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Warm up exercise ( Duplication exercise) #cachartprojects

So what is a warm up ! 


Warm up exercise - This is what we do each day before starting the drawing projects . Also called as duplication exercise ,it is a simple training to look closely and understand the subject ( Check out books by Mona Brookes ,an artist and author of books Drawing with children and Drawing with older children and teens , where she emphasizes why duplication exercise is important and how it is fun too) 


How do we use it


In my art classes I ask the children to do it everyday before starting the main project , say for 5 minutes , from simple lines to detailed images ( based on age group) I will draw one time and will ask them to copy the same  . Some of the children used to draw the main image by themselves and copy it , it works in both the ways . 


This is what is required ...


1.A4 size plain sheet 

2.sharpie markers 

3.Pencils 


Believe me , these exercises are always super fun , they will end up in creating different types of patterns . 


Pros and cons of using markers : I prefer using pencil ( for this activity in particular ) , the reason being while using marker the kids will be alert as it can’t be erased and their won’t be any free flow of designs . But at the same time markers create an interest to draw, as they are available in various colours .The best approach will be taking it according to child’s interest.


Sample exercise



Book review : The bad seed

Book : The Bad Seed

Author : Jory John

Illustrator : Pete Oswald

Age : 3 plus 


Most of us  have the habit of judging people by the way they behave , but we don’t know what they are going through unless we step in to their shoes . This book by Jory  John has been written for those people with a beautiful message “ First understand then judge “. 






Once upon a time there lived a seed , and it is a bad seed , very baaaaaad . Whenever the other seeds look at it they mumble  “that seed is So bad” It was considered so bad because , it never puts the things back into place, it was late to everything , it never washes its hand or feet , it lies and never smiles , it cuts in line etc . 


When it came to the world , it was an humble seed , with a big family and lots of fun , but one  day everything changed and life has become dark for the seed which has led to its bad behavior . 


So on one fine day , the  seed makes a big decision , to change everything and bring back his old life , a life with happiness and lots of fun . 


The situations that led to a behavioral change in the seed and the steps it take to change itself is the rest of the story . 


 Excellent story , adorable illustrations , the trauma faced by the seed shows that how important a family is .Progress  is always impossible without a change , so instead of being judgemental let us change ourselves to be more kind , empathetic to anyone and everyone . 


Link to buy the book 


https://www.amazon.in/Bad-Seed-Jory-John/dp/006246776X




Book review : A Hat for Mrs.Goldman



Book: A hat for Mrs.goldman 

Author : Michelle Edwards

Illustrator : G.Brian Karas

Age : 4 plus 



“ Love is  when the other person’s happiness is more important than your own “ . 

A hat for Mrs.goldman written by Michelle Edwards is a simple and heartwarming story based on the quote above. 





Storyline : 


Little girl Sophia and mrs.goldman are neighbors. Mrs . Goldman loves knitting ,When sophia was a small  baby she knit her a  tiny hat to keep her warm . Now sophia is big and she helps Mrs . Goldman by making the Pom Poms for the hats she make for her friends and neighbors . 


Keeping keppies ( head in Yiddish ) warm is our mitzvah ( good deed in Hebrew) says Mrs goldman and she  had taught sophia to knit , since sophia found it hard , she thought making Pom poms were easier .


One day they both went for a walk with fifi , the dog of mrs Goldman , Sophia was wearing a sweater and a fuzzy hat and it was knitted by mrs .goldman . It was one of the early days of winter , and the wind was very cool , Mrs. goldman’s hair was blown left and right and her ears become pink , because she has given her hat to mrs . Chen and doesn’t have one for her . 


Sophia feels bad and decides that she has to do something and bring a hat for mrs Goldman . What mitzvah does Sophia do to keep mrs.goldmans keppie warm is the rest of the story . 


Review


The storyline is simple yet  it gives a beautiful message for not only kids but also adults .The illustrations are excellent and it is mentioned that the illustrator Brian karas has learnt knitting exclusively for illustrating this story . The bond between Sophia and Mrs.goldman is beautifully expressed in words . There was a guide at the end on how to knit a hat and make Pom poms . The story is not only about knitting and love but also about Sharing and kindness . 


Recommended for kids age four plus this for sure will be a warm read during cold winter nights . It’s time to think about the mitzvah we have done or going to do , so don’t wait let your good deeds be like rain , Drop a little everywhere . 


Link to buy the book


https://www.amazon.in/gp/aw/d/0553497103/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1514531511&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX118_SY170_QL70&keywords=hat+for+mrs+goldman&dpPl=1&dpID=41gr2gQRpeL&ref=plSrch



Book Review : Esperanza Rising

Book : Esperanza rising 

Author :Pam Munoz Ryan

Genre : Fiction ( young adult ) 

Pura Belpré award winner(Medal )  for narrative in the year 2002 . 


 Based on the author’s own life events, this story revolves around a young immigrant from Mexico to the US . 






Esperanza ,was the daughter of a rich rancher Sixto Ortega . She lived in el Rancho de las Rosas , Aguascalientes, Mexico  along with her father , mother Ramona , grandma abuelita and the servant family Alfonso , Hortensia and their son Miguel .


She was an Happy go girl until her thirteenth birthday , it was the end of the harvest and she was all set for a feast the next day  since it was her birthday. But to her shock , her father who went with the farmers for some

Cattle work , didn’t return home till evening . Her  father’s step brothers Tio Louis and Tio Marco who hold a big post in their community ( whom she doesn’t like ) comes home just to say that her father and his men  were attacked by the bandits and they are no more . 


Life gets upside down , Her uncle Tio Louis , the bank president comes with a proposal to marry her mother ,reason being he wants to compete for the governor post  and Ramona by his side as a wife will help him to get more votes . Their house  and the ranch was set on fire since her mom refuses his proposal . Abuelita gets a fracture in her ankle and was sent to the convent where her sisters work.


Mama , Esperanza and the servant family escapes to Los Angeles with the help of their neighbour and abuelita’s sisters .abuelita was left back in el Rancho de las Rosas since she was injured, but she had promised to join them once she is cured . They get settled in a Mexican camp where Alfonso’s brother and his family lives . 


From a princess to an immigrant in a camp , they were forced to start the life again in a small wooden cabin . How she gets adjusted to the life as an immigrant , the tough times that followed her and whether abuelita has joined them is the rest of the story .


Review


An heart touching and inspiring story on perseverance , struggle , loss , hard work , hope etc. The character , Esperanza impresses us right from being a rich ranchers daughter who used to say to Miguel “ we stand on different sides of the river “ to Moving away with him as an immigrant ,facing lot of hardships in USA ,and feeling for the words she said every time when she came across Miguel . The story starts with a Spanish proverb which means “ He who falls today may rise tomorrow “ that typically conveys the theme of the book . Miguel’s character is very impressive , he reiterates to Esperanza every time that how important hard work  and perseverance is .Do not ever be afraid to start over is the concluding words of the novel by Esperanza , while she is waiting for a better tomorrow ,because Esperanza means Hope in Spanish . 


Check out the book to find out how Esperanza is trying to rise against all odds . 




MANGO, ABUELA and ME

Book Name  : Mango , Abuela and me 

Author : Meg Medina 

Illustrator : Angela Dominguez

Recommended age : 4 plus 





Mango Abuela and me was written by meg medina based on her own life experiences with her grandmother .It is a Pura Belpré honor award winner  for both the author and illustrator .With bright and expressive illustrations the story of this exceptional picture Book goes like this :



Mia belongs to a Latino  family and she lives with her papi ( father ) , Mami ( mother ) and Edmund her pet hamster . Her far-away  grandmother ( that’s how Mia calls her ) leaves her sunny house  with parrots and palm trees  to come live with Mia and her parents in the city . 


Mia shares her room with Abuela ( grandmother ) , that night Mia reads her favorite story book to Abuela , but she didn’t understand  , reason being Abuela understands and speaks only Espanol ( Spanish ) and not English . Day after day Mia finds it difficult to communicate  with Abuela . 


One day Mia decides to teach Abuela English and starts her lesson one by one , right from teaching simple words/names of things they come across everyday to  sticking word cards everywhere in the room , Mia tries to execute her work not only by teaching English but  at the same time learning Spanish from Abuela . 


But, one day her visit to a pet shop with mom to buy seeds for Edmund her hamster , gives her a better idea to make Abuela more comfortable in learning English . What idea did Mia got at the pet shop and how Abuela and Mia got along together without any barrier in communication is the rest of the story . 


Review : 


The story that tells  us the importance of a family . A story that connects well with our day to day life as a family . Grandparents  love is always special to each one of us , whatever our age is . The visual of myself teaching my grandmother how to operate a Tv remote came in every now and then while reading the story . It emphasizes the importance of communication and working together to  find a solution for the problem . 

With vivid illustrations the story conveys us a beautiful message “El amor no tiene lenguaje” ( love has no language ) .  A must have in everyone’s library. 



Tiny Insects - A picture book inspired art lesson

I have often designed an art lesson based on elements of art for most part of my teaching life , unless I came across this site called deep space sparkle(DSS) , DSS was a great inspiration for me to create lessons based on picture books . Even though i used to pick up most of my picture books only for illustration , drawing based on that was an idea which I inherited from them. 




Our first lesson is based on insects , those tiny little creatures , which used to frighten most of us in daily lives. This lesson was inspired from the book The Tickly Spider by Margaret Wise Brown , its about a little spider  and a small boy .


Supplies needed : 


A4 size ivory sheets 


Drawing tools ( Pencil, eraser, sharpener) 


Tempera paints / water colours 


Oil pastels


Some glitters 


After reading the lesson , the first thing we did is to take a list of insects which are simple to draw using lines and shapes .

We have taken 4  of them ( Ant, ladybug, butterfly, dragonfly, ) check the following link for step by step drawings .


http://theartandbookjunction.blogspot.in/2017/09/step-by-step-drawings-insects.html?m=1



Once this part is done , the next one is creating a scenery , as I don't have images of the work done by my students ( lost during shifting) have added  some prompts here to try with the kids . 


Prompt 1: On the river bank 

( image included) 





Prompt 2: In the field 

Draw a field full of grass , sand etc and include the insects there . 


Prompt 3 : A scenic morning from my window

Draw a view from the window how the world looks during early morning , include the colourful sun , trees, chirping birds ,blooming flowers ,  tiny insects . 


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Hope you all enjoy the lesson , please try the activities with kids and post their works in the comment section , also don't forget to drop your feedback. 


Step by step drawings - Insects

Try these step by step lessons to learn to draw tiny colourful insects .  #cachartprojects





You can find our lessons using the hashtag #cachartprojects 

Join the group cool and crazy hues in fb , for various art lesson plans 


Warm up exercise ( Duplication exercise) #cachartprojects

So what is a warm up !  Warm up exercise - This is what we do each day before starting the drawing projects . Also called as duplication exe...