This isn't a new project. I just like it too much to get rid of it. The end results are super cool, it reinforces basic skills with three types of media, and my first graders love it. That's why I teach it year after year.
Space is one of those topics that almost all kids love. I get into some basic space knowledge with this lesson and also spend some time describing several images of space shuttles/rockets/etc. I then allow the students to get into their own artwork.
I typically post my full lesson plan, but this one is simple enough that I'll just post the steps right here. Enjoy!
Check out cool pictures of planets and spaceships and watch an awesome space shuttle launch.
Each student uses construction paper to create a space ship.
On 12x18 paper, students draw at least three planets and color them using crayons or colored pencils.
The "space" part is painted with black tempera.
Stars are painted on using the handle end of a paintbrush.
The spaceship is glued on to finish.
This project has been finished for a while, but I'm just now getting around to posting it. It's a project that I've been doing for several years and there are other examples of it on my blog. I do this one a month or two into the year because it is a great way to have students practice multiple skills. This involves design, painting, coloring, cutting, and gluing. A big part of my first several projects in first grade is simply getting the students used to tools, materials, and procedures that they'll be using in the art room.
My favorite part of this project is the spaceships that the students make. They come up with some really unique ideas. I usually post the lesson plan, but this is so simple that I'll just list the steps here.
- Check out cool pictures of spaceships and watch an awesome space shuttle launch.
- Each student uses construction paper to create a space ship.
- On 12x18 paper, students draw at least three planets and color them using crayons or colored pencils.
- The "space" part is painted with black tempera.
- Stars are painted on using the handle end of a paintbrush.
- The spaceship is glued on to finish.
1st grade recently finished a project in which they learned all about rockets and space. We started out by talking about NASA and the various ways people can go to space. Next, we looked at pictures of space shuttles, rockets, and many planets. We even got to watch a video of the space shuttle launch.
The kids start out by drawing several large planets on a piece of white paper. They are colored using crayons. Space is painted black next. You could cut out the planets and glue them onto black paper, but my kids love to paint and I want to give them extra practice. Finally, we used recycled construction paper scraps to build rockets. These turn out really cool and it is a pretty successful project all around.
1st grade just finished a project that took them to the final frontier. After studying space and space travel, each student made a small rocket using construction paper and colored pencils. They then made up their own planets and used black tempera paint to create the blackness of space. The rockets were glued down and stars were added to finish the project. This project is currently on display by the kindergarten classrooms!
