TREE FROGS 1st ANNUAL ICE CREAM SOCIAL SUGGESTED ART ACTIVITIES:

by Erin Lachut

The term "endangered species" is a species present in such small numbers that it is at risk of extinction. A “threatened species” is any species, which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future. Frog populations are declining at an alarming rate. Frogs are the first to be affected by pollution of water, land and air because they live on land and in the water, and they breathe through their skin. They are also affected by loss of habitat, or where they live. Rainforests are especially at risk.

Some plants and animals have become extinct because of natural causes. However, in modern times, the activities of human beings and human population growth have increased the danger for wildlife. One way to help prevent this vicious cycle is by recycling, or returning discarded material back to useful purposes and products.

The art world has a long history of recycling and finding merit in cast aside items and using them in new relationships. This concept is one that today’s children are both familiar and sympathetic. The following is a compilation of environment friendly recyclable art activities for children to use in conjunction with Tree Frogs 1st Annual Ice Cream Social. They may participate at home or in school with these projects that explore many disciplines and ideas along with actual art production. Enjoy!

LEAF ART

Kids can have fun collecting different colors and textures of fallen leaves outside, then arrange and attach the leaves onto cardstock paper with a glue stick. Have kids try and arrange leaves to look like a frog or other creature of their choice- real or imaginary. Once the glue is dry, a parent or teacher can laminate the artwork to hang or to use as a placemat- maybe for an ice cream social!

PAPERMAKING

Papermaking is a process first developed in China during the second century B.C.E. Papermaking is a procedure that can be done at home or in a classroom. The art of making paper can be a multi-discipline project including both history/social studies and visual art. It is also a great way to teach recycling, since scrap paper can be used to make new paper. Objects from nature can be added, such as flower petals, leaves and grass, making beautiful sheets. The list of items needed for the most basic papermaking is simple: water, screen mesh (used as a deckle), plastic dishpans, paper scraps, large coffee cans (used as molds) and a kitchen blender.

PAPER MACHE

Paper mache is another activity that can easily be done at home or in school. Using recycled newspaper, paper mache or glue, and water, students can fashion the different types of frogs from Tree Frogs 1st Annual Ice Cream Social. After these tiny sculptures are finished, students can paint them, and even create a habitat for their animals. A recycled shoebox embellished with paper sculpture techniques could make an excellent environment for their animals, while allowing children to explore the element of texture.

HAIKU POETRY

This western art form is very often inspired from nature. Children of any age can study this type of formulaic poetry and simply go outside to draw inspiration for some haiku poetry of their own. Once they are finished writing, they should illustrate their work. Try using an unexpected recycled surface as a canvas for drawings and paintings!

CLAY DIG

Excite young artists by giving them a chance to harvest their own art materials. Take them on a clay dig! You might want to incorporate this into a fieldtrip to a riverbank or perhaps there is a prime dig site in your area. Children should be encouraged to sculpt their own frog out of clay. Learning to manipulate the material helps to develop motor skills and increase awareness of art materials.

FABRIC-SCAPES

Using scissors, a glue stick, fabric scraps and a piece of mat board, young artists can create beautiful landscape environments. To help, sort the fabrics into three categories: 1) Background Fabrics – Fabrics with several shades, from light to dark, work well. Irregular designs such as batik fabrics are excellent; geometric motifs are not well suited for backgrounds. 2) Middle Ground Fabrics – Prints may be used that suggest trees, mountains, foliage, etc. Muted shades will create more of a sense of depth. 3) Foreground Fabrics – Foreground selections should be darker in value and show more details. A great project for elementary level art students, it might also be suggested that younger students work on a smaller scale (aprox.4 x 6”).

BATIK

Of all the processes ever devised for designing on fabric, batik holds the most fascination. Even the simplest design looks complex due to the way wax is used to repel dyes. Using pieces of fabric remnants as a canvas and simple crayons to resist the dyes, elementary students are able to easily and safely engage in this exciting recyclable art activity. The lesson can focus on the resist process, and students can explore the origins if this fiber arts technique in Malaya and Java with native fabrics. Students may pick and research their own specific type of tree frog to reference and use as a subject. They should think about how they are going to treat their subject and their composition – Will the frog be the focal point? Will they create a habitat for the frog or will it exist in itself?

NATURE INSPIRED PAINTING/SPONGE PAINTED TREES:

Young children can benefit from this activity that combines music and art by drawing with nature sounds and music as inspiration. Parents and teachers are able to talk to students about the correlation between visual art and music. Have students create paintings inspired by nature (insects, flora, etc.) while a rainforest sounds CD plays. For a more guided experience, younger students can start by cutting out a tree trunk shape from recycled art paper and gluing it onto a piece of backing paper. Kids are then able to embellish their trees by sponge paintings leaves all around, while improving their motor skills.