Cut luau shapes from sponges for painting.
A luau-themed art project brings a dose of sunshine to the classroom. The theme works at the end of the school year as summer approaches and the kids begin thinking about summer activities. Luau art projects during the winter can brighten up the room when the temperature is cold and the snow flies.
Lei
Plastic leis are inexpensive, but kids will have more fun making their own. You need several flowers cut from craft foam with a small hole in the middle. You also need plastic drinking straws cut into one-inch lengths. The kids slide the straws and flowers onto a length of string, alternating between a straw and a flower. Tie the string to keep the items in place.
Sandy Beach Scene
Colored sand creates the picture for this luau art project. The kids draw a beach scene on a piece of paper. They spread a small amount of glue inside one section of the picture. For example, they might spread glue into the leaf area of a palm tree. They pour sand on that section and dump away the excess. In the leaf example, the child would use green sand. They continue gluing and sanding one section at a time to complete the picture.
Grass Skirt
Grass skirts are a common sight at a luau. The kids get a chance to make their own grass skirts during this art project. There are different methods of making a grass skirt depending on the resources you have available. For a simple skirt, cut a large brown grocery bag down both sides so you can open it up into one long strip. Cut slits from one long side toward the other, stopping about an inch before you reach the opposite side. Continue the slits down the entire length to make the skirt. Another option is to use a length of string or elastic for the band. Tie or glue long pieces of raffia or green paper streamers to the waistband. Let the kids glue on artificial flowers along the waistband to dress up the skirts.
Beach Towel Art
Create a beach feeling to relate to the luau theme with beach towel art. Cut long rectangles of paper to create the beach towels. The kids decorate the towels with paint, markers and other craft supplies. For a more realistic look, cut the beach towel shapes from fabric. Ask for fabric donations from families to save on cost, or have students come with a plain white towel. The kids use fabric paints to decorate their towels. For a creative display option, string a clothesline across the classroom and pin the towels to it.
Sponge Painting
A plain kitchen sponge creates a stamper for a luau-themed painting project. Cut the sponges into shapes that relate to a luau, such as a flower or a pineapple. Create a template from cardboard and trace the pattern onto the sponge as a guide before cutting. The kids dip the sponge shapes into paint and stamp them onto a piece of paper.
Tags: length string, piece paper, relate luau, shapes from