Making Valentines with Love

Is there anything better than receiving a homemade gift from a special child in your life? 

Even in a choice-based classroom, I occasionally teach a "traditional" type of lesson. My young artists, however, have the choice of whether this is something they would like to participate in or not.  After giving a very quick demo, I set the children free. I love watching them put their own special spin on the project... for example, some want to paint flowers instead of making paper ones, some want to make a vase of grass and leave the flowers out all together,  some make flat flowers while others manipulate the paper to make them three-dimensional,  some add popsicle stick stems and create flowers that break the border of the page, some want to learn how to add shadows and highlights to their vases... while others say, "OK, that's nice... but I'm going to the clay center and make an Angry Bird ." 

Geneva Sganga, Room 3

Fiona, Room 11

Nick W, Room 11

Ciara Cross, Room 11

This project was inspired by http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/2010/02/valentines-day-art-project/