Yesterday I did a collaborative lesson with a kindergarten class studying the work of artist-author Jan Brett. Along with immersing ourselves in her books, we watched a short video of Jan Brett herself demonstrating how to draw a hedgehog. (The hedgehog is a recurring character in many of her stories.) The kids were so excited, they went back to their classroom and used her techniques in their sketchbooks. This morning they invited me to see their work. Didn't they do a good job? The magnifying glass will help you see the details. If you want to get some tips from Jan Brett herself, just follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5MPVBVPe0k
BTW, did you know the hedgehog is not found in North America?
Oh wow!! What little artists! I LOVE Jan Brett and so does A. When I was pregnant with her, a teacher at my school bought me a copy of The Mitten and then knitted a pair of white mittens for A...the kind with the string attached! I love them. She just started wearing them this year. What a great lesson. I always found so much value in the older kids working with the younger ones. My kids always felt like they were doing the teaching, but it definitely went both ways!
