Kindergarten Pyramids

My SMART goal this year is about Kindergarten students being able to identify and draw the basic geometric shapes that are covered at their grade level (square, rectangle, circle, ellipse, triangle).  I have taught (or my sub taught) a lesson based on each shape.  For triangles, I thought about the pyramids in Egypt and decided to introduce them to my students.  Some students told me they already knew about the pyramids thanks to Scooby Doo... 

I made a PowerPoint to introduce Egyptian culture and Art.  First, I showed a map of Egypt and we talked about how it's on the other side of the world and you could not walk or drive there.  I included slides with pictures of some cool architecture, the Nile, animals you might see (camel for transportation in the desert, Nile Crocodile), palm trees, heiroglyphs, ancient pottery, etc.  I asked the students to identify the shape of the pyramids and they all knew they are shaped like a triangle.  

 I showed the students how to draw a triangle and how to add a horizon line so it would not be a floating pyramid.  They added other details to their drawings and traced with a black crayon.  I had printed off some pictures from the PPT so they could be used for reference.  

 In the next class, the students painted with watercolors to create a wax-resist.  When I used watercolors with students last fall, I was glad I used the cheaper paint sets because the colors got all sorts of messed up.  This time, I made a big deal about letting them use the nice new paints if they could promise to do a really good job of cleaning their brushes before switching colors.  It worked!  They did a better job taking care of the paints than some of my older students.  As they were working, instead of replacing the blue which we all know runs out before all the other colors, I told the students to find other colors to use for their skies.  We ended up with some nice sunset or night scenes. 

I told the students we were making imagined scenes using the information they learned: I know there is more to Egypt than pyramids and I didn't want to trivialize a whole culture!

"This isn't my project..." (Oh, Kindergarten...)

I'm doing a project based on each basic geometric shape with my Kindergarten students this year.  For "triangle," I put together a PPT with images of Egyptian art, architecture, plants, animals, etc.  Here are some things that have happened with this project so far.  The youngest students are usually the most entertaining.  

Monday, Week 1-

During the introduction, one of my little friends kept interrupting me with questions.  Sometimes simple questions are hard to answer!

Student: "What's a river?"

Me (no one has ever asked me what a river is before... if he has to ask I should keep this super simple): "Um, it's a big stream of water."         

Student: "What's a camel?"

Me: "Look at the picture, it's that animal.  They do really good in deserts."

Friday, Week 1-

Gave several reminders about not touching supplies, listening, keeping eyes on the screen.  Found out after my presentation that two students decided to scribble and practice their "ABC's" on the table with crayon instead of paying attention.  Talked to them about choices, took picture to show their teacher, told their sub.  Students came up to apologize to me.  Told them they should really be apologizing to our custodians.

We talked about the shape of the pyramids.  Each student drew a big triangle and turned it into a pyramid.  Next, they used their imaginations to create a landscape.  Some added the Nile, crocodiles, camels, palm trees, even pottery with heiroglyphs like I showed a picture of!  Drew in pencil, traced with black crayon to be painted over in class 2 for a wax-resist project.

Monday, Week 2-

Students who drew on the table were sent to my room with "I am sorry" drawings in the morning.  Teacher wants them to scrub tables sometime.

During one of the Kindergarten classes that afternoon, I rearrange a few seats to make sharing paint easier.  I pass out drawings from week 1.  Made a deal with the students that if they did a really good job cleaning their brushes before switching colors, I'll let them use the nice, new watercolor trays.  Students do a good job!  As I'm collecting wet paintings to put on the drying rack, I compliment a little girl on her artwork.  She looks up at me and says,

"This isn't my project."

Seriously?  I hadn't learned all the Kindergarten students' names yet before maternity leave and I've just gotten back from missing 6 weeks of school.  I accidentally gave her a drawing by an absent student with a very similar name.  Wish she would have told me before she painted it so I could have given her the correct drawing!

During my plan period, I go pick up my graffiti artists from their classroom and make them clean the art room from floor to ceiling.  Just kidding.  They spend 5 minutes of their indoor recess cleaning tabletops with clorox wipes.

Student: "Wow, this is hard!"
Me: "Will it help you remember to make better choices?"
Student: "Yes!"
Me: "Good!"

5 more classes still have to finish the project.  2 will finish this Friday, 3 will be rescheduled for a later date because of snow days.  I'm sure the other classes will keep me on my toes as much as the first two to finish!

Oh, Kindergarten...