Explore an Idea and Create!

I like pairing a concept lesson with a chance for students to create. Recently, my first graders and I watched the Colors movie on BrainPop Jr. (If you don't know BrainPOP, check it out at brainpop.com. BrainPOP Jr. is for primary students.)

In a brief discussion before the movie, I discovered that none of the students knew what tints and shades were, so that became our focus. After viewing the movie, we discussed the concepts. I showed them artwork I had created in which I experimented with shades and tints of blue.

I also modeled in Tux Paint how they could select shades and tints of a color. There are several other drawing programs available, such as Seashore, that also have the full spectrum of colors.

This was a rewarding activity. Some of my students have already become reluctant artists who feel they "can't draw." I purposely modeled my "blues" as a very random collection using various tools. All students were able to create an interesting final product.

Animation with Tux Paint

Tux Paint is an open source drawing software you can download. It has an easy to use interface.

We use it for many purposes in our lab, one of which is animation. The second-graders have been studying the plant life cycle. In my class, they have used Tux Paint to draw the life stages of a plant. They started with a seed being blown from a mature plant.

After a bit of modeling, they were able to create series of images showing the sun moving though the sky as a seedling grew, or rain watering a flower that kept increasing the number of petals. Each time they made a slight change to a drawing, they would save the new one as a new file.

In this way, they kept each image as a separate file, which can be viewed by clicking on

To play the animation sequence, the student clicks on "Slides"and numbers them.

Students can also select the speed at which the images change.

When the drawings were done, they used the text tool to add a sentence, one word at a time, so it also changed in each frame.

My second graders were very enthusiastic about their work; they enjoyed viewing each other's creations as well.

The Importance of Having Choices

I have been striving to give students as many choices about their work as I can. Even though it can increase the work I have to do, there are big benefits.

When students in my lab have choices, I hear:
"I love this one!"
"Can I use..."
"Will you show me how to...?"
"I was thinking..."
"Would this be good?"
"Can I work on this tomorrow?"
"I am trying to..."

Some examples of choices I give students:

• Selection from a menu of word or number games such as Curious George or Everyday Math Games
• The order in which they will do sections of a project in Glogster or Google Sites
• Animals to research and create habitat maps
• The historical figure they will create an interview with using Scratch
• Deciding which tool to use for a project, such as Comic Life or Garage Band
• Tell A Story or Make A Movie in Kerpoof
• Selecting a tool for drawing between Tux Paint or Seashore
• The country they will research and tour in Google Earth
• Resources to explore to get information

During most of my 22 years as a classroom teacher, I used the Responsive Classroom approach. One of the key components is Academic Choice, in which students select how they will demonstrate their learning and understanding. According to Paula Denton, author of Learning Through Academic Choice, it teaches the intellectual skills necessary for independent learning and fosters the need to feel competent.

With the widespread availability of so many options though technology, I really believe that we need to minimize the cookie cutter approach to student work.

Using digital drawing tools

I value drawing. It is an activity that many children feel they can not do. I can encourage students to draw and create using digital tools.

When introducing any new application, I give students time to explore the tools. As they become familiar with the features, I increase my expectations. I  also try to connect the drawing experiences to literacy and other subjects.

Kindergarten students use Tux Paint and ABCYa Painting to create shapes with many tools. They are able to label their work.

First graders can create simple maps. They can create pictures and write text to describe them.

Second grade students use their drawing work to show their understanding of concepts or topics.

Third graders can combine images and text to record information from their research.






Many students are able to illustrate concepts
with more detail and experiment with various

art techniques.