A lot of times kids know what a shape is (like an oval or a square) but they don't know how to draw that shape or where to start with it, but this project gives them strategies to make those shapes, and it ends with a cute reindeer portrait, which is a great bonus.
This makes a bright display. I am not really sure how to comment though - I am inwardly disappointed when I see displays where every kid has made something almost the same - some people refer to this as "cookie cutter" art. I know it may have some benefits but there are also so many lost opportunities when the precious art time is spent this way. My daughter has solved the problem for herself by using really great cookie cutter projects to teach a technique, and then getting kids to apply the technique or combine it with others in their next project. She has a master's in art education and so, if she can live with that strategy, so can I!
ReplyDeleteI see what you mean Willow, but I think the technique of using their hands and fingers to make shapes is important and can be transfered to other projects. Sometimes we have to have projects that look similar so that we can check the technique has been made and even though each one has the same elements, they really aren't the same. I would probably adapt this so that the backgrounds and details could be different, so they didn't look exactly the same though.
DeleteI like the idea of using art to teach geometry. They could really make anything they wanted! Bats, owls, frogs, houses, anything.
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