2nd Grade Value Cities

My 2nd grade students have been learning about value. We used three different values of blue paper to make these value cities. I was very impressed with their cutting skills! It makes me happy when I challenge my students with a difficult project, and they exceed my expectations.

The first day, I introduced the lesson, and the students drew a line across each blue paper for their buildings. I told them to draw the buildings near the top of the paper, not near the bottom, so their city would be tall. Some students finished cutting that day, so I showed them how to glue; they would make a line of glue across the bottom of the light blue paper, and attach it. Then, they would make a line of glue along the bottom of the medium blue paper, and slip it behind the first page. Last, they would put glue all over the whole back of the dark blue paper, and slip it behind the others. Last, they would add more glue to any light blue or medium blue buildings that were sticking up.

The next day in art class (we have 40 minute classes), I began by demonstrating the gluing process again. Then, I told the students that if they were done gluing, they should start drawing windows on their buildings, and a moon in the sky. The students who were not done cutting and gluing would work on that.

After about 10 minutes, I would get the white paint and skinny paint brushes out, and the students could start painting if they were ready. Anyone who finished painting before the end of class got to do this coloring page that I found on Activity Village. Activity Village has lots of very nice coloring pages for seasons, events, and holidays. The kids loved this page! Here is a link to the full-size printable PDF: http://www.activityvillage.co.uk/pdfs/christmas_street_coloring_page.pdf