Autumn Trees and Bird Ornaments

Hot enough today? I think it was more like a sweltering, sweaty, mess. Much thanks to the custodian that came in to save the day and turned on the air-conditioner for our class!! I think that was much like the day trying to re-focus, since the heat keep most of us in a haze. Okay now re-focus on what the projects were for today. Fall has finally arrived officially, even though it seems as though summer has just started, we worked on a autumn tree watercolor project. The children using yellow, orange, and red tempera paints created a textured background. The idea was to sponge paint the background in autumn leaf colors. We encouraged the kids to let all colors show and use a little blending. Some enjoyed blending so much the background turned into a solid color, nonetheless, a beautiful autumn color. After the background dried we used a straw and black tempera paint to create the trunk and branches of the tree by blowing the paint onto the paper. The results turned out really interesting. Some kids ended up with large, thick trunks and tons of branches, and others with smaller trunks and few branches. The black tempera did need a little help, and some kids were more timid with blowing the paint around, but eventually they got it.

We also worked on a small sewing project, of a felt bird ornament. Using felt, a couple beads, and ribbon the kids were able to turn simple shapes into a super cute ornament. It was a good exercise in coordination having to thread ribbon and beads, and tying knots.

County Fair Day Three

Last day of County Fair week, and I feel like we have almost been to the fair. We only needed a pig, chickens, and cow and it would have been complete. We ended this week doing watercolors of a bouquet of flowers. We did two different techniques with the watercolors still life. First, we had the children paint a wash on the background, and let it dry. While that was drying we moved on to floral painting number two, and it was supposed to be wet on wet, but the sunny day tended to dry out the paper rather quickly. The results still looked beautiful. The kids really had fun with this. Some attempted only a couple flowers and other the whole bouquet. I requested they try at least two. I was happily surprised with how detailed some got, and what color other were able to attain. Note to self, spend more money on quality watercolors. I bought some that I thought would last for a few weeks, but these doosies I bought only ended up making it through the three days barely. Thank goodness we had some better backups, my own beautiful kit I hoard, and some others that really helped round it out, and the children didn't at all mind sharing. Who can't love that?

What's a trip to the fair without coming home with a blue ribbon? We couldn't let that happen to our little contenders. The only catch is they had to make their own. So we had them each make their own crepe paper blue ribbon that we glued magnets to the back of. This one below was one of my favorites I suppose I might be a little biased, but I love the saying.

Next up, and most important project of the day was the apple pie in a jar! The kids couldn't wait for this one. Some were disappointed when they couldn't eat the pie dough and apples right away though. I told them they wouldn't be disappointed after it was baked in the oven. Yummy goodness. I pre-sliced and peeled all of the apples, but demonstrated with one more on how to peel and cut up an apple for pies. They got the chance to add sugar and cinnamon to the mixture and stir it. I then rolled out the pie dough, and each child was able to cut out a round for the bottom of their pie and place it in their jar. We then sent around the apple filling and they scooped up a cup of filling into their jar. I then rolled out the pie dough, and cut it into strips for the top lattice, and gave the kids each 6 strips to weave on top. They all did a fantastic job, and the pies turned out beautifully.

Lastly for the day we made bean bags for our bean bag toss game. Since the pie demonstration went a little longer than expected we had to rush through this project so we could get to the game, and all the kids could go home with their own bean bags, but we finished. Whew! They picked out fabric with solid backs and patterned fronts. They then went on to stamping their initials on the solid side so we wouldn't get the bean bags confused. Sewed up three sides and then the children filled their bags with a mix of beans, peas, and barley. Finally sewing up the closure, and done. We set up three buckets in the backyard put points on each bucket, and then the kids took turns throwing their bean bags into the buckets. It is actually really fun, and there was bean bags flying literally everywhere. They landed in the trees and on the roof (?) go figure. We sent each kid home with a folder filled with printouts of coloring sheets, mazes, dot to dot and word finds all based on the county fair, as well as, some little prizes from the bean bag toss game. All in all it was a super fun week filled with yummie treats and fun projects!