BUG art!


So the kindergarten teachers at my main building have been inviting me to share crafts and projects that go along with their weekly theme.  Last week it was spring and I shared the Picasso Peace Bouquets project.  This week their theme has been:
BUGS!!

Here are some projects that go along with the BUG theme to try your own version of at home, if you're interested!

Via Fantastic Fun and Learning - click for link (there are a lot of ads in this one!) 

This project uses....TOILET PAPER TUBES!!  You know you've got some!  You dip the tubes in paint to stamp or print circles, and you can bend the tubes to create the pointed ovals for the wings.  Then use markers to decorate and draw eyes.  This is a great introduction to an art process called printmaking!

Learn how to draw insects with your fingerprints and these simple instructions! Includes free printable jar and sheets for your toddlers and pre-schoolers to follow!
Via The Country Chic Cottage -- Click for link!  This one is FUN!

 This cute bug project involves the most basic kind of printmaking -- finger prints!  You can use a stamp pad if you have one, or you can experiment with using washable markers to color a fingertip or thumb!  A skinny black pen or marker adds great details at the end.  If you like this kind of art, check out Ed Emberly's thumbprint drawing books!  
These classic coffee filter butterflies are SO EASY and so beautiful! This is such a great summer craft idea for kids and a fun low mess activity! It's easy. It's relatively low mess. It's even a bit of a science experiment when you wet the coffee filter and watch the colours blend!
Via One Little Project - click for link (good photos and a video!)

This one is a personal favorite and one I saw K doing each year, but big kids love it too!!  You need: washable markers, 2 coffee filters, a pipe cleaner or clothes pin for the middle, and some water (a spray bottle or dropper is helpful, but a paintbrush works too).  You want something under the coffee filter when you get it wet because the colors WILL bleed and run (a plate, a paper towel, a cookie sheet, etc). 

One more tip --  try to put colors next to each other that mix well (not red with green, or blue with orange, or yellow with purple).  Also don't worry about getting detailed with your designs, because when you wet them they will run all over each other!  This is fun do do several times if you have the supplies because each one will be different!


Lastly, the KING of creating collage bugs has to be author/illustrator Eric Carle. Every student will recognize:
Eric Carle Board Books - Set of 8
Image via Kaplan Early Learning

Eric Carle makes textured, painted tissue paper for his book illustrations and then cuts and glues those papers together to make his illustrations!  Any kiddo with colored paper can assemble their own bugs out of basic shapes like circles and rectangles!  If you want to make some really cool paper, you can paint paper (one or more colors) and use tools to scratch and scrape it. 
This link from Deep Space Sparkle is a great tutorial -- I want to do this more next year! 

You can also do fun marbling techniques like the ones I linked at the bottom of last week's ATC post.

 So happy BUG creating to all my K friends and whoever else wants to try!  Make a bug from your imagination, or one you already know about.

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