Students began their journey by learning that all artists—beginner and experienced—learned how to take complex objects (such as a face) and break them down into basic shapes. This project does just that! Is is particularly novel? No. But, do kids practice necessary skills like cutting and gluing? Yes. They also come to understand that everyone in class can be given the same materials and comes up with something different!

How It’s Done

Students select from two pumpkin shapes: circle or oval. They are given paper with shapes to trace from which they make eyes, teeth, and ‘grass’. They are given minimal parameters except:

• Cut along a line or an edge (for pumpkin body, eyes, and stem)
• Glue your shapes, not your paper
• Follow directions (e.g., don’t make your pumpkin’s teeth so small you end up gluing them and your fingers to your paper!).

Next Year

There is so much you can do with this type of collage project. I have thought about doing veggies and reducing the size of final project to 9×12. Using veggies (or fruit) as inspiration could transform the Autumn theme into a Spring or end-of-year bonanza! (Egads! Dare I say that you could use this as an SGO for your kindlers and do it at the beginning and end of year?) Gourds were another direction I plan to investigate because their natural shape lends itself to lots of variety. I could also keep the size 12×18 (makes it easier for little hands to glue). Using painted paper for your subject or background could add yet two more dimensions. It could also make for a smooth(er?) transition for the start of the year as students come in we take 20 minutes to discuss and practice classroom routines and immediately create dynamic and energetic art. Really, you can’t go wrong with this project.

Check out my student’s great work over at Artsonia!