The 2nd Graders just finished their insect unit using watercolor and pastel techniques. We started this unit by learning about entomologists and what they do. We watched a video on an entomologist that uses live insects to create artwork. The video is posted below. We then learned about insects from all over the world. The students spent some time studying and sketching out insects. I then taught them watercolor and oil pastel techniques such as color blending and mixing, pastel resist, crayon resist, alcohol resist, salt resist, and wet on wet. We spent a day experimenting and trying out these techniques. I then introduced them to the actual project. They were asked to choose an insect or arachnid that interests them and create it using 2 or more of the techniques learned in class. They were then asked to choose a location for their insects to be popping out from. I taught them how to create an accordion fold to make their insects pop out. Their insects were on flowers, logs, leaves, the sidewalk etc. I will post the pictures of their completed pieces this week.