During my student observations I learned of a great lesson called Name Aliens. The lesson asks the students to cut out their name symmetrically using bubble letters. However this is the first year the Elementary school has experienced art! Writing their whole names in bubble letters AND symmetrically proved to be too complex. However I found that the simplification of the lesson to creating aliens with initials was a home run! As my first lesson entering school it has been a great way for me to start memorizing the 400+ students.
We begin with do-nows that introduce symmetry and push K-2 to gain skill in their hand-eye coordination. The students have the opportunity to color in their do-nows and bring them home.
3-5 are prompted to brainstorm as many symmetrical shapes, letters, objects or even animals as they can recall.
The students spend the rest of the period practicing bubble letters.
After establishing a foundation that all students can create bubble letters students move on to the next portion of the lesson. As a Do-Now I found a great coloring book that allows students to develop their ideas of space backgrounds.
During lesson students fold and cut their letters as a class (step-by-step). At their own pace students can glue their letters onto their backgrounds and start coloring. I used oil pastels as our medium so that the colors POP!