Let it Snow…

Here in San Diego there will not be a white Christmas. But it’s cold by my standards and I’m wearing layers and a knit hat as I type. Brrrrr…

My art students have been working on Winter Wonderland art pieces, and I thought I’d share a few pieces of their art.

I have photos of art from only three of the nine grades I teach. This is because after teaching this week I was grading and returning hundreds of pieces of art. Photos were not on the top of my mind. But I hope you enjoy the small collection you’ll see.

My youngest students did mixed-media Christmas trees. They colored the tree, and then decorated it. Each tree was supposed to have seven or eight plastic beads as ornaments. However…certain first graders were very excited about the beads and some students used far more than their allotted share. (I can’t really blame them—and I’m glad they were enthusiastic about the project.) But when I realized we had a bead shortage, I needed a Plan B because my next class (Kindergarten) would get a measly two beads per kiddo. And that would not do. Even Charlie Brown’s minimalist Christmas tree had more cheer than that. So I announced to the kids that we were going to use small pieces of Origami paper as ornaments. As everyone knows, Plan B can be even better than the original plan. (Just ask Santa. Rudolph was his Plan B, and hey, the rest is history.) I really like the colors and patterns of the origami paper on the trees.

My older students made mixed-media winter scenes using paint and paper collage techniques. We started out by flattening paper cupcake liners and folding them so that the kids could cut symmetrical snowflakes. 

4th grade artist

4th grade artist

4th grade artist

4th grade artist

We needed a relatively quick project as this quarter is very choppy, with Thanksgiving and Winter breaks. All the snowflakes are unique and I think the kids did a terrific job. The eighth graders’ work was more finessed, but I like all the snowy scenes the kids created.

8th grade artist

8th grade artist

8th grade artist

8th grade artist

Wherever you are, whatever you’re celebrating this month, be merry and bright.