Gingerbread Reader's Theater

When it comes to arts integration, especially in first grade, there is no better way to integrate drama into reading than through reader's theater.  This year we decided to create a unit based on all of the gingerbread story adaptations.  We picked five stories; Gingerbread Boy, Gingerbread Cowboy, Gingerbread Girl, Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers, and Gingerbread Man Loose in School.  We created scripts for each book and assigned roles.  Little did we know the true impact it would have on our students and their parents.

We spent over two week rehearsing the scripts on and off stage.  We spent more than 3 days creating props and collecting costumes.  All of the hard work was worth the excitement in our students eyes on the day of the performance.  The parents were thrilled and our cast party included gingerbread house decorating!

Here is our sample lesson plan for the Gingerbread Reader's Theater we created for our online arts integration graduate course along with a rubric for assessing your students:

And here is a picture of the huge background prop the kids created.  We used refrigerator boxes and unfolded them into screens:

Thanks for reading,

Vicki
Chrissy

Tis' the Season

Our second class was another success filled with hot chocolate and homemade Christmas cookies.  The teachers completed two art projects.  One project was based on shading using oil pastels and the second project was a mixed-media inspired piece of art.

Here are pictures from the first piece of art!

And here are pictures from our second art project:

We hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  We will see you in January for the annual LHPS mini-conference and our next class on perspective!

Vicki
Chrissy

Tis' the Season

 Join us for

APPLES AND BRUSHES

Art Lesson on Color Value

Wednesday, December 11th 3:00-4:00

This lesson will teach you shading and splatter techniques.  You will also learn about mixed-media artwork and how to integrate these techniques in your own classroom!

Using oil pastels with a watercolor resist, you can teach how to shade and show light reflection.  Have your students create artwork on sheet music to add more visual interest.

Using Mixed Media can be exciting and adventurous for children!  They can learn how to use everyday objects to create artistic masterpieces!

Hope to see you in class!

Vicki 
Chrissy

Color Theory Class

Our first class was an absolute blast.  Teachers learned how to integrate color theory into their curriculum as well as using mentor texts to help students make connections!

First, we demonstrated how to make a Play-doh color wheel.  Then, after reading Cleo the Cat, we showed step-by-step how to draw Cleo and add flowers in the background.  Finally, the teachers mixed primary colors to make secondary colors and painted their artwork!

Here are a few pictures from class:

Color Theory

Join us for

Apples and Brushes

Art Lesson on Color Theory

Wednesday October 23^rd 3:00-4:00

This lesson will break down color theory into teachable steps. Learn what elementary students need to know about color and how color plays an important role in painting.

Activities Include

Play-doh Color Wheel-

How to teach primary and secondary colors,

the color wheel and ways to mix colors. 

           Cleo the Cat Mentor Text

                    Using this mentor text you learn ways

                    to integrate ELA and Math

                         Common Core Standards