Friday Art Feature ... And a FREEBIE!

04 May 2012
We were going buggy this week ... literally!  I wanted to finish up our Biodiversity unit in a fun way.  Part of this unit has the students studying the classification system and how to classify living things.  Well, with 17 boys in the class, you can guess their favourite part - studying bugs.

I thought it would be fun to integrate a little art into our science unit, so we made realistic 3D models of our arthropods with clay (I used the air-dry crayola clay).  We let them dry for about three days, then finished painting them today.  A few bugs met with a mishap or two (it's a long way to the ground when you're a little bug falling off a desk), but it was nothing a little glue gun couldn't fix.

photo of Clay Arthropod Activity @ Runde's Room
Of course, we had to let the bugs explore their natural habitat outside.  

photo of Clay Arthropod and Research Activity @ Runde's Room




photo of Arthropod Research Activity free PDF @ Runde's Room
We put our bugs on display with the students' final assignments.  It made such a cute spring display!  

You can grab your own copy of this arthropod assignment at my TPT store.  I've just listed it as a FREEBIE.  Click on HERE on the picture on the right to grab your own copy.





I'm linking this post up to Manic Monday at Classroom Freebies.  Make sure you drop by - I know you'll find some fabulous free ideas for your classroom!


Classroom Freebies Manic Monday
Happy Friday!!!  Three cheers for the weekend!!!

20 comments

  1. What a great integration of subjects! I am always looking for great connections...and this might just be something I will have to adapt for my curriculum. Thanks for sharing!

    ~Stephanie
    Teaching in Room 6

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Steph! I love integrating whenever I can ... and I try to do at least one clay art project a year, so this just seemed like a natural fit!

      Delete
  2. they look so realistic, i am sure your students must have had a lot of fun. mary at apopovic@primus.ca

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mary! Some of the students did an AWESOME job - I was really impressed! My husband assumed one of them had to be mine (I make my own art project), but this time it was ALL the kids!

      Delete
  3. I love this! Thanks for sharing. All of the buggy models look great and realistic! By the way, I'm your newest follower. :)

    Cheers To School

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank-you so much, Andrea! Welcome! I hope you find lots of ideas you can use in your classroom!

      Delete
  4. These are fantastic!! What fun, and thank you for the freebie:))

    Aloha,
    Corinna
    Surfin' Through Second

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank-you, Corinna! You are most welcome for the freebie!

      Delete
  5. I love your bugs! Isn't that Crayola clay the best?

    Barbara
    Grade ONEderful
    Ruby Slippers

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Barbara! LOVE the clay - try to use it at least once a year with the class, and at home with the kiddos.

      Delete
  6. I love how you made them in 3-D! So much cooler than just drawing them. I can't wait to add this on to our insect unit next year!

    Jenny
    Luckeyfrog's Lilypad

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank-you so much, Jenny! The kids really enjoyed making them (so did I)!

      Delete
  7. How creative! Definitely makes science more interesting. And your kids are such talented artists :-)

    -Charmaine, Community Advocate at QuickSchools

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank-you so much! I love integrating the arts into the other curriculum areas whenever I can!

      Delete
  8. I love your take on this topic! Thanks for sharing... I will definitely be incorporating your ideas in my unit. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank-you so much! I hope your students enjoy this!

      Delete
  9. omg how cute is that?!? Go Ahead and Bug Me?!? I LOVE that!
    No wonder you're counting the min. to summer with 17 boys!!! You're my hero!

    ❤ Mor Zrihen from...
    A Teacher's Treasure
    Teaching Treasures Shop

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Mor! The count down is definitely ON!!!
      (ps - you're MY hero!)

      Delete
  10. Hi! I'm your newest follower! Found you through Classroom Freebies. Thanks so much for the cute freebie!!!

    If you get a sec, come on over and check me out!

    Natalie
    TeacheryTidbits

    ReplyDelete
  11. Jen - I think you are the only one who can make bugs look so cute! LOL What a great lesson! :)

    ReplyDelete