I have something for owls. Maybe it started with the Harry Potter books, but it seems as though owls are everywhere! Over the years, I’ve collected quite a few owl art lessons. Here are a few of my favorites:
- Torn Paper Owl: Much dexterity is needed with this project. Second graders drew an owl onto a sheet of blue paper and glued torn pieces of paper to the sections. This can take a bit of time, but it’s so much fun watching the little owl develop feathers! Some children placed their owls on a branch while others gave them flight.
Eric Carle Inspired Owl using painted paper
- Eric Carle Inspired Owls: Anytime painted paper is involved in an art project, I know the results will be adorable. There is something so vibrant and alive with painted paper. These little owls were created using templates, but you don’t need to go that route, of course! Children created their own paper and thought up a background for their owls.
- Painted owl Collage: This cute little number begins with a line drawing of an owl. For this project, the kids mixed black, brown and white paints to create tones and values of brown. After the owl dried, the kids cut it out and placed on a background they designed themselves.
- Ceramic Owl: I love this owl! Tiny holes in the ear allow the owl to hang on a wall. The trick is remembering to add the holes during the clay stage. Some kids forgot. This is an easy project that can be done with any type of clay, but if you want to acheive the glassy look of ceramics, you must use kiln fired clay.
I LOVE owl inspired art projects! Unfortunately I didn’t get a chance to do one with my class yet (owls just seem like the perfect Fall project but now I have to think about Winter…so quick!). I actually adapted your torn paper owl lesson last Spring. The students created torn paper blue jays, cardinals, and sparrows; they turned out lovely! Thanks for the inspiration.
Oh I love all of these! Wonderful. You always have such great projects!
I just finished teaching your Torn Paper Owl project and it was great!!! I am a first year art teacher and it is so wonderful to have such an amazing resource at hand! Patty you are an inspiration!!!
I’m a second grade teacher, and I’ve used a few of your ideas this year, and each one has produced wonderful work! The owls are definitely the most popular, though! Other classes have come to look at them and as soon as a kid’s parent comes to visit at school, the first thing the kid wants to do is take their parent to the hallway to look at their owl. Thanks for making quality art so accessible to me and my students!
There’s something about owls, huh? I love them too!
I just recently stumbled upon your site….cool, cool stuff…..giving some a try this afternoon with my children. I did the clay owl project in school many (30 ish!) years ago! We didn’t do the holes, but instead threaded a string or ribbon through the “tunnel” and then hung it from that.
Keep up the good work.
I have done the owl project using torn pieces of white paper towel and for the colored areas we rubbed chalk on the paper towel before tearing. The 1st grade students were very satisfied with their finished work. Thanks
I found this book at our school book fair and fell in love with the illustrations: http://www.traceycorderoy.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=20:the-little-white-owl&catid=1&Itemid=3. In my kindergarten class we did a simple step by step drawings and then we painted our own colorful and patterned owls with beaded toes on a pipe cleaner branch. They were super cute and the kids loved the bright colors. We also had time to read a non-fiction book about owls to add a science element.
We adore Owls too and wanted to collect the best ideas all in one spot! We’d love for you to share this Owl Post on our Owl LInk Party. Here’s the link http://www.theeducatorsspinonit.blogspot.com/2012/11/owl-crafts-activities-link-party.html
Kim @ The Educators’ Spin On It recently posted..Intro to the ABC’s of After School Activities (After School Link UP)