Although this project could be made with construction paper or even wallpaper, I think calendar pages are the perfect weight for this sitting bunny. If you haven’t been using glue dots, this is a great time to use them. This project, “Calendar Cone Bunny,” in listed in the 3rd Grade Projects Gallery in the sidebar.
Click on the image to the left to get a better view of this bunny.
You know that from now until Christmas the kids are going to ask, many times, “How many days ’til Christmas?” Help them make a countdown calendar like this one so they can see how many days are left. The star is the pointer that, on the 25th of December, shines down on the Baby Jesus. You’ll find the directions and patterns for this “Follow the Star Countdown” in the 1st Grade Projects Gallery in the sidebar. Click on the image for a closer view.
I believe that it was on Artsonia that I saw a project like this a couple of years ago and thought it was a great lesson for the kids. The class started this by discussing how we know an animal is running in a picture. I found pictures of “animals running” on (Google images) for ideas on which animal to depict and to see the positions of the running legs. The supplies for this project are minimal, just some scraps of construction paper, scissors and glue. A very simple project, but one that stresses awareness of what shows motion in a work of art. For directions for this project, “Move It,” look in 1st Grade Projects Gallery in the sidebar.
I think ladybugs are fascinating little insects.Here is an interesting fact about ladybugs. Different ladybugs have different numbers of spots. Some have no spots while some have as many as twenty four. This is a 1st grade project to improve cutting and gluing skills. You’ll find the directions for this project, “Ladybug, Ladybug,” under the 1st Grade Projects Gallery in the sidebar.
Last year the first grade students and I had the best time doing this project. We asked their teacher to leave the room while we made animal masks and practiced a song to sing (or recite) to her. The kids got so excited about doing something to surprise their teacher. We had a total of six different animals, so more than one student made the same animal. While I was searching for other possible animals to draw for the project I ran across the site, Masketeers, that features masks. With the download you get both a colored version of the animal and a black and white version. There are a total of 50 different animals. You can even check on the size and looks of the masks by downloading three free masks. I think the animals (you can resize them to fit your needs) would even make an interesting bulletin board. For directions for this project, “Meet the Animals,” go to the 1st Grade Projects Gallery in the sidebar.
We named this project “Lunch Bag Build A Puppet.” The only supplies needed, other than colored markers and a glue stick, are a brown lunch bag and the animal features copied on white construction paper. Patterns are included in this project or you can make up your own. This project, “Lunch Bag Build a Puppet,” is found in the 1st Grade Projects Gallery in the sidebar.
Tropical fish, in pictures anyway, always seem to have bright, beautiful coloring. Since calendar pictures are also bright and glossy, they seemed to be the perfect scales for our fish. So, this project uses calendar pictures, colored markers, chalk, glue sticks, and glitter. We also include a pattern, but if time would permit it would be nice if the fish shape were first drawn by the kids. The pattern and directions for “Tropical Calendar Fish,” are in the 1st Grade Projects Gallery in the sidebar.
Our 1st Grade teacher actually named this project, “Toad”ally Awesome,” for us. Notice the different shapes, designs and color combinations the kids use. This project uses a toad picture to color (pattern included), black construction paper, colored markers, scissors and a glue stick. It’s great to walk down the hall at school and see these displayed. All the directions for, “Toad-ally Awesome,” can be found in the 1st Grade Projects Gallery in the sidebar.
