Chatty Cherry Stories

crayola supplies

• Markers
• Washable Watercolors
• Watercolor Brushes with Plastic Handle
• Giant Marker and Watercolor Pad

household supplies

• recycled newspaper
• paper towels
• container(s) of water

Why?

Read and respond to literature and create original stories and illustrations, focusing on details of people, places, and things.

Steps

1. 1. Read Vera Williams' Cherries and Cherry Pits. Talk about Bidemmi's drawings and the stories she creates about her drawings using her imagination.
2. 2. Create your own story world. Use Crayola® Washable Markers to draw a background of trees filled with cherries or your favorite fruits. Tell your story to a listening friend as you draw. Then switch roles and listen to your friend's story as his or her pictures grow and grow.
3. 3. Cover your work area with newspaper. Use Crayola Washable Watercolors and Crayola Watercolor Brushes to paint a self-portrait in the setting you drew. Add clothing in your favorite colors, patterns, and styles. Tell a detailed story about yourself as you create your artwork.

adaptations

Record stories as they are being told. Transcribe them, and add written text to pictures. Bind the collections of stories and drawings into books.

Explore the difference between drawing and painting. Wet each watercolor pan with a few drops of water squeezed out of a wet paintbrush. Paint areas rather than outlines, using a damp but not dripping brush, dipped in wet watercolors. Experiment.

Use other children's literature to explore art techniques such as colored pencil drawings, chalk, painting, and collage.

benefits

Children respond to reading children's literature, by engaging in original storytelling and representing their own images through the visual arts.

Children orally describe details of people, places, and things in their stories and art creations.

Children create relevant illustrations using drawing and painting techniques similar to those used by the illustrator.

grades

Pre-K and Kindergarten
Grades 1 to 3

subjects

Language Arts
Visual Arts

time

Less than 1/2 hour
30 to 60 minutes
Multiple Sessions

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards

safety guidelines

Crayola Washable Paints—Not for use as body/face paint.

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