My "First" Lesson

I have already taught some writing and art lessons in my first grade class, but last week was my first lesson that I constructed and planned myself. Boy was I in for a surprise! I had no idea of what I was going to teach, but all I knew was that it had to be an expressive art lesson. This entire lesson was an assignment for three of my classes. After much searching and contemplation I finally decided what to do for my lesson. I found a wonderful book called "Elmer the Elephant" by David McKee, about an elephant who felt different because he was patchwork colored, versus gray like the other elephants. The book shows difference and uniqueness through humor, and is a perfect introduction to difference for first graders. For my lesson I read the book to the first grade students and had them each make their own Elmer Elephant, using different colored tissue paper, paper cutouts, jewels, and ribbons. The students were given an oval tracer to trace the body, but I had them draw on their own legs and head. This is where my troubles came in. A lot of the students drew their heads and feet too small, so when it came time to cut it out they cut the legs and head off! So needless to say there was a lot of gluing of heads and legs onto the bodies before they did the patchwork. After a long time, more than anticipated, the students were ready to glue on their colored paper. It was really neat to see how different the student made their Elmer's. Some did a rainbow pattern, and some just put random tissue all over the elephant and they all turned out beautiful!!! The addition of the jewels and cutouts really made the elephants pop and stand out! The good thing about this assignment was that it allowed the student to express themselves through their elephants, and it was a great introduction to difference and uniqueness. After the elephants were completed we did a walking gallery and all of the students got to to see the other elephants. Overall I think my first lesson went well, but I learned that classroom management CANNOT be taught through a book or in a class. The students behaved well, but I had a combination of the other first grade class and my first grade class, so it was a bit chaotic. I am proud of myself for teaching 30+ students an art lesson that I came up with, and that they got really into the project and enjoyed it.

I guess teaching is not so bad after all... It was worth the sleepless nights and the nerves, because in the end I got to witness the students become engaged in a lesson that I planned. This was a great starter for me, and it eased my apprehensions a little...