Eraser Stamps

We did THIS as an opener this year (2010).

The children enjoyed cutting into their own stamp. Opener time is difficult to direct for a formal project because students come to camp at different times. Maybe next time it could be suggested they make a pattern or an animal and have examples on the table.

Also, the could get one 1/2 sheet of card stock folded like a card to decorate. Then on the final day they could use this card as a thank you note to a teacher.

Closing Idea

We often have trouble corralling the students into a formal goodbye.

What if we had them get their opener activity and sit in groups of three to four to discuss what they drew before they were dismissed to go home? That could be an interesting experiment. Some of the openings lend themselves to discussion, such as drawing what you want to be when you grow up.

Career Opener

Simply draw what you want to be when you grow up. A future self-portrait. It is always interesting when you ask a student what they want to be when they grow-up. This could spark some interesting conversations at the tables.

Vase Opener

I would like to try THIS vase warm-up as an opener. It looks like the kids would have fun trying to reverse their images. They could check them in the little mirrors we have. They could also draw one for a friend and trade.

Finish the Magazine

We finished the picture from a magazine this year (2010). The students seem to enjoy this activity.

THIS site shows it more as a lesson. We have never done it that way. Our students often would rather do larger projects with materials they don't use often.

This as a project with more time would be good for a journal drawing activity at home.

Divide Up a Photo

Have two magazine photos in the middle of the table. Have the student pick one then try to turn the photo into simple shapes to recreate the image.

Draw from Memory

I like the idea of having a set of note cards turned upside-down on the table. Each child draws a card of an everyday object and tries to draw it from memory.

Examples of items:
a bicycle
a school bus
a fire hydrant
the front of their school
a stove
the front of their house
the bathroom sink
a toilet