The first day of choice

This morning, during my prep time, I rearranged the art room to accomodate 4 centers (drawing, painting, collage and sculpture). Two tables are located next to the sink. Unfortunately, due to the small size of the room, I had to push the tables up against a blackboard so only 6 students can paint at one time. I may have to rethink this set up if there happens to be many students that wish to paint.
The drawing center has the usual drawing materials along with a basket full of small toys that I pick up at yard sales. I figure they can set up their own mini still life arrangements. I have tons of drawing books but most of the time students will want to trace and not try to draw using the directions in the books so I am keeping them tucked away until I find a student that is really interested in drawing and not tracing. Drawing books have a place in an art room but not for tracing (in my opionion). I have a collage center and also a sculpture center. I plan to introduce sculpture within the next 2 weeks.
The first center I introduced to my 2nd graders was the collage center. I used just paper for the demo. They were interested in it because there was also lots of special paper like colored foils, mirrored paper, animal skin paper and the popular hologram sticker paper! I showed them ways to cut with fancy edge scissors, punch holes using shape punchers and also to rip their paper to make their collage.
They also could work in the drawing center or use the computer art programs. (KidPix)
I allowed the computers as a choice due to the large class size of 24 students. This is a class made up of one and a half classes. In the future I plan to do a demo on using the software possibly prinitng out their designs.
Anyway, the class was wonderful! I had so much fun with the students.... observing them, assisting them, helping them out when they needed it. I fortunately have a terrific parent volunteer that assists me during this class and we were both commenting on how creative the students were .. We all agreed that art was a lot more fun this week and one 7 year old said "Art class was so much fun because it's when our ideas come to life!"
I can't wait to go to work tomorrow!