Clowning Around with First Grade

First graders are making drawings of clowns with markers this week. Everyone is illustrating something they've seen a clown do -- or something they'd like to see. Here are just a few. They have fantastic imaginations!

Comix by Kids

Every year the fifth graders create their own character and make a comic strip about them. Last year, I chose 24 of these and had them published through Ka-blam, a print on demand publisher. It has a nice color cover and the cost for these was $2 for printing and shipping. I ordered one for each student who was published in this comic, and these kids are starting to pick these up. I'm willing to make orders for extra family members, etc., for $2/each. Just let me know if you'd like a copy of Comix by Kids!

Our Adventures Where the Wild Things Are

We went to the place Where the Wild Things Are and what did we see? The first drawing and story are mine, followed by some by second graders.

Colorful Coil Pots

Third grade classes have finished glazing their ceramic pots made using the coil method. Methods of construction and designs were inspired by Native American pots. This week we'll wrap them up and take them home!

First Grade Pumpkins

We're really glad that Mrs. Sullivan brought in big boxes of pumpkins for us to paint. Students are using this as a chance to review what they've learned about using primary colors to make secondary colors.



First grade students had the choice to make a silly face, a happy face, or a scary face on their pumpkin.

Kindergarten Clowns

My favorite drawing instruction book is Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes. In her book, the author stresses the importance of teaching students the five elements of contour shape. It isn't enough to show kids how to draw, you have to give them the vocabulary that describes them. A good way to introduce many of these shapes is through making a drawing of a clown.