Yes, this is a project that I create with my 1st graders the 3rd week of school. It is one of many one class directed drawings that I use to begin the year. Since I see every grade level, I add one new "privilege" or experience each year. This way even though it is the same subject, in the same room with the same teacher students still feel that they are "leveling up" which is important. Seriously, you cannot teach kindergarteners the same way as 5th graders! Kindergarten is all about getting to know each other, learning their names, and becoming familiar with the different tools and mediums in the art room. Kindergarteners are also "not allowed" to leave their seats. That sound harsh, but if you have ever been in a room with 30 five to six year olds with paint you just might understand! Which takes me to 1st grade. First graders have a lot of art room procedures to learn and I have found the best way is repetition, repetition, repetition! So I have designed several projects that they can finish in one class period so that they have the opportunity to practice all of those procedures.
When the kids first see the example of the giraffe on the board, most of them are convinced that there is no way he or she can do this. I use directed drawing (we also call it my turn-your turn) to walk them through the drawing process, then they are free to color to their hearts content. They also have to cut out the project, glue it to background paper, attach a name card, and put it on the drying rack. There is no way a 1st grader will remember all of the procedures for all of these tasks with just one experience, which is why we have so many projects at the beginning of the year that focus on all of these tasks. I have found that after 4-5 projects most if not all of my kiddos are very adapt at all the procedures.
