Cut Paper Trees – 4th Grade

This was a fun, quick, 1 day lesson using just construction paper, scissors and glue sticks!

I reviewed with students the complementary colors, symmetry and positive/negative space before demonstrating how to create these colorful fun trees.

Students then chose their 2 colored construction papers (1 sheet pre-cut to 9×12″ and 1 sheet cut to 6″x9″), and drew half of a tree along the edge of their 6×9″ piece with pencil, like below.

I used sharpie for these photos so you could see my lines easier.

Then students cut out their half tree.

Setting aside the cut tree, glue down remaining paper onto one side of the 9×12″ sheet like below.

Take the 1/2 tree you first cut, and flip it over lining up the edges of the 2 papers like below. Don’t glue down this piece just yet!

Now draw another half tree (or any 1/2 shape!) along the straight edge like below!

Cut out THAT half shape….

And flip that piece over like below…

Glue down the remaining 2 cut pieces, so everything lines up at the tree top and tree stump’s edges.

Lesson inspiration from LauraLee (@2art.chambers)

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