Clouds & Sun Catchers: Weather Art for Grade R

Certainly! When planning teacher-guided art activities for Grade R students (approximately 5-6 years old) under the theme of weather, the activities should be engaging, age-appropriate, and promote both creativity and understanding of the weather theme. Below are two such activities: ### Activity 1: "Seasonal Weather Collage" **Objective:** To help students understand the different types of weather associated with each season and encourage fine motor skills, creativity, and teamwork. **Materials Needed:** - Construction paper in various colors - Magazines for cut-outs - Glue sticks - Safety scissors - Cotton balls - Markers or crayons - Glitter (optional) **Steps:** 1. **Introduction (5 minutes):** Begin with a short discussion about the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn, winter) and the typical weather associated with each (e.g., sunny for summer, snowy for winter). 2. **Divide into Groups (5 minutes):** Split the class into four groups, assigning each group a specific season. 3. **Creating the Collage (25 minutes):** Each group will create a collage representing the weather for their assigned season: - **Spring:** Green paper, flower cut-outs, drawings of rain, and cotton balls for clouds. - **Summer:** Yellow paper, sun cut-outs, beach images, and drawings of clear skies. - **Autumn:** Brown/orange paper, leaf cut-outs, and drawings of windy weather. - **Winter:** Blue/white paper, snowflake cut-outs, and cotton balls for snow. 4. **Group Presentation (10 minutes):** Each group presents their collage to the class, describing the weather and what they used to represent it. 5. **Reflection (5 minutes):** Have a brief reflection on the different types of weather and how they can identify them in each season. ### Activity 2: "Weather Painting" **Objective:** To allow students to express their understanding of different weather conditions through painting, fostering creativity, and fine motor skills. **Materials Needed:** - Watercolor paint sets - Paintbrushes - Water cups - Thick paper or canvas - Aprons/protective clothing - Examples of various weather conditions (pictures or real-life observation if possible) **Steps:** 1. **Introduction (5 minutes):** Discuss different types of weather (sunny, rainy, snowy, stormy, cloudy), and show pictures or take the students outside to observe the current weather conditions. 2. **Demonstration (5 minutes):** Show the students how to use watercolor paints, mix colors, and clean their brushes between colors. 3. **Painting (25 minutes):** Each student will choose a type of weather to paint: - **Sunny:** Encourage use of bright colors like yellow and orange to paint the sun and clear skies. - **Rainy:** Use shades of blue and grey with added raindrops and clouds. - **Snowy:** Use white and blue to depict snowflakes, snowmen, and winter scenes. - **Stormy:** Use dark colors like black, purple, and grey to show storms, lightning, and heavy clouds. 4. **Gallery Walk (10 minutes):** Once the paintings are completed, have a gallery walk where students can admire and discuss each other’s work. 5. **Sharing and Display (5 minutes):** Allow each student to share a little about their painting and their chosen weather. Display all paintings in the classroom for everyone to enjoy. Both activities provide an opportunity for creative expression, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of weather patterns. They also align with developmental skills relevant for Grade R students.