Description

Memorial Day Art Game

Need a creative bulletin board for May? Imagine these commemorative stars in your hallway along with one of the two included writing prompts. This Memorial Day art lesson is perfect for classroom teachers wanting to learn how to paint with markers. Step-by-step picture directions are given for how to transfer the template to drawing paper. However, if you’re short on time, you can simply have your students design directly onto the template using colored pencils, crayons, or markers. The included PowerPoint presentation with close-up, detailed photos will guide them from start to finish.

Are you going to be absent and need a last minute art lesson for the substitute? Or do you need something for students during indoor recess? Fill up your art sub plan folder with no-prep, fuss-free art projects. Once your students know how to play the game, they’re easy to leave with a sub! Create a small sub tub in your room with drawing paper and markers. And leave copies of the game in a labeled folder inside the tub along with some dice. This works well for both classroom and art teachers alike.

Are you trying to foster more independence in your classroom? This Memorial Day art game makes for the best and most productive early finisher activity for your students. You can set up a choice-based art center where students select an activity amongst different ones. Print out the game board and directions back to back, file them in labeled folders, and let them pick what they’d like to create. This is similar to a directed drawing activity in which students are guided through the art process.

If you’re a teacher looking for a differentiated art lesson that boosts independent thinking, problem-solving, and skill-acquisition, this will do the trick. 

Student Directions

You will design a Memorial Day star by rolling the die and collecting the different patterns required to create it.

1. First, trace the star onto another sheet of heavy white drawing paper.
2. Next, roll the die to select the first pattern from the first column and draw it in one of the areas of the star.
3. Roll the die four more times, drawing each selected pattern in one of the other areas.
4. Using washable markers, outline everything. Be sure to outline large areas where they meet parts of the design.
5. Dip a small brush in water and carefully smudge it in the marker lines to paint in the shapes. If you need to neatly add more “paint” to larger areas, smudge some marker on a scrap piece of paper and use that as a paint palette. Allow each area to dry slightly before moving on to a neighboring area of the design.
6. When dry, cut it out.
7. If you’re short on time, design directly onto the print out from page 4 and color with dry media such as markers, crayons, and colored pencils.

Teacher Directions

I’ve included three ways students can generate their design. The first is the game board where students roll the die to select their parts. The second is a “you pick” board. Both of these are printables. And lastly, for teachers needing engaging lessons during distance learning, I’ve added digital spinner wheels!

First, print out the Memorial Day star game and picture directions back-to-back. Then give your students dice and watch them have fun creating their own art project independently.  If you have access to a smartboard or projector, use the accompanying PowerPoint presentation. It will guide the students during each part of the art project.

Once completed, have students use the self-assessment rubrics to evaluate their artwork based on craftsmanship, creativity, following directions, work habits, project goals, and clean up. And then have them complete the “Big Ideas” sheet so they can connect the creation process to their learning. 

If you are substituting or need a fast finisher activity, use the included coloring page.

Grade Levels

• 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th grade

Main Learning Objective

• Students will be able to design a Memorial Day star using 5 unique patterns and paint it in using a marker painting technique

Materials

• Markers
• Drawing Paper

You Will Receive

• 12-Page, Non-Editable PDF (Memorial Day Art Game)
• 9-Page Non-Editable PowerPoint presentation
• Dice Game
• Choice-Based Drawing Version of the Game
• Step-by-Step Picture Tutorial and Directions
• Template
• 2 Writing Prompts
• 2 Coloring Pages
• Helpful Tips and Tricks
• Pattern Practice Drawing Page
• Paperless Google Drive digital resource for students (also for use in Google Classroom, Schoology, Canvas, Seesaw, Microsoft OneDrive, Teams, and anywhere else you can share a link to a file…link on the bottom of page 2)
• Digital Spinner Wheels in the download as well as on Google Slides and YouTube (links on the bottom of page 3)