More About Bats

Well, I told you I was going to do some more with bats. I couldn't resist, because this art project was too good (and too easy!) to pass up. I got the idea for it over at Mrs. T's First Grade Class. She has some great stuff.

First I gave each of the kids a black piece of construction paper, and a few bat cut-outs. They decided where they wanted the bats to be, and then I helped tape them in place, using masking tape, so it wouldn't rip the black behind when we pulled the bats off. Then we got out our sponges and our paints and went to town, making sure we sponged all around the edges of the bats. When we were done we pulled the bats off. To finish it off, I made a nice outline around each of the bats with permanent marker.

Then it was time to learn more about bats. Of course I had books ready. You know me. :) We read:

We also watched the Magic School Bus episode on Bats, which does a really good job of explaining echolocation in a way that younger kids can understand. Man, I love Magic School Bus. No wonder my kids are obsessed. :)

After that I had the boys write down three things they knew about bats onto this bats fact sheet that I made, similar to the one Mrs T. used.

Then we took their bat facts, and their bat art project, and glued them to a large piece of orange construction paper. Wha-la! Instant Halloween decorations. A little early I'll admit; but pretty and fallish just the same.

I love how they all turned out so different, even though we were all using the same materials and colors. That's why art is great.