In an earlier post, I mentioned that my 4th graders made calendars with pieces of art based on Alaska. I saw that Mel at Frog Spot has an art link up. I thought it would be fun to show a few of the calendar pieces we do. I will share one today and another on a different Tuesday! (I need to have something to blog about throughout the summer!)
September here in Alaska is way different from the lower 48! I remember growing up in Eastern Oregon and then spending time in Cache Valley, Utah for college. The fall was lit up in color! Here in AK, we mainly get yellow/green in the fall. It is also very quick! Once the leaves turn, it is only a week or two before they fall. My school is named after a creek, which is named after a common tree up here, cottonwoods. We try to get all the kids to do a rubbing of a cottonwood tree for the calendar, but it doesn't always happen. This is usually the first calendar page we do.
We take the kids out and let them find a few leaves from the ground. After they all have their leaves, they practice leaf rubbings on a blank paper before they do it on their classifying worksheet. Once they have their rubbings, they identify the shape, the vein pattern, and the type of edge. After all of that, they are usually able to get a great rubbing for their calendar! They also get creative and start mixing colors.
To do a leaf rubbing there are a few key steps.
First, have a fresh leaf. If the leaf is old, the veins aren't as plump and won't show up in the rubbing as well.
Second, use a crayon that doesn't have any paper on it and hold it horizontal.
Three, hold the paper with the non-crayon hand so that it doesn't slip around. If it slips, your rubbing will become all smudged and not as clear.
Four, if needed, lift the crayon and carefully push away from you on areas that are not being cooperative.
Practice makes perfect!
How do you integrate art and/or science into your day?
*Steph*
Thanks so much for linking up - these look great!
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