Seal for a Preschool Zoo Theme

The following lesson is a preschool cut and paste lesson that uses gray tempera paint on a seal. If your children are capable of cutting the shapes themselves it will make it easier for them if you outline the shapes for them.  In this lesson I used a cut up cupcake liner to create the collar and ball. Not only is this lesson great for a preschool circus theme but it is a good way to discuss shapes.  As my students are two-years-old I pre-cut the shapes for them but allowed them to glue everything on in their own way.

Materials:
- Construction paper for the background in a bright color
- Seal cut out or outline if the children are cutting it themselves
- Trapezoid or rectangle shape for the seal's stage in construction paper
- Gray tempera (or white and black if you would like to explain making gray and what a shade is)
- Glue and scissors

Preparation:
If your class is young like mine and not able to cut for themselves, pre-cut the seal, stage, and cupcake liner and place into zip lock bags to keep them organized.  You can either mix the gray yourself or do this in front of your children as a way to explain how gray is made.

Our YouTube Video showing the process:

Preschool Printing Lesson::Spring Chicks

The following lesson is a printing lesson that uses koosh balls to print chicks for a spring lesson.  You can find koosh balls at any dollar store in the children's section.  This lesson is appropriate for children as young as two and uses tempera paint.

Vocabulary to Introduce:

printing
tempera

Materials:

-paper plates

-yellow, blue, black, and orange tempera paint

-koosh ball

Preparation:

Water down blue tempera paint and mix well.  You can place this on the table for the children to start with.  Place yellow paint on plates with koosh balls in the center.  You could place the orange and black on a plate by themselves off to the side until needed.


Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Penguin Potato Printing

This is a winter potato printing lesson.  I do currently teach a two to three year old class.  My children completed this lesson with amazing results, although we limited it to one penguin.  Some variations of this you could do depending on the level of difficulty your children may need would be to include a background (snow/water).

Vocabulary to Introduce:

printing
acyrlic

Materials:

paper plates

school glue

potatoes

acrylic paint (black, white, and orange)

google eyes

Preparation:

Slice potatoes in half and pair them on plates making sure that one is smaller than the other to fit inside the body for a white belly.  Put white and black paint on the plates, spreading them to correct size with the potato intended for each.  Either place the orange on separate plates or save until the children begin to finish with their penguins.


Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Polar Bear, Polar Bear!

 Using chalk pastels on light blue construction paper, the child can create an portrait of this Arctic inhabitant.  This is a wonderful lesson for the winter and can tie into discussions of winter and the poles.  Be sure to explain the simples shapes that are used to create the parts of the polar bear as you create an example for the child. 

Vocabulary to Introduce:
geometric shapes (oval, circle, triangle, square)
chalk pastel

Materials:

-chalk pastels or chalk in various colors

-black construction paper

-aerosol hairspray or fixative

Preparation:

 As chalk pastels are messy be sure to cover the tables.  Place one sheet of light blue construction paper at every child's seat with chalk pastels between students.  When the students are finished with their art, spray the picture with hairspray or a fixative to set the pastel.  Do this in a well ventilated area or outside if possible.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

"The Little Owl" Drawing Lesson

Albrecht Durer was a German painter and printmaker who is considered one of the greatest artists of the Northern Renaissance.  This drawing lesson is inspired by his nature studies and in particular "The Little Owl."  It is important the students be able to draw basic shapes on their own to be able to create this picture (four years and older is suggested).

Vocabulary to Introduce:
geometric shapes (circle, oval, traingle, etc)
nature studies
Northern Renaissance

Materials:

-textured paper

-oil pastel

Note:

For younger children the lesson should focus not on the realism of the picture but making them aware of the combination of simple shapes that can be used to create a bird.  

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process: