This fun lesson only took 2 (40 minute) art classes!

Just enough time for a couple of my 5th grade classes to create them before winter break!!

Steps to the lesson with pics below! 

A big THANKS to artwithmrsnguyen for this fun lesson idea!

Students did such a fantastic job creating these beauties I can’t help but post a ton!!

Day 1 (of 2) 

Step 1: Draw a wavy line in the middle of a piece of 12×18” black construction paper using pencil. Then  go over your line with colored OIL PASTEL (can be 1 color/or a line of a combination of colors!)

Step 2: On a separate piece of black construction paper (cut to 6”x18”) Trace 6 bulbs using a bulb tracer with pencil. (I created these bulb tracers ahead of time from thin cardboard sheets found from the back of printmaking foam board packages-great way to recycle and it’s free!)

Step 3: Outline each bulb first, using oil pastel, then fill in -pressing hard- so the color is more vibrant. Leave the rectangular base (bulb socket) black. (***I have small scrap pieces of black paper for students to test out colors first- to see if they like the way it looks on black paper -before using on final bulbs)

Then add a small white curved line near the top to make it look like it’s shiny and reflecting light, a “cursive L shape” for the filament near the base, and 4 white straight lines in the bulbs base using a white oil pastel.

Step 4: Finish the remaining 5 bulbs the same way, using different colors. (If you  want- they can be all the same color or a mix with some the same color)

Day 2:

Step 1: Trace 6 bulbs along wire line where you want them with pencil using the bulb tracer.

Step 2: For each bulb tracing on the wire line-using a white CHALK pastel, draw a thick white line just inside the pencil line a bit, on each of the bulb tracings. Do this with ALL 6 bulbs.

Then, smudge with your finger going outward (going away from the bulb and smudging in one direction) to create a glow effect!

Step 3: Then using the same color CHALK PASTEL as each of your OIL PASTEL bulbs—go over the same white line with colored CHALK pastel thickly. Smudge outward again with your finger. Do all 6 bulbs with the chalk on the black paper.

(To avoid blending colors, use a different finger for each color when smudging).

Step 4: Cut out each colored OIL PASTEL bulb from the 6”x18” strip of black paper.

Each time you cut one out, glue the back of it using a glue stick, and glue down in place over the traced bulb with chalk smudges- (glue down matching each bulbs color with chalk pastel smudges). I have students glue them down immediately after cutting so cut bulbs wouldn’t get mixed up with other students bulbs.

And there you have it!! So easy and so Fun!!

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