Read and Create: The Day The Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt

by Elizabeth Van Allen  for scribblesbyartteachervanallen.blogspot.com

The minds behind this book really
thought outside of the box...  
...the crayon box!  Get it?
(Sorry, I couldn't resist!)

One day, a boy named Duncan opens his crayon box to find a stack of resignation letters from his crayons.  As it turns out, each crayon is unhappy with him about how it's being used.  How will Duncan resolve their collective strike? Only a creative solution will suffice!

With this inventively structured book, author Drew Daywalt and illustrator Oliver Jeffers remind us all that using our imagination makes life more interesting for everyone.  Their unique combination of illustration styles and in-character first person writing makes this book fun both to look at and read, especially out loud.  It's hard to resist using different voices for each crayon, I dare you to try!

The Day The Crayons Quit lends itself brilliantly to an elementary-aged combination writing prompt & drawing assignment. 

The Activity: 

Choose one crayon.  It can be your favorite, your least favorite, or randomly chosen from a box of different colors. 

Write, then draw: 

If your crayon wrote you a letter, what would it say?

Pull out the storybook paper and get ready for some first-person letter writing!

What other books seem made for a write-then-draw style activity?

Share with us by commenting below!

Read and Create: Love Monster by Rachel Bright

by Elizabeth Van Allen  for scribblesbyartteachervanallen.blogspot.com

I love this book.

left: one of my examples, middle: the book, right: a first grader's monster

Love Monster is about a funny-looking, slightly googly eyed monster who lives in a world of cute, fluffy things like bunnies and kittens.  Nobody loves him because he isn't cute, so he sets out on a journey to look for someone who'll love him just the way he is. While Love Monster is a great book for Valentine's Day, I often use it with classes/students that have bullying and low self esteem issues. 

Author/Artist Rachel Bright

Talent alert: this wonderful book is written and illustrated by Rachel Bright.  This multi-talented artist from the UK uses a printmaking process called solar etching to create her whimsical and well composed images.  Being the total printmaking (and book arts) geek that I am, I love finding illustrations that go beyond the standard drawing or painting!  If you have a few minutes, check out her amazing website, www.lookonthebrightside.co.uk.

My Monster, the project that I pair with Love Monster, gets nearly 100% student buy-in every time I teach it.  It can be made as simple or complicated as is appropriate, and is not limited to the simple materials I have shown.  Whether your 'monsters' are little or big, this project is sure to please even the most discerning young artists!

Directions:

What books and projects have you found that get and keep kids' attention every time?

Share with us by commenting below!

This year's first batch of monsters, courtesy of my
middle school combined AS/LSS class!

Read and Create: The Mitten Tree by Candace Christiansen

by Elizabeth Van Allen for scribblesbyartteachervanallen.blogspot.com

by Candace Christiansen
illustrated by
Elaine Greenstein

The Mitten Tree is a beautifully illustrated story about giving from the heart without expectations of recognition or reciprocation. 

Mitten garlands are a festive and religion-neutral way to decorate for winter at your school or house!

Make this project a true 
learning experience by 
using these essential
questions to tie in the
elements & principles
of art and design.

Pre-cut mitten templates and pre-printed directions make the project a little bit easier for both teacher and student.  

Materials: Construction paper, drawing materials, scissors, templates, ribbon or string.

Mitten Garland Directions:

Decorating the mittens with the fingers
pointing towards you ensures that the
patterns appear upright when the
mittens are strung together as a garland.

1. Fold a 9x12 sheet of 

construction paper in half.

2. Trace the mitten template on one half of the paper, then flip it to the other half and trace it again. (left and right)
  
3. With the fingers of the mittens pointing towards you, write your name across the cuff of both mittens. 
  
4. Using texture and/or pattern, fill in both the left and right mittens with matching patterns. 
  
5. To string multiple sets of mittens together into a garland, make two openings in the cuff of each mitten using a hole punch or a pair of scissors. 

What unique collaborative projects have you done with your students?