Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Out of this world planets

We wrapped up our space unit on Monday with a sweet presentation with the parents. The children each shared 3 "did you know" facts about space and then shared their binders, papers, and "space ipads" with their parents. It was so sweet to see them so proud of their learning! 

I chose a really fun way to let the kids represent their planet. I figured the painted styrofoam ball was way over done and wanted to do something different! Enter pinterest (who else?). I saw an idea for an Earth Day activity that involved shaving cream and paint to create a marbled effect on the paper, and I thought, "why not!?"
 We had a super fun time making these! The kids loved the idea of getting to use paint and shaving cream, heck so was I! It was a nice assessment too, since the kids needed to know exactly what color their planet was and any distinctive features it might have had too!
 
Aren't these AMAZING!! I hated to send them home yesterday and really wanted to save them for myself! It's so funny too, but they make me think of each child who made them, the planet they researched and represented somehow reflects them too, go figure!

Shaving cream planets: 

- shaving cream
- spatula
- popsicle sticks
- tempura paint
- paper in shape desired
- tray or plates to put shaving cream in
- ruler/squeegee

1) cut out paper to desired shape/size
2) put a a layer of shaving cream on your tray or plate and smooth it out with a spatula
3) drizzle paint colors around the shaving cream, don't cover the whole layer with paint!
4) use a popsicle stick to swirl/marble the paint around, you do want some white spaces left
5) place the paper onto the shaving cream/paint
6) lightly press down on paper so that it gets covered by mixture below
7) carefully lift up the paper and place it on a paper to set for 5 minutes
8) after about 5 minutes, take the rule or squeegee and scrape off the excess shaving cream
9) be amazed by what is left behind!

(I apologize for no step by step pictures, it was me and 9 active 9 year olds with a lot of shaving cream and paint around!!)

8 comments:

  1. These are great! I love the texture. These look like planets! What a great job. It's funny how we get so attached. Your first year is always so sentimental. They all are, but you know that first year is just so special.

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  2. You get to have way too much fun in your job my friend! BTW...I had no idea that Chihuly traveled around america...very cool.

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  3. I cant tell you how much I love this!!!!!

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  4. I love these, Tamar! Back in the dark ages I was an art teacher, and I have always found the planets to be fascinating. heck, I might just need to try these myself!

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  5. LOVE these- so very creative & my kids would LOVE doing this.

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  6. Oh Tamar! These are all so fun and expressive. You are such a devoted teacher. Be proud in that.

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  7. A lot of shaving cream and paint with nine year olds could get dangerous...but oh so fun!!

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  8. This is SOOO cool! I just wish I had some kids around so I'd have an excuse to do it myself!!

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