The second graders have been working very hard on these fantastic birds. Above is the sample that I made to inspire them and give them a few ideas when drawing and adding color.
As this was our first project of the year, I wanted to focus on following directions, using simple lines and shapes, and adding color neatly. We started with the bird, adding a little personality through the position of the beak and tail. Above are the pencil drawings of a few of the 2nd grade students. Then we solved the problem of the empty negative space by adding a branch for our bird. Some students decided to add other details at this point as well, like a nest, eggs, or leaves.
This week we focused on color. After outlining our drawing with a black Sharpie, we added color to the bird and branch with crayons. We painted the sky using tempera cakes. I was very impressed with how so many students could control their brush and paint, covering the empty space completely. These birds are so bright and cheery!