Scribble Elephants

Big thanks to Carla Sondheim and her wonderful "Silly Workshops" for inspiring this lesson.

I braced my students big time before beginning this lesson, and if you try it, I suggest doing the same. 
I told them they were going to "try to make a controlled scribble (oxymoron).  Now try to make a controlled scribble of an Elephant, without drawing an elephant".
Steps:
1.  We pondered that concept together for a moment, then set about just scribbling on scratch paper. 
2.  We scribbled an "elephant" on scratch paper, beginning with the eye, and not lifting up the pencil.  Kids had a hard time not "drawing" and elephant, and just scribbling and elephant..............so that's why step 3 is important.
3.  We scribbled more elephants on scratch paper, without looking at the paper.  (Yes, now the elephants were finally looking like scribbles and not drawings!)
4.  We switch to good paper and sharpies, and scribbled elephant last time.

5. Added an eye to the elephant, then more black to various lines to make them thicker and stand out.

6. Colored in the shapes with colored pencil and markers. (My examples above.)

Thank you Flamson 6th grade artists!

Modern Magazine Paper Elephants

During my travels last month, I saw some cards the had copies of original art made out of magazine and newspaper paper. All the images were animals - very charming. With this idea, we recently made some Modern Magazine Elephants. It was a fun lesson and I can't wait to use the same process for creating more animals.

Step 1: Each child gets a copy of "elephant parts" page. On the back they glue magazine pieces. To help make the parts stand out, we chose a picture for the body and text for the other parts of the elephant. Stick glue works best. (Elephant parts PDF download coming soon - hopefully soon - I don't think I'm using the easiest way to get a scan in download form on my blog, ho-hum?)Added 6/9/10... Hey - Here it is, I did it:) Here's a PDF copy to download a pattern for the elephant parts, for those of you who want to do this project and don't have the time to have your kids create their own pattern.

This shows the back of the elephant parts page covered with magazine paper.Step 2: Cut out the parts.

Step 3: Glue the parts onto colored background paper.

Step 4: Outline the elephant with a marker, or even glitter if you have time and "glitter patience." (Some days I have glitter patience, and some days I don't!)

Big Thanks to Mr. Eaton's 3/4 grade students, at San Gabriel Elementary!!!!