RuthByrne 11/28/2012 at 01:50pm
! So 30 minutes around once a month? That's a toughy. My first bit of advice is to pop into the principal to see if next year's schedule can give you 30 minutes with each class once a week.

I was directed to these cute owls, the kids are enjoying them and they could be modified to take only 30 min.
http://www.deepspacesparkle.com/2012/02/08/snowy-owl-art-project/

Abstract playing with materials is fun , you could go that route for the whole year since you'll only see them 7 times a year...choose a medium to 'play' with at each class:

http://spaldingart.blogspot.com/2012/04/kindergarten-abstract-circles.html

(this is set up for three days, trim it down to be: glue paper down, use paint, bubble wrap, cups and caps to print over the glued paper.)

There is always the 'centers' approach:
http://ms-artteacher.blogspot.com/2010/12/kindergarten-teaching-with-art-centers.html

Or simple element driven explorations (Maybe pick an element to focus on for each time you meet):

http://www.classic-play.com/welcome-to-art-school/

dreamstudio 12/23/2012 at 05:54pm
I like your idea of abstract playing with materials.

rlaurenzi 02/21/2013 at 02:42pm
Printing with paint and various objects to make shapes & patterns (legos, paper towel rolls, bubble wrap, combs, sponges,etc)

Model Magic - press textured objects into the clay to make textures, form into cups or leave flat

Monoprints - paint directly on the table, use craft sticks, paint brushes, combs, etc to drag through the paint / place a piece of paper on top and rub to make a print

String Painting - fold a piece of paper in half, paint a piece of string and place it inside folded paper while paint is still wet. Close the paper and rub. With one hand, hold the paper closed / with the other pull the string out, wiggling while pulling. Open the paper to reveal the design

Marble Painting - put a piece of paper in a pie pan, squirt some different color paint on it, put some marbles in and tilt the pan so the marbles run through the paint, creating a design

Some of these are on my site: http://laurenziartroom.weebly.com/art-class.html

If I were in your situation, I might think about focusing on a different art medium each time.

RuthByrne 02/21/2013 at 06:35pm
^ Your site has such beautiful fun looking projects!

MsAlkire 02/27/2013 at 07:48pm
http://pinterest.com/pin/111112315778798303/

I made these snails with my kinder students just recently and they had such a blast! I showed them a video of a large snail (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vfOGbWTl9c) and then we talked about what invertebrates are and why snails need a shell. The kids get to name it and take it home as a little pet. I even enjoyed making them. :)

MrsLee 08/17/2014 at 05:00am
I have a 40 minute class with kindergarten students. Their favorite last year were when they followed my step by step demo drawings of animals. With 18 students I found the easy way to keep them focused was to put the tables in a u shape with me at the top, and they stood for the project. I could see and encourage everyone at once. I only wish we had easels for each.