K Portfolios - a Purple Crayon Adventure!

I've always loved books, so I love to start the school year off by reading an art-related story to each of my classes. My favorite "art story" for Kindergarten is Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson. This classic children's tale was first published in 1955 and has been hugely popular ever since. It tells the story of a little boy named Harold who decides to go for a walk one evening, bringing only his purple crayon with him. Harold uses his purple crayon, and his imagination, to draw the scenery around him as his adventure unfolds. Children love the simplicity of this charming story and the idea that your imagination can take you anywhere!

This project uses just a marker and a purple crayon - no mess and easy clean up! If you're like me and you're looking for ways to simplify your life, here's a fun "first day" lesson that can be done on portfolios or on regular, heavy-weight construction paper. Start by reading the story of "Harold and the Purple Crayon" by Crockett Johnson and then follow these easy steps:

1. Using a black ("F") Sharpie, draw your self-portrait vertically on your portfolio. (You may want to demonstrate drawing a large circle about 1/4th of the way down from the top, so that students don't start their drawings too small.) Add lots of details! (We always do another self-portrait at the end of the year.... it's fun to compare them and see the growth!)

2. Now use a purple crayon to draw pictures all around you of the things you want to learn about in Kindergarten.... letters, numbers, bugs, flowers, making friends.... anything you can think of! Don't forget to draw a purple crayon in your hand!

Kindergarten art projects don't get much easier than that!!