This was a simple quick project that involved watercolor and oil pastels. We did wax resist to bring light to the ornaments.
We started by making 3 or 4 circles, adding a white curved line in a corner using a white oil pastel (remind students they wont see it until they water color on top). That mark will be the light reflection on the ornament. Students can then watercolor the circles as they like. I asked them to mix 2 colors and blend them in, just for the sake of practicing this technique.
Afterwards I projected pictures of pine leaves on the smart board. I asked them to notice the shape and the texture and to try and make some branches in a black piece of cardboard. I asked them to use at least 3 shades of green on each branch, to add deepness and enhance texture.
Once that was done and there were enough branches on their paper, they cut out the (dried out) ornaments and glued them into the branches. I then asked them to write around the ornaments what did Christmas mean to them. We wrote with small letters using white colored pencils. Words such as family, presents, special dinner were seen around their ornaments. Last but not least they splashed a bit of white acrylic paint on top and gave it a snowy touch.
Enjoy.
1st Class Art 