the idea: cut a monkey out of cardboard and cover it with rainbow tissue paper

One of the things that no one tells you about teaching is that there are often times when all your students are doing work and you’re just sitting there, waiting for them to finish.  As an art teacher, this isn’t always so bad.  Usually I just make the art project.  Over the last two weeks of Saturday studio art classes, however, I decided to make something a little different.

While the kids were working on dual-color diarams, I talked with them about how I eat children while working on my monkey.  We decided that I couldn’t eat any of them because I don’t like to eat children who exercise too much, they’re too stringy.  Also, artists are poisonous.  We decided that last week and then they came in this week saying “We’re still stringy and poisonous!”  (Sidenote: kids are the best).

Anyway, as I was working on KeKe I kept asking them for advice.  Should I make the face rainbow or brown?  What should it’s name be?  The kids kept turning it around on me, like I always do on them.  “What do you think it’s name should be?” they asked.  I decided on KeKe and then was informed that she looks like a jester.  Or like she’s wearing a Halloween costume.  So maybe she’s trick or treating and the banana she’s holding is actually a bag where she puts all her banana flavored candies.

No wonder authors like A.A. Milne (Winnie the Pooh) were inspired to write stories based on their conversations with children.