by cutting a square from corner to corner. Students followed multi-step directions as they arranged their shapes for the house, and then added their own windows and doors and trees to complete their winter scene! Finally, the snowy prints were made by placing their project on painted bubble wrap and peeling it off to make a print! They did such a wonderful job!

Learning Goals:

I can identify and cut geometric shapes including squares, rectangles, and triangles

I can use scissors and glue appropriately

I can follow multi-step directions to arrange shapes

to make a paper house and trees