4 Seasons Tree

As spring in Chicago was approaching (sort of) 2nd graders talked about the 4 seasons and what a tree looks like during each season.  We watched these videos to get excited about it!

http://zeitraffer.tv/en/nature-time-lapse/seasons/old-tree-four-seasons/
http://zeitraffer.tv/en/nature-time-lapse/seasons/fairytale-tree-4-seasons/

Students then learned how to draw a tree (lots of "Ys" and "Vs" of all different sizes!) before painting the sky blue.  Using different colored paint and q-tips, students divided their tree into 4 sections, one for each season, and painted it accordingly!

Crayon Resist Batiks

3rd graders learned about batik's - which are a fabric made in Indonesia that tell a story.  3rd graders made their own faux (fake) fabric batik that tells a story about their favorite things.  They first made a pattern using crayons (and pressing REALLY HARD with the crayons!) before crinkling up their art to create little creases all over their paper. Students then painted their paper with a solution of black paint, water, and dishwashing liquid - then wiped it off with a sponge.  See their fantastic results below!