Snowmen-O-Lanterns

We have been dreaming of snow here at SDS!  Our day hasn't come yet, but in the mean time, we are making our own!  We have had indoor snowball fights, rolled snowmen during math, read some super, snowy books, and sculpted with snow-doh.  Today we made more snowmen.  

Before we started, we discussed recycling and re-purposing.  We talked about how our class had kept 15 plastic milk jugs out of the trashcan.  We acknowledged that we can make a difference.  We learned that you can use things over and over.  

Our lesson started with a review of shapes.  Now that we recognize our shapes easily, we are digging a little deeper into what gives each shape its identity.  This means using words like long and short, straight and curved, and points and corners.  It involves counting sides and corners, and thinking!

To get us started I showed the boys and girls how I could change a square into a circle.  For beginning cutters, curved lines can be pretty tricky.  The technique of cutting the corners off the square until you get a circle is just one way we can scaffold this task.  

The job was to change 2 black squares into circles for eyes, and 1 orange rectangle into a triangle.

One of the things I love about this project is that no 2 snowmen were alike! 

And isn't that how it should be?!?  

Each artist started with the same materials and the same directions, yet each one was different.

I love that the artist got to show their own personality in their work.  I love that we  have created an environment where they are comfortable taking risks with their ideas and know that whatever they produce will be celebrated.

I LOVE the pride on their faces when the step back to view their finished product. 

Our goal was to stuff them with Christmas lights, but we did not quite get enough, so we provided each child with a push light.  Once we lit them up, the boys and girls immediately made the connection to jack-o-lanterns.  It hadn't occurred to me before, but now I see it!

We had a great time together completing this project.  The children we so on task and focused throughout the entire lesson.  I hope these snowman-o-lanterns are bringing joy to their new homes!