Finnish folk art birds

Last week I posted a pic of a kid working on this project ... and here are just a few of the finished works. These Finnish folk art-inspired birds make for a great first project when working with a new group of kids. Because they are so stylized, the kids don't ever feel frustration over making something that doesn't look realistic enough. It builds confidence, allows me to get to know their artistic strengths and personalities, and also allows them to focus on observing details and producing elaborate patterns. (And I always love the results!)