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Russian Babushkas

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Who doesn’t love a sweet grandma with lots of patterns? Babushka is grandmother in Russian. What makes it a babushka? Why it is the scarf around her head. 4th grade students created these precious little characters. They loved adding the design and facial features to them.

We read the book by Patricia Polacco, Babushka Baba Yaga.

My students were delighted with this story and her illustrations are stunning.

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Session One:  
We discussed fun patterns to put on our babushka. Hearts, flowers, polka dots. You could see their eyes light up with thoughts of designs.
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Next students used tracers to create the shape of the grandma and divided their babushka into 3 sections using a ruler. The scarf was added along with a face. What kind of a face would you choose? Square, round or oval? Next came the patterns. We looked at some fun common Russian patterns and all these designs were done in pencil.
 
Session Two:
Students started to paint. I always stress to start with the lightest colors first, then work your way down the carton of colors.

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Class Three:
Students used my favorite tool: The Sharpie Marker and outlined every design. Yep that is right, EVERY DESIGN and PATTERN!

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Just a side note: We used the this book for pattern ideas.
We made Babushkas not the Russian Nesting Dolls -Matryoshkas.
Check out this post for an adorable project using the book My Little Matryoshkas.  Look at all the details and fabulous patterns!

 
 
We cut them out and added them to a fun scenery
that the students created.
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Keep on Creating

January 28, 2012
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8 Comments

  • Reply
    Phyl
    January 28, 2012 at 5:17 am

    Oh my goodness, so cute! I wish I had the time before June for even half the great ideas I keep finding. I know the kids would love this project.

  • Reply
    Pat
    January 28, 2012 at 6:24 am

    I have seen a few projects about the Matryoshkas but yours are far superior! The colors and patterns are so vivid. The kids did a GREAT job!

  • Reply
    Hope Hunter Knight
    January 28, 2012 at 1:03 pm

    Looks great! Question – do your sharpies clog/dry up on you when drawing over dried tempera? i have that problem a lot and was wondering if you know something i don't…

  • Reply
    Paintedpaper
    January 28, 2012 at 3:27 pm

    Hope, We use the chisel sharpies so they do not dry up too much. I also have 4th and 5th graders bring in black sharpies so we have a surplus if they do. 🙂

  • Reply
    Rina k6art.com
    January 29, 2012 at 1:59 am

    Adorable and super colorful. Question – Do you store your leftover tempera in the egg cartons?

  • Reply
    Paintedpaper
    January 29, 2012 at 2:26 am

    Yes, I just keep on refilling them. I am on week number 5 using the same egg cartons. I keep the carton full so they do not dry out. P.S. I do keep my room a little cool so i wonder if that helps. 🙂

  • Reply
    Hope Hunter Knight
    January 29, 2012 at 2:06 pm

    aha! adding those to my shopping list!

  • Reply
    Rina k6art.com
    January 31, 2012 at 4:08 am

    Thanks so much. I am truly inspired by your students super-colorful work!

    • Leave a Reply