This easy art project inspired by Charles G. Shaw’s book It Looked Like Spilt Milk is the perfect first grade activity!
One of the common struggles of any teacher is how fast time flies by. Doesn’t matter whether you are a classroom teacher or a homeschooling parent – it’s undoubtedly a challenge to cover all that you need to teach.
That’s where we can harness the power of art.
One of my favorite things about art is how compatible it is with other subjects.
This art lesson not only provides the opportunity for a reading lesson, but also paves the way for an Earth Science lesson on cloud formation. In other words, this art lesson helps you make the most of your limited instruction time!
Supplies:
- Sheet of blue construction paper
- Paintbrush
- White washable paint
- Placemat (optional but highly recommended)
- It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw
Directions:
- Read aloud It Looked Like Spilt Milk. Discuss how organic shapes (shapes that are often found in nature) can often remind us of other objects. With a little imagination, we can see images within abstract objects like clouds!
- Distribute white paint, blue paper, paintbrushes, and placemats.
- Use you paintbrush to paint solid shapes representational of real life objects onto the construction paper, creating your own cloud-filled sky.
Bonus of addressing multiple subjects within a single project (like this one)? Integrating art into different subjects increases student engagement, improves critical thinking skills, and prepares children for real life because it more accurately depicts real scenarios (subjects are not always separated in adult life).
Looking for another art lesson that integrates English Language Arts? Check out this full lesson plan in my shop that accompanies Wordy Birdy by Tammi Sauer.
Love art projects that require minimal materials and prep work? Check out my tutorial for my favorite low-prep printmaking project.
