Spring Paper Mosaics

Here are 2 different mosaic projects I have done with my students. One is a mosaic butterfly that I do with my 1st graders. the other is a mosaic flower I do with my kindergarteners.

Materials: Photo examples of glass or tile mosaics, construction paper,  scrap pieces of paper, glue.

Vocab: Mosaic, pattern, design, repetition, space, shape, symmetry

Start by cutting the basic shape of your mosaic from a 12x18 piece of colored paper. Using scrap paper, cut small squares and rectangles and outline the entire shape with one color. Repeat this process until the entire piece is complete (Kindergarten). First graders will get a little more creative with their mosaic tile designs. When butterflies are finished, add a body and a face. When flowers are done, add a stem and leaves.

Mother's Day Jars

My third graders used their clay project as a mother's day gift this year. This was my first time teaching how to make jars. We ended up with many different sizes, shapes, and decorations on the jars. Below is a photo of some of my favorite "basic" jars. Some students made their jars more complex.

Materials: clay, a mat or cardboard, cup for water, clay tools (or a sharp pencil), paint brush and water, tempera or acrylic paint.

Vocabulary: clay, pinch pot, slab, pattern, design.

Method: Students will form a small piece of clay into a ball and make a pinch pot. With a smaller piece of clay, roll another ball and then flatten it into a slab (like a pancake) so that it is the same size as the opening of the pot. Roll another small ball for the knob to go on one side of the slab.

We then used a sharp pencil to etch a design of choice into the clay. Some kids wrote a surprise message inside the jar. In the kiln they went.... and we painted them with tempera paint. The jar pictured above is the blue and orange jar below (upper right).

Hopefully the moms loved these!