Snowflake Symmetry

Today the kindergartners created a snow storm of symmetry!

After a quick introduction to the concept of symmetry (shapes that are the same on both sides) , the kindergartners jumped right in to creating their own snowflakes. These snowflakes will be hung up in garlands for the holiday show!

First the kids began by making simple snowflake drawings using white oil pastels on blue squares of paper.

They were encouraged to think about making their snowflakes symmetrical and to add special little details (circles, lines and triangles) to make their snowflakes more interesting and complex.

Symmetrical snowflakes on blue paper

When the kids felt warmed up and confident we got out the watercolors. The kids drew their snowflakes with white oil pastel on white paper (a huge challenge since you can't see what you have drawn!) and then gently painted over their snowflakes with watercolors. Both snowflake design and paint color were entirely up to the artist.

Snowflakes with oil pastel and watercolor

Gorgeous! I will be connecting each child's set of snowflakes into a hanging garland and they will be on display during the MMS holiday show(s)!

NOTE FOR PARENTS: Your children will have 3 pieces of work on display at the MMS Holiday Show: a watercolor winter scene, a pastel fox and a snowflake garland. After the show please take your child's art work home! They make beautiful additions to any holiday decorations.

The Sweetest Foxes in the World!

Ready for a sneak peek of the Kindergarten Art Projects that will be on display during the MMS Holiday Show?

 Scroll down and see the beautiful foxes the kindergarten class made today!

We began the day with a quick warm up drawing in sketchbooks. The drawing emphasized breaking the image of the fox up into shapes that are familiar and easy to draw. 

With the warm-up complete the kids began work on their final pieces.

On large pieces of black construction paper that kids used light colored pencils to draw the initial shapes that make the fox (upside down triangle for a head, circles and half circles for eyes, oval for belly etc.)

Then the kids traced the colored pencil lines with black oil pastel so that the edges would really "pop" when the color was added. 

Now for color! Black for the nose and eyes!

White for the belly, tip of the tail and circles around the eyes.

What color will your fox be today? Artist's choices included: pink, orange and red.

Finally the kids built the world around their foxes, blue skies and green grass! 

See the final pieces below -- and view them in person at the MMS Holiday show! 

Please let me know what you think! Comments are most welcome!