End-of-the-Year Art

 About 5 years ago, I started an art project at the end-of-the-year with my class. It ties into our cultural studies of Mexico and South America. I have done it each year since, with the exception of last year (#thankscovid).

I have students who do phenomenal jobs while others do not even get one row of yarn put on (#itiswhatitis). My first year doing this I had a class of about 12. Two finished! But they are always the two I show off to my classes when I explain what we are doing. These two have always been my favorites! My class two years ago, however, runs a close raise to them. I had a group of girls who enjoyed this project so much that they completed more than one. Some of them doing 3! They did so good. 

First off, I only give a half sheet of poster board. Why? Because I am supplying it and the yarn. The bigger the picture the more yarn! (#broketeacherprobs)

Second, I have the students choose a picture they want to do. I let them do anything they want, school appropriate of course. The only guidance I give is if I feel the picture they choose will be way too difficult. I google coloring sheets for whatever they want to do.  

Once they have chosen their picture, I project it onto a board so they can trace it onto their poster board. I want the picture to be perfect! 

After they trace, they are ready to start working with yard. The key with the yarn is that it needs to be really tightly placed together row after row. For as long as possible, the yarn should be used in one long strand, not cut strand by strand and placed on the picture. There should not be any white showing when they are finished. They are not professionals, so there will be a little white, but there should not be big gaps in the yarn rows. Mr. Charlie Brown is one of my faves, but you can see some flaws. The student who did this one had way to much glue in some spaces, so it was hard to get the yarn in place, resulting in the bubbly areas. 

It is complicated trying to work with the yarn and Elmer's glue, but it takes patience. 

Charlie Brown and this warrior head are two pieces from the first class who did this project! They are still two of my favorites! 

Two years ago, I had a class that finished several. I had a few girls that fell in love and did two or three of these! They did a great job! 

This year, I had a group that really enjoyed it. Some of them managed to successfully finish FIVE pieces of art, and they did an amazing job on each one!!!