A Smorgasbord of Ideas

Here are a few projects that I have created and some suggestions for book themes where they might be used.

Instructions for creating Russian Dolls

http://www.artmuseums.com/janrussian.htm

Good to use with books about recycling, Russian culture, family, doll making, Russian fairy tales, travel.

Or Possibly Create This Project with These Children's Books

Children from Australia to Zimbabwe: A Photographic Journey Around the World, Whoever You Are, Look Who Came from Russia, Colors of Russia, Anastasia:  The Last Grand Duchess, Russia, 1914, Russian ABCs: A Book About the People and Places of Russia, Count Your Way Through Russia, Russia A-Z, When I Met You:  A Story of Russian Adoption

Draw a Dolphin

Kids love dolphins.  They can create a dolphin bookmark or flip book using the my drawing instructions above as a template.  Or use a directed drawing technique and teach a group to draw along with you.

Possible Themes to Use with This Project: Dolphins, Ocean Conservation, The Environment

Or Possibly Create This Project with These Children's Books

Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Music of Dolphins,  Dolphin Diaries, Dolphin Adventures-A True Story, Beyond the Sunrise, Dolphins, How to Draw Sea Creatures

Clay Pot Project & Chinese Landscape

This project uses a small clay pot, clay pot saucer, small wood top and black paint to create a Chinese Calligraphy gift container with a Chinese symbol. Symbols may be Joy, Peace, etc. 

Peace Landscape uses cut out of hand shape glued to construction paper. Black painted tree, house with yellow chalk, stenciled and calligraphy symbol of peace.  Variation use decorative paper.

Possible Themes: Gifts making projects, Chinese Culture

Possible Books that may be used with this project:  Far East Chinese Culture for Children, Song of the Water Boatman and Other Pond Poems, Yeh-Shen, Chinese Childrens Favorite Stories

Beary Brown Bag Bear

It's just a matter of stuffing with paper, shaping with your hand, and assembling, a little paint and you can create this adorable  inexpensive to make bear.

Possible Themes:  Valentines Day Projects

Possible Books to Use This Art Project-

Brandon and the Bipolar Bear, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, Corduroy, Berenstain Bears

Faux Leather Projects

Using brown paper, small lunch bag, or large grocery bags crush the paper by crushing it with both hands until it begins to look like faux leather.  Use brown paint to stain the paper. The "leather" can be used for a number of projects including Native American buffalo story telling cloths, fabric and a variety of other projects.

Children can create a story using Native American symbols.

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