1st Grade Found Object Faces

My first graders had so much fun experimenting with found objects to make faces! After I saw this picture on Pinterest, I decided we needed to do a project with found objects. I already had a lot of random donated supplies that I wasn't quite sure what to do with, I started saving small objects, and sent out a request for "junk, not trash"- any small lightweight object.

On the first day of the lesson, the students painted the background for their faces. (I told the students they could make something else but they all got excited and stuck with faces.) The tempera paint dries really quickly on the boards we were using so most students finished early and went through the "buffet" to start choosing objects to glue down for their faces. Good old Elmer's glue worked great for attaching almost all the objects. A few items, including like pompoms and pipe cleaners, required hot glue. I had those students glue down everything they could then bring their projects to me for a squirt of hot glue. On the second day, students finished creating their faces. I put out oil pastels and yarn that I forgot on the first day.

One kind of object that I contributed was a bunch of sticks! Another object that was really popular- the little bitty pencils that are too small to draw with. I started saving them all in a box when I got tired of students fighting over who got to use the "baby pencils"! I was glad to have a use for them and not have to just throw them away.

I love how all of the faces have distinct personalities. This guy above really cracks me up!

These students got really creative with pipe cleaners! On the left, he wrapped it around milk caps to make glasses. On the right, the student made goggles.

Piven Box

I've written about artist Hanoch Piven before, so instead of boring those of you who have been around for a while, I'll just link to the old post instead of going on and on about how great his work is. (You should also check out his website, http://pivenworld.com/)

 The first lesson I designed based on Piven's artwork was a mixed media self portrait lesson where the objects chosen for facial features were supposed to represent the student. I wanted to come up with something more hands on to expose my younger students to his work. It's obvious that Piven uses actual objects when composing his portraits but I knew letting students make something permanent with real objects would not be realistic- I have usually 110+ students in each grade so that would be a lot of objects to collect!

My solution was to put together a Piven box that can be used during rotations. I collected a bunch of random objects that students can arrange on top of colored construction paper when it is their group's time at the Piven table. I created a document with some images and a brief explanation of his work to the lid as a reminder. After the students create their portraits, they write their name on a scrap of paper, place it next to the portrait, and I snap a photo for Artsonia. The only real challenge is keeping the box from turning into a trash can but I usually have a few students who like to organize things check it at the end of class.

 I don't think my Kinders or 1st graders have tried this out yet but it was a hit with 2nd and 3rd grade students this spring.

 Some students went beyond the paper to make big pictures, like the bird below.

 I decided to get in on the fun and make a hippo.

I plan to keep adding objects to my Piven Box and maybe someday I'll have a kit for each table!