Russian Cottage Windows.

Continuing with our fairy tales thematic unit, 4th graders have been studying Russian Fairy tales. We created cottage windows found in many illustrations in Russian Fairy Tales and Stories. One author who inspired our project was Patricia Polacco who illustrates beautiful Russian architecture in many of her books.

I have done this project before several years ago (found here) but this time we added more designs to our windows 
to really create a beautiful storybook cottage window. 
Math concepts were the key to this project. Symmetry, Geometric Shapes, Balance.

Our inspiration

A window I captured while on a trip in Russia.

And another I found on Flickr

cottage window

Production

Day 1

Students chose 12" x 18" colored construction paper for the main color of the house and 9" x 12" black construction paper for inside the window. Next they used painted paper scraps for flower pots. We discussed the shapes square and rectangle to make the shape of a flower pot. Finally students painted flowers in the flower pots with tempera paints and small brushes. 

Day 2

Trapezoids were the shape used to create the shutters. Fold over the smaller side and glue down. Yes, our shutters actually close! Symmetrical designs were added to the window with white paper. 

At the top, a symmetrically designed arch 

with cut designs was attached. 

We used folded 4" x 9" white paper, added cut designs and 

used hole punchers to create the small shapes. 

The cross pieces of the window were then added.

Day 3

Students added more details if needed then added tissue flowers and painted stems with tempera paint

to represent flowers outside the storybook cottage.

Materials
1-12x 18 construction paper

2 -6 x 18 construction paper
9 x 12 dark construction paper
White drawing paper cut into strips and extra scrap
Painted paper scraps
Tempera Paint and brushes
Tissue Paper squares-various colors