Sponge Polar Bears

Teacher example.

 This week I introduced sponge painting to my kindergarteners. This is a completely new technique to them. We discussed when painting with a brush we pull and push the paint brush back and forth. I always tell them "dip and touch, brush, brush, brush". Well when we paint with a sponge we "dip and touch, dab, dab, dab.". We used this technique to create adorable polar bear paintings! Along with this lesson I read the book Panda Bear, Polar Bear by Matthew J. Baek to them.

 Materials:

• 12x18 blue construction paper
• Paint
• Sponges 
• Tempera Paint

Instructions:
Read Panda Bear Polar Bear. Discuss polar bears, where they live, and what they look like. Introduce the technique of sponge painting (as mentioned above). Ask how sponge painting looks different than the regular painting technique? It looks fuzzy! Demonstrate how to paint a polar bear with a sponge. Starting at the bottom of the paper, create the outline of a semi circle using a sponge. Make two smaller semi circles for the ears. Fill in the outline with white.Using black paint make the eyes and nose. Use the edge of the sponge to make 2 thin "fish hooks" to make the mouth. Snow can be added to the background with the corner of a sponge.

Student example

As much as I love these snowy fuzzy bear paintings.... I am so not ready for snow!! Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving break!

-Miss S