Family Portraits w/ K

What are your thoughts on how to teach kindergarten how to draw a family portrait? How much instruction do you use and how much do you let them do just what comes naturally?

Lesson Planning

Since this is my third year I am working hard at lesson planning. My first year I took each week as it came. Second year I tried to get ahead a week or two. This year I want to stay a month ahead. I am going to use plans that I have already created, but remain flexible enough to put in some new plans. I was wondering how you all went about lesson planning. What works for you? I believe in working smarter not harder.

Ideas for Sub Plans?

I'm always looking for new ideas for sub plans. Does anybody have ideas that they could share? Thanks!

SCAMPER...

Found this on the website of a Virginia Beach High School art teacher.

SCAMPER is an acronym. Each letter is the first letter of a process that one can apply to the problem. Following are a few examples that only scratch the surface. Use YOUR imagination:
S = Substitute (replace one thing with another, e.g. an object, a media, etc.)
C = Combine (combine objects or parts of objects, media, ideas, etc)
A = Adapt (borrow something from another context)
M = Magnify, Minify, Multiply (make some part larger, smaller or repeat it; zoom in or zoom out)
P = Put to Other Uses (change the intended function of an object, a tool, etc.)
E = Eliminate (remove some aspect or parts; cut something out; cut part of something away)
R = Rearrange/Reverse (move objects around; rotate or flip objects or the whole piece) his could help kids think about their work when they've finished or inspire them to keep going.

Any ideas for using popsicle sticks?

Does anybody have any good ideas for projects that use popsicle sticks? I have a TON of them and would like to use some up. I'm stumped and could use some good suggestions. Thanks and Happy New Year to you all!

Foreground, Middleground, and Background

I'm always looking for new lesson ideas for teaching the third graders about foreground, middleground, and background. We did these simple glue and pastel images this year, but do you all have any good lessons that work for you? I'm picking your brains!

4th Grade Assemblages