Creative Crowded Elevators

We do Crowded Elevator drawings with our 4th graders.  The object is to get the kids to draw a grouping of people correctly. No small people floating above everyones heads or extremely short people that only reach the ankles of others.

This is a really fun project and a good way to incorporate writing.  The kids have a great time with the project and the final results are fun and creative. 

First we look at Rembrandt's painting “Night Watch".  We talk about how there is a big grouping of people and what parts of what people we see.  We talk about spacing, depth and overlapping.  The kids love this painting and have lots of interesting things to say about it.

Next we have the kids get in an imaginary elevator and take a picture of the group.  Again the kids LOVE this!  Then we projected the picture on the big screen and talk about the same things, how we can see everyone, how no one is floating or magically shrunk.

Apologies for the scary blurred faces...usually our students are not so blurry.

Then everyone is given their “nice” paper right away with a sharpie.  We give a few instructions on where to start and remind them this is going to be one CROWDED elevator.    

Then I read the students the list of characters one by one. Here is who rode the elevator this year: 

A Clown

Football Player

Mad Scientist

Ballerina

An Old Grandma

Cowboy

Magician

King

Princess

Super Hero

Tooth Fairy

You

Character of their choice

 The kids get so excited to hear the next character and they love drawing out their ideas. Then I show them where and how to put in the floor line.

Then it is time to add color.  Good old markers for color!

Then construction paper for the elevator and doors.  Glue the drawing in the middle of the construction paper fold sides in for doors. On one door the students can draw buttons and signs they would see in their elevators.  We used gel markers for this.

Last the kids are asked to write about some of the characters.  By this time I have heard quite a few stories already, so they are eager to get the ideas out. We go over lettering, making the writing aesthetically pleasing as well as a good story.

One last look at some final Creative Crowded Elevators and details! 

 The final projects are really neat and fun to read.  A glimpse into the very creative minds of the creatures known as fourth graders!