Winter in Florida is unlike winter anywhere else. While many folks up north are bundled up in heavy coats and scraping ice off their windshields, we Floridians are still soaking up the sunshine—most of the time. But when the weather does get a little wild, we find creative ways to make the most of it. In art class, for instance, we had so much fun turning an unexpected "Flurricane" into a burst of creativity!
What do you do in art class for a one-day lesson when you live in Florida and will be out of school for the rest of the week? You go for a project that’s as mixed up as our winter weather! This time, we combined mixed media—crayons and watercolor—to design a whimsical composition featuring a beach ball and snowflakes. Yes, you read that right: beach balls and snowflakes. It’s Florida winter, after all.
We started off simple. I showed the kids how to draw a snowflake, step by step. You’d think drawing something as delicate and detailed as a snowflake would be tricky, but we broke it down into easy lines and shapes. The "oohs" and "aahs" as their snowflakes appeared on paper were so fun to hear. Once they mastered their frosty designs, we moved on to the next part of our "Florida winter wonderland."
The assignment was straightforward but packed with creative potential: draw a beach ball, some snowflakes, a bit of sky, and a patch of land. The kids’ imaginations took off! Using crayons, they sketched out their beach balls in every color of the rainbow and added snowflakes that seemed to float in midair. Then came the watercolor detail, as they painted bright skies and earthy tones for the land. The watercolors flowed around the crayon drawings, creating a beautiful resist effect that made their artwork pop.
This project was the perfect way to prepare for the Florida Flurricane that about to roll through our state. We’d been out of school Winter Break and then MLK. Back to school for one day and would be out for three days—yes, three whole days—because of 2 inches of snow and some slick ice. Snow in Tallahassee is such a rare treat, and the kids were still buzzing with excitement. I mean, who wouldn’t be? Snow in Florida is like seeing a flamingo wearing a scarf!
The finished masterpieces were hilarious and heartwarming all at once. Some kids made their beach balls look like they were bouncing through a winter storm while others just focused on more of a still life vibe. Every piece was full of personality and brought so many laughs. One student even joked, "This is what Florida Christmas should look like!"
Art has a way of turning even the quirkiest experiences into something special. This lesson was a perfect blend of fun, creativity, and a little bit of Florida magic. Whether it’s drawing snowflakes or imagining a snow-covered beach, there’s always something to inspire us in the Sunshine State—even when it’s iced over!
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