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Art and Craft Projects for Presidents Day
Coloring Pages
President Puzzles
*ideal for
preschoolers
Copy silhouettes of Washington and Lincoln onto sheets of cardstock. Give
each child a sheet. Let children cut the sheet into 4-12 pieces (depending
on ability level), then re-assemble their "puzzle." Make sure child's name
is written on the back of each puzzle piece. Encourage children to trade
puzzles with a neighbor and put together again. Teach children to identify
George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.
Penny Mobile
Cut 6" circles out of brown construction paper. Ask children to decorate
one side of the circle like the face of a penny. On the other side, they
should write one sentence about Abraham Lincoln's life. After the penny is
created, students may punch a hole near the top of the penny, then use a
piece of yarn to tie the penny to a clothes hangar. Encourage children to
continue making pennies until time is up.
Compare mobiles. Who has the most pennies? Who has the most interesting piece
of trivia? What event or events in Lincoln's life did the most people write
about?
Silhouettes
Few shapes are more recognizable than silhouettes of Washington and Lincoln.
As a class, review these common images.
Today, silhouettes are once more gaining popularity as an art form. A few
professionals can create realistic silhouettes using nothing other than paper
and scissors. But for the average person, there's a simpler way to fashion
a life-like silhouette.
In a darkened room, have an individual stand sideways against a wall. Behind
the person, tape a piece of white cardstock or poster board on the wall.
The board should start about mid-chest and go above the person's head.
Enlist a friend to stand about six feet back from the wall, shining a flashlight
on the person's head. Use a pencil to trace the person's shadow onto the
poster board. After the image is traced, turn the lights on and cut around
the tracing. Using the cut-out as a pattern, trace the person's shape onto
a dark piece of paper. Cut out. Paste on a different colored background.
To use this as a classroom activity, divide students into groups of three.
Allow time for all three group members to be traced. Students may then complete
silhouettes at home or during free time. |