Expressive Winter Cardinal Art with VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS (download + link)!

This lesson includes VIDEO INSTRUCTIONS!! You can download them from the zip file or use the unlisted Youtube video link included in the lesson plan. Watch these steps yourself for extra clarification or sit back and relax while you play the video for your students to follow along! You can use this video for clarification or you can even play this video for your students as I do. The video instructions are actually very handy for replaying steps for any kiddos who might need to see an instruction twice as well as kiddos who have been absent and need to catch up.

This is a HILARIOUS project for the Elementary art classroom (or any classroom)! Some parts of this fun paint/cardinal/winter/snow project can be a little messy but it is impossible to NOT have a blast with the kiddos as they create this project. I have found that as much as the kids learn and have fun with this project, the parents usually get even more laughs and smiles from this project (many tell me that this is one that they frame!). When all is said and done with the creation of the project, hold on for the knee-slapping laughing stories that come out of the kids at the end! I do this project with 2nd grade students but it could be done with Kindergarten (modify!), 1st, 3rd grades, too! Included in this project: video instructions, written instructions, process + project pics, essential question, sample standards from www.nationalartsstandards.org and assessment rubric. This project comes with a laugh from the classroom of Claire Dunaway Cyr.

Materials: tree branch (optional, but fun for ‘drawing from observation’!), pencils, sharpie markers (or other fine tip permanent marker), quality white paper (something that can handle paint), liquid tempera or acrylic paint, thick paintbrushes, fine paintbrushes, paper towels (you need a good “pattern” in the paper towels; our cheap brown ones at school work perfectly!) and the will to have FUN!