Doodle Design with Watercolor

I've been inspired by my students' repsonse with a new art lesson on the shelves these days.  They have been demonstrating such meticulous work with stunning results!   As with the activity seen in THIS POST about a drawn line moving all around a page which starts and ends in the same spot, this lesson also highlights the same concept.  During circle time, I showed the children the steps necessary to carry out the lesson, including demonstration of how the line moves to create interesting shapes.  Then, watercolors are used to fill in the design created by the "doodle design."

Materials:  Watercolor paper (9x9); tray with varying palettes of watercolors (I just cut them from the trays); tray with  jar for pencil and black Sharpie marker; brush; and jar for water.  The child chooses one palette of colors, places in on the green tray, and brings the tray to a table.  Then, they return to the shelf for a piece of watercolor paper.

Once everything is placed at a table, the child fills the jar for water, and writes their name with the pencil on the back of the  paper.  Now, they are ready to begin the doodle design with the Sharpie marker.  Here, the child has just completed their design with the marker and is ready to paint. 

Filling in shapes with watercolor.

It has been a true joy watching my students work!  Here are just a few samples (remember, these are from three, four and five year olds!):

Do you see what I mean about feeling inspired?! :)