Lighthouses

Every year I do a lighthouse project with fourth grade. Fourth Graders study our state in North Carolina and everyone's seen the North Carolina lighthouses.

The background:
Using a pencil (this is one of the few projects I allow pencil for) students divide their paper horizontally into thirds by drawing two lines, a line for the horizon and a line for the shore. Next I show them a wet-on-wet technique of adding watercolor to create an ocean and sky. Children love to add sunsets as well because they can reflect them in the water. They paint the sand (the bottom third) with a neutral color and sprinkle salt on it to give it a sandy texture look. I put a small amount of salt in a medicine cup in the center of their tables and let them grab as needed.

The following week, the children draw a cylinder and practice shading with pencil. When they've had enough practice, they draw and color a lighthouse using Sharpie. I show a few examples of North Carolina lighthouses. We talk about all the details they can add to their lighthouse: top, railing, windows, door, stripes. The children color the stripes in with Sharpie and then shade the whole thing with pencil. Students cut out their lighthouses and glue to their background paper (after dusting off the salt). To make it extra pretty, paint with Modge Podge. Although I stopped using it because of the fumes. I recommend it in a well ventilated room.

For the winter scene we limit our pallet to cool colors, and dot on white paint for snow.