Painting Truffula Trees

This week the Stars painted truffula trees so that our hallway bulletin boards will be decorated in time for our guest readers during Read Across America and our celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthay!

I preassembled the background and frame, using 9 X 12 sky blue construction paper, backed by 10 X 13 white and 11 X 14 black paper.

Students wrote their names in the lower right-hand corner and then chose their truffula tree color from orange, red, and yellow tempera paint.  They painted a circle onto the sky blue paper:

... and filled it in.  The brush strokes helped give the truffula tree top a fluffy, textural look:

Using a thin brush, students then added a black tree trunk, letting the brush move this way and that, stopping right before meeting the edge of the blue paper:

It looks like a balloon, doesn't it?

After letting the tree top and trunk dry...

... the Stars painted white stripes onto the trunk using a Sharpie paint marker:

... and dabbed some green grass at the base of the blue paper.

Once our bulletin board is finished, I'll share it here on the blog for you to see!

*****

It's almost time for the annual wearing-of-the-Sneetch-shirt!  Click here to be taken to the tutorial.

~Michaele

Once Upon a Time: a Barn Makeover

Once upon a time, two years ago, a Kansas kindergarten teacher had to miss work due to a yucky tummy bug.

Sub plans were prepped on the computer with care, center materials were ready, brain break videos of yoga and dance-a-thon activities were waiting on the SMART Board, and the para and aide were in the loop about the teacher's expectations for the day.

The day passed without incident at school (or so the teacher thought).

After recovering from the tummy bug's assault, the Kansas kindergarten teacher happily returned to the classroom, relieved to find the walls still standing and her students in good spirits.

And then the Kansas kindergarten teacher saw the wooden barn in the dramatic play center:

"LG."  In black marker.  On the roof of the barn.  The barn where no markers were allowed.  Not ever.

Calling "L" over to the barn, the Kansas kindergarten teacher asked, "L... why did you write letters on the barn?"  L replied "I didn't."

The Kansas kindergarten teacher asked again, "L... why did you write letters on the barn?"  Eyes growing as wide as saucers, L replied "How did you know it was **me**?  I put G's letter next to mine so it wouldn't match my initials!"

And ~that's~ how the Kansas kindergarten teacher learned that on sub days, classroom marker sets needed to be put up high, out of reach.

*****

Fast forward to Summer, 2014.  "LG" is still on the barn, but not for long.  After obtaining permission to paint the barn, the Kansas kindergarten teacher got to work.

Sanding:

Wiping off sawdust:

Letting a smile grow across her face as she fondly remembered L:

Taping off the exterior using newspaper and painter's tape so the interior could get a quick dusting of ivory paint:

Working in a well-ventilated area:

Taping off the dried exterior ivory paint so the red wouldn't dribble onto it:

Posing for a shadow selfie:

... and letting everything dry.

Once dry, the Kansas kindergarten teacher lightly sanded over the barn's exterior, dulling the gloss a bit  and roughing up the edges:

Something tells me that both the Kansas kindergarten teacher and the barn that needed a makeover are going to live happily ever after.

Now all it needs are some farm animal toys and some Super Stars, eager to play!