OVERVIEW
For our final lesson of Year A, we'll be making and decorating a big box party bus! It's great fun and students learn to work together. Then everyone gets to redesign their school bus, and invent a mobile house bus for the summer.– – –
Grades 1 – 2
Week of May 17 – 21
1 Hour & 30 Minutes, or two 45-minute sessions
Lesson At A Glance
Here’s a brief overview of the complete lesson. It’s also on your prep page in the Ready, Set, Go! section (below the lesson).
Colored buttons jump to each section in the full lesson plan below.
10 Minutes – Artists’ Choice
10 Min – Create a play bus
22 min – Classroom colors the bus
3 Min – Clean Up and wash hands
15 min – have a party in the bus
15 Min – Draw a bus from the printout
14 Min – Create inside of bus
1 min – Everyone helps
Use this button to jump down to the preparation section.
SCROLL & TEACH
LESSONPLAN
Each section is a different color. Read over once and then you can SCROLL & TEACH using any device you like. It’s designed to work well with your phone.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to set up their work area for painting with acrylics.
M A T E R I A L S
- 14″ x 17″ Sketch Paper
- 2B Pencil
- Markers
- Oil Pastels
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
1.1 Greet
Students begin drawing. Always try to greet students as they come in and kneel down when you can, so that you are on their level..
1.2 Choice
Encourage students to work with one piece of paper for a while. If someone uses the phrase, “free draw”, explain that artists’ choice is something only artists can do, while free-draw is something anyone can do. You want to use the phrase to elevate the students’ expectations of their work.
Everyone should take their time with the work and make a finished piece of art. Limiting the paper can also help kids focus on the work. If someone finishes in super-fast time, ask them what more they can do to the existing paper. Ask again several times – unless they appear overly frustrated; then you can allow them to move on to a new work.
1.3 Display
Students can continue drawing while they look at the screen. Show students these fun painted buses while they work.
Pinterest Gallery – Painted Bus
Tap the icon to the left to open our special Pinboard showing examples of artwork to display to your class. See our Article for making Pinterest work on larger displays. You can also use a laptop or large tablet and gather everyone around like you’re using a book.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to set up their work area for painting with acrylics.
M A T E R I A L S
- Masking or painter’s tape / Optional: duct tape
- Scissors – for teachers only
- Long piece of white or colored butcher roll paper – Folded in half long-ways (a 12′ x 4′ sheet would become 12′ x 2′)
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
2.1 Arrange
Students place all their chairs in a line.
Small classes can do single chairs, and larger classes can have 2 chairs side by side, or 2 lines together. Move tables if needed so you have room to access the chairs on both sides.
2.2 Tape
Students help hold and tape the paper
With the folded edge on top, tape the paper to the sides of the chairs so that it touches the floor and becomes the side of the bus. Use just enough tape at this stage, because you’ll be removing the paper to cover it with artwork.
2.3 Pretend
Everyone get in to test it out. Make sure students are very careful sitting in their “bus”. The paper can tear if they move their chairs.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to use lots of color and pattern in a large space
M A T E R I A L S
- Markers
- Oil pastels
- Paper towels
3.1 Color
Remind your class that this is artwork
It’s not just silly play. Artists love to paint things! Also watch for humor and explain that whatever they draw or paint must be something their parents will approve of and enjoy seeing.
3.2 Express
Students draw and use their imagination. Let them enjoy and express themselves.
You might wonder why we’re not using paint. 1) It’s hard to move the wet painting and re-tape it to the chairs. 2) It will get on the students clothes when they bump against it. Paint looks great though, and if you have time to let it dry before making the bus, it can be fun alternative.
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STEP 4. Cleanup
Everyone helps clean up and washes their hands while the bus artwork is attached 3 MinutesLEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to organize their space.
M A T E R I A L S
- Paper towels
4.1 Clean
Students clean up and wash hands.
When they come back to their seats, they can put away markers and other materials.
4.2 Tape
While students clean up, teachers can re-attach the bus.
Use more tape to put the artwork back onto the chairs. Make sure everything is secure.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to take a break and enjoy time with their classmates.
M A T E R I A L S
- Snacks and drinks, if you’re having an end of year party
5.1 Enjoy
Students have fun.
If you’re having an end of year celebration, have the snacks and drinks now. Finish the food before moving back into artwork. If your bus is too small to fit everyone, take turns “riding the bus”. You can have different groups ride at one time, such as girls, boys, Names that begin with A to M, etc.
Help students take care getting “into” and “out of” the bus.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to create different ideas.
M A T E R I A L S
- PDF reference
- Pencil & erasers
- Markers
- Oil pastels
- Blender sticks
- Paper towels
6.1 Print
Bus Print
Cut images apart and give one to each student.
Use the print as a reference. It can also be used for tracing or you can even just let the students each have one to color on directly.
1 Page – Opens in new window
6.2 Color
Students use markers or oil pastels.
They can add patterns, colors and designs to make a fun bus artwork! Freedom to create is the main thing.
6.2 Sign
Students sign their names.
Remind students to put their signature somewhere along the bottom or top of their paper.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to visualize their ideas.
M A T E R I A L S
- 11″ x 17″ copy paper
- pencil and erasers
- Markers
7.1 Imagine
Help your students visualize by using the talk below.
“Imagine that you can design and build a bus any way you like. It will be your Summer tour bus and you live in it like a house. How would you design that?
What fun rooms and inventions can you make that would make your house bus more fun to live in?”
7.2 Draw
Students draw their buses!
What fun inventions can they think of? Move around the room and listen to their ideas. Be sure to encourage your students.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know the importance of cleaning up.
M A T E R I A L S
- Paper Towels
- Cleaning wipes
- Sink
- Waste baskets
- Well-lit spot for photos
- Camera or phone-camera
8.1 CLEAN
Students clean up their work area.
- Wash hands
- Super-wash brushes if used
- Put art supplies away
- Wipe tables & toss trash
- Remove any smocks (last)
- Check for items on floors and tables
8.2 PHOTO
OBJECTIVES
- Practice and improvement in visualization and working together
- Understanding that art can be fun
- Accomplishment from making lots of art and working with others
- Fulfillment in inventing their own designs
TROUBLESPOTS
Battles for dominance – When you have everyone working on one project, leaders and controllers emerge, and sometimes you see passive-aggressive retaliators and some light artistic bullying. For instance pushing someone away or scribbling on other’s work to mess it up. Be aware, and use the “be nice” rule often. Try not to shame those who do not respect other’s, but praise those who do and quietly remind the ones who do not have as much self-control.
ART WORDS
Collaboration – Sometimes kids like big new words. It just means working with other artists on one project together. It also means no one person gets their own way. Everyone must agree on things like color schemes.
CLASSROOM
PREP
Print all of your PDFs from the lesson plan and cut any references apart as needed.
What your room needs
Here are your printable lists and room prep instructions.
CLASSROOM
MATERIALS
- 8.5″ x 11″ copy paper
- 8.5″ x 11″ card stock
- 11″ x 17″ copy paper
- Rulers
- Scissors
- Box cutter (teacher only)
- Large Drawing boards with clips
- Water containers
- Spray bottles
- Water droppers
- Paper towels
- Smocks
STUDENT’S
MATERIALS
- 14″ x 17″ Sketch Paper
- 11″ x 15″ watercolor paper
- 2B Pencil
- 4B pencil
- Ebony pencil
- Black Sharpie
- Markers
- India ink
- Ink dip pen with metal nib (not too sharp a point)
- Soft compressed charcoal sticks (not pencils)
- Canvas pencil (dark gray colored pencil)
- White erasers
- Kneaded erasers
- Acrylic paints
- Oil pastels
- Blender sticks (stumps)
- Sandpaper boards (to clean blenders)
- Paper palette pad, or disposable trays/plates
- 11″ x 14″ Canvas (loose or from real canvas pad)
- Canvas boards (optional)
- Tape – blue painter’s tape
- Brushes – All sizes