Paper Bag Journal

Third graders made these paper bag sketchbooks at the beginning of the year to show off their lettering skills and to bring home a book to collect their drawings and memories.  We talked about things the way artists use sketchbooks not only to draw, but also as a place to collect bits of inspiration.  These books are perfect for collecting because when the bags are folded the opening creates a set of secret pockets in the book for storing small items.  The bottom of the bag, the part that is folded over, makes a flap in the book that is a fun addition.

We used four bags for our book.  The bags have to be hole-punched one at a time.  I folded a piece of paper cut to the size of the binding and punched it twice for the children to use a template.  Finished with a  an easy rubber band and popsicle stick binding.

Thumbprint Pumpkins

Loved this. Thumbprint pumpkins and third grade.  Kids loved printing their fingers and then creating a cast of Pumpkin-Head Characters.  I had some examples from my sixth graders to show them for inspiration. That got the creative juices going.  We used liquid water color paint for the finger and Flair pen for the details.  In my opinion you can't go wrong when you hand a third grader a nice pen, but this project is engaging for any age...even adults joined in.  There's something meditative about the process.  Most third graders finished three rows in one class, but a few will need a finish up session.  They look lovely mounted on orange paper.  Happy October!

Lightning Bolt City

Sharing a piece of the third grade architecture mural this week.  Students really had fun designing buildings, bridges, cars, people, and other features for their imaginary city.  Each student designed  on a 12 X 18 sheet of paper, outlined with sharpie, and colored with colored pencils practicing really careful and complete coloring.  They cut out their pictures and arranged them on a long piece of craft paper.  Everything was quickly tacked down with a couple of dots of glue and then the whole thing was run through the laminating machine.  Fun and easy.