Starry Nights-- kindergarten

This was one of my FAVORITE lessons this year.  I just loved how each and every one of them turned out.  They are so expressive and colorful.  This is a new spin on a Starry Night lesson.

I started by introducing Vincent Van Gogh's art by showing prints of his art and by showing a movie:

Then, the students drew swirls, dashed and dots to create MOVEMENT using markers.  I told that this would be their night sky, so they could add stars or other "sky things" if they wanted.

These could be interesting and beautiful artworks on their own!

Then, the kids cut out buildings, trees or anything from black paper to create silhouette forms.

Finally, to add extra color, the kids added colorful shape stickers for windows and other details.  I ordered this huge pack of shape stickers from Discount School Supply.  These should last us a LONG time.. the package of stickers is HUGE!

Here are some of the finished masterpieces!

I am HAPPY to share my ideas with you and give you some inspiration.  Pin it, bookmark it, print if off...  Heck, copy the lesson exactly!  But, if you decide to copy the lesson exactly and repost it on your blog.. please link back to me!  I know a Van Gogh lesson isn't original, but this one was my own unique take on a Starry Night lesson.    When I was searching for inspiration for my lesson... I found these two projects which I LOVED:  Starry Night Idea #1 and Starry Night Idea #2.... 

Dinosaur Silhouettes

This is one of my favorite lessons for kindergartners!  First, we identify and classify the colors as warm or cool.  Then, we choose all the warm colors we have (different shades of oranges, yellows, reds).  Then the first day, the paint their whole piece of paper with warm colors.  After they have placed these on the drying rack there is usually about 10-15 left of class, so they sketch some dinosaurs from pictures that I have show them.  The following class period, they draw their dinosaurs using white colored pencil on a black piece of paper.  Then, they cut these out.  I show them how to flip the dinosaurs over and glue them down so that their white lines are on the bottom.  I love the striking contrast!