Third Grade Sakura

Third grade has been diligently working on creating clay bonsai pots, first designing the pot, then sculpting it out of clay and finally glazing their fired projects. Well while the clay was drying and being fired in the kiln we had enough time for this brief little project.

Students were introduced to one of the most famous Japanese icons, the cherry blossom tree or sakura.

Miharu Takizakura Tree in Fukushima

We discussed the importance of the tree in Japanese culture and looked at images of Japanese cherry blossom viewing parties. Then students created these neat little cherry tree branch paintings.

Cherry Blossom Viewing Party

To start out the background was created using an analogous color scheme (three colors next to each other on the color wheel) out of chalk pastel. Then the branch was created by blowing around india ink with a straw and the flowers were made with dots of red and white paint.

A quick little lesson that introduced students to another color scheme and another piece of Japanese culture.