Here is a great resource on how to draw practically anything – this can be useful both for mentors discovering their artistic side, and for mentees that want to push themselves a little further! This series is inspired by children’s books, and includes tips on drawing alien invasions, thumbprint finches (check it out), sloths, anything really…
This is what I mean by thumb finch. Now say “thumb finch” very fast 5 times.
The picture my mentee and I drew together.
Yesterday was the last session of Homework Zone for the semester. I am always amazed at how fast the time goes! For fun I conducted a little interview with my mentee on the last day and thought it would be great to share it here.
What was the best thing about Homework Zone?
Doing arts and crafts! (see the above drawing, one of many from the semester)
What’s your favourite colour?
Purple
What’s your favorite thing to have for lunch?
Kraft Dinner
CREATE
Using cardboard, colouring paper and anything appropriate in the Homework Zone Bin, create a mask that reflects who you are!
DRAW
On the front, draw a face. Think of the options: your face, what you want to be when you’re older, a silly character, anything!
WRITE
On the back, write some words that describe you! (or describes your character!)
Choose from the vocab list.
Character Traits Vocabulary
| accepting
adventurous aggressive ambitious anxious bold bossy bright brave busy calm carefree caring caustic cautious clever cheerful committed competitive conceited considerate cooperative courageous courteous creative curious daring deceitful demanding dependable determined dignified diplomatic disagreeable discreet dramatic dreamer |
eager
efficient eloquent energetic enthusiastic facetious faithful fanciful fighter fractious friendly fun-loving funny generous glum gentle gracious grouchy gullible handsome happy hard-working helpful honorable honest hopeful humble humorous industrious imaginative impartial impolite impulsive independent |
impartial
impulsive innocent insolent intelligent intolerant inventive irascible jovial joyful lackadaisical lazy leader logical lovable loving loyal lucky malicious mannerly mature mean messy miser mischievous moody naive naughty neat negligent nervous obedient obnoxious observant organized optimistic ornery |
patriotic
pessimist peevish proud quiet rebellious reckless resolute resourceful respectful responsible rude sad scary secretive self-confident selfish serious shy silly stubborn studious sympathetic supportive thoughtful timid unselfish valiant warrior welcoming wise witty worrier |
Communication development with a creative challenge! What’s there to lose? Plus, it’s a good activity for ANY size of group…and it involves colouring!
Materials:
What to do:
In your pair or group, designate one speaker. The rest will be recorders. Have the speaker choose an image. They must describe the image to the recorders who will attempt to make a perfect copy based on the given descriptions. NO PEEKING. Then, see how close or far off everybody was. Sometimes it can be quite silly! Afterwards, try changing roles.
Here’s one of my favourite blogger‘s attempts to draw a Pokemon:
“keldeo is an equine pokemon w/ light blue ears, neck, & swishy tail. its mane is orange & has 3 feathers sticking out of it. its hooves are dark blue and come up to points. it has a diamond in its chest & a lumpy horn about as long as its body”
ooooh a cross between a Pokeyman and a hoers so you know it’s gonna be good.
WHAT
WHAT IS THAT AND WHY DOES IT LOOK NOTHING LIKE WHAT YOU DESCRIBED TO ME
Imagine if you could create your own hockey line-up? What type of players would you want in each position? Of course they need to be strong and quick, but what else? In groups, create a line-up of Hockey Cards for your Dream Team!
Here’s a fun activity for kids who can’t get enough of sports…and who could talk about their last match for 45 minutes straight. BUT it’s also a good activity to get them thinking about their values while developing vocabulary, arts/crafts skills and maybe even numeracy!
Materials:
Regular or Construction Paper cut into 4 pieces
Scissors
Markers/Pencils/Crayons
Activity:
Start the activity by engaging your kids with the task of having the best possible line-up. Ask them what they would need to look for when building their roster. Expect to here things like “fast!” “a good shooter!” “never lets the puck in!”
But what other things are super important that maybe they forgot? Maybe the goalie needs to be OBSERVANT. The Captain of the team should be a good LEADER. What does “leader” mean?
Show them real hockey cards or ask them to think about them. What other things are on them?
1. Statistics! A perfect goalie lets 0% of the shots in. What does 0% mean? If there were 7 shots on net and the goalie let in 0%, how many did shots did he save?
2. Personal Information! Let the kids get creative. Where is he/she from? What does he/she look like? (draw him!)
Together, make a team the Habs would be JEALOUS of!
In this activity, children will look at what makes a person valuable. They will compare their own values and needs with what the media/society deems important, flashy and sellable.
The activity begins enticingly: students will create the IDEAL superstar. Using paper, crayons, markers, magazines, etc, students in small groups will brainstorm all of the best attributes in making a celebrity. You can expect your students to emphasize good looks, fashion, singing/dancing ability, fitness, money, etc. Let their imaginations run wild. It is your choice whether your students simply brainstorm with words/images or they draw the celebrity him/herself (perhaps they draw a magazine cover).
Then, the students are given a new task: create the IDEAL best friend. Using the same materials, students in the same small groups will brainstorm all of the best attributes of a best friend. The intention is to focus on internal values, so it may be up to you to focus the discussion. Some topics/values may include: trustworthy, funny, kind, caring, fun, sharing, etc. Again, students may simply brainstorm OR draw the best friend him/herself.
To end the activity, lead a short discussion (or, perhaps, ask these questions throughout the activity):
This activity is tons of fun for kids. Not only does it teach them an essential art skill (one-point perspective drawing – don’t be scared, you all know how to do this, I’m sure), but it also lets them explore moments in their lives that were important to them.
By doing this, the kids get to think about who they are…and YOU get to LEARN who they are. Isn’t bonding fantastic?
It’s quite simple:
And remember, YOU can make your OWN personal road map, too!
Materials:
blank paper, pencils, crayons/markers/etc
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