Students will learn about different textures as they make texture bugs.
By Maryanne Messier
What You Need:
- The Following Texture Bug Handouts:
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers/Crayons
- Fun Fur
- Sand
- Glitter
- Sponges
- Carpet pieces
- Aluminum foil
- 12×18 Red Construction Paper
What You Do:
Day 1:
- Discuss with students the idea of texture. Texture is the way something feels or looks like. Talk about soft, bumpy, smooth, etc. Talk about how everything has texture and have student’s find different textures found in their classroom.
- After students have a grasp about textures you can them have them get their materials to begin the lesson.
- Hand out the texture bug page and have students color them in and cut them out. (This could take up most of the class period, as the bugs are challenging to cut)
- After they have been colored and cut have them glue the bugs anywhere on the red paper. Their names and date should be on the back.
Day 2:
- Hand back their pages with their bugs. Review textures to make sure that they remember and understand. Then set up small stations around the room with different textures. Explain that each bug needs to be a different texture. Once they have finished at one station they need to move on to the next one.**Each station should have glue and a texture, it makes it easier to have glue at the stations instead of having students carrying it around with them **
- Once students have finished putting all their textures on their bugs, then can then return to their seats and begin labeling with the help of an aide or yourself. You can write up the names on the board of the different types of bugs you have and explain to each student that they need to write the name next to the bug that has that texture. (Furry bug, needs to go next to the bug that has fur on it, etc.) After they have completed their texture page, remind students to check for names and dates … you have completed page 6 of the art book.
Texture Bugs
► Go to Page Seven (Imagination Paintings)
Related Lessons and Resources:
The Art Book is a special series of lessons from Maryanne Messier, a teacher from Janesville Wisconsin. “This Art Book theme was created to help art educators by giving them another form of assessment. So many times we as art educators find it difficult to assess a child’s progress when projects are sent home. By using portfolio assessment it is easier to judge a child’s progress because you can see it from beginning to end. The idea of the art book came from a colleague of mine, Mary Jo Paup. She developed the “book” idea while working towards her masters. When she told me about the idea I decided to use it with my kindergartners. I used the Janesville School District’s Art Curriculum as a basis for each project page. It was a challenge but well worth it. The beauty of portfolio assessment is that it starts in kindergarten and can follow them through their elementary career. As the child grows so do the books and the lessons. If you decide to use this form of assessment in your class, I hope your class enjoys these lessons as much as mine did. -Maryanne Messier
Some images are courtesy of Teach a Fish Homeschool.
