Whimsy Workshop Teaching

Teacher Clip Art, Literary Resources, Classroom Ideas

Drawing as a Writing Prompt

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Directed Drawing is a fun and engaging way to integrate art and writing.
Here are some ways that I use art in my classroom to encourage more writing!
 

 

WRITING COMPLIMENTS
 
After your whole class directed drawing lessons, invite students to do a “gallery walk” around the room to see other students’ work. Then, leave a post-it note beside each picture and assign secret partners. Students study their partner’s drawing and write a compliment on the post-it note. Students love to return to their [Read More…]

Art History and Writing Integration

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MAKING TIME FOR ART
As a primary teacher with a degree in visual art and art history, it’s so sad for me to hear that art programs across the country are being eliminated, art budgets being cut, and that teachers just don’t have time for art lessons because of increased pressure to get through other curriculum.
 

 
I’ve experienced the same things in my own district, and so I am trying to think of art in a different way to come up with some [Read More…]

Simple End Of Year Ideas

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How do you celebrate the end of the school year? Are you always collecting new ideas?
I’ve tried many different ideas over the last 20+ years, and today I’m sharing some of my favorite and most successful ideas.

 
END OF YEAR MEMORY SHIRTS
Students bring an older t-shirt to take part in this activity. (I usually grab a few extras at the dollar store for students who forget.) Slide some cardboard inside the shirts and ask students to write their name using Sharpies or [Read More…]

Easter Craft Ideas For Primary

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What are your favorite Easter crafts?
As Easter approaches I am always collecting ideas to try with my students.
My choices have to be manageable for primary students, either as a large group, or as a small group in the hallway with a helping parent. Here are some fun and easy Easter craft ideas!
 

 

BUNNY CANDY HOLDER
This is a cute way to hide some candy! Cover the bottom and drop some candy inside!
Click HERE to see instructions.

 

CHICKS IN THE GRASS CRAFT
Click HERE to [Read More…]

Filed Under: Art

Teaching Social Skills: Growth Mindset Classroom

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Welcome to the Social Skills Ideas Bank!
 
The Social Skills Idea Bank is a series of related posts, each dedicated to sharing strategies for teaching a particular social skill.
As teachers, our strength lies in sharing our ideas, experiences and strategies!
This is a growing list, and you are invited to contribute in the comments section. We hope you will, because there’s nothing like a good idea shared between teachers to make our jobs easier.
This post is about simple ways to guide students to growth [Read More…]

Simple Art Projects: Free Downloads

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Looking for some super simple art projects?

These quick and easy art projects are a great way for students to be creative without a lot of prep.
TEACHER PREP DIRECTIONS:
These require very little prep! Most are on one page, so just make a copy for each student. You can use white paper and let students color, or copy on to colored paper. Thicker paper works best!
STUDENT DIRECTIONS:
Students just color, cut out the pieces and assemble. Sometimes I demonstrate how to assemble them, [Read More…]

First Grade Writing: Free Downloads

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Looking for something super simple for your first grade writing centers?

 
These fun writing topper templates are a great way to offer differentiation and interest in your writing centers!
I created a set to use through the school year for seasonal topics.
They are free to download and try with your students!

TEACHER PREP DIRECTIONS:
These centers require very little prep! Just copy the topper and writing template you’ve chosen for each student. Students will need crayons, scissors and a glue stick to assemble. That’s [Read More…]

Polar Bear Art Tutorial

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Do you study polar bears or arctic animals with your class?
We love doing this fun art project!
 

Each year while studying the Arctic, we make these cute polar bears with chalk pastel and construction paper. When I have younger students, we work step by step as a directed drawing. If you’d like to try it, follow the pictures below! You can also download your own copy of the step by step photos for your files (below).
 

Download your own copy by clicking [Read More…]

Story Writing Ideas

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We reserve  time each day for story writing.
There are so many ways to encourage students to write, even when they are just at the emergent level.
 

 
Two things that I focus on the most in my primary classroom are:
-Students feel confident in their ability to express ideas through writing.
-Students have the opportunity to share their written ideas in a supportive environment.
 

 

Explore Different Kinds of Writing
Many students have no strategies for finding a topic, so we spend time discussing different forms of writing and [Read More…]

Seasonal Art and Crafts Projects

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SEASONAL ART IDEAS
Our classroom is always full of bright and colorful art work!
My student are so proud to see their work displayed, and how they pull their parents into the class to see what they completed today.
This year, I took my art lessons to another level by making them independent!
 

 
 
In the last 20+ years of teaching, I’ve often looped with groups of students for more than one year, so I am always having to come up with NEW projects so as not to repeat [Read More…]

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