2nd Grade: Gradients and Birch Trees

 We first discussed birch trees and their unique appearance, followed by the definition of a gradient in art. 

The 2nd graders first used masking tape to create 4-5 trees.  Then I instructed them to get their entire sheet of paper wet, use red watercolor for the bottom third, orange for the next third, and yellow for the top 1/3, emphasizing the importance of using plenty of water to mix the colors. 

Once dry, the kids carefully ripped off the tape, used black oil pastels to create the characteristic birch tree markings, and white paint for a wintery scene.