Hidden Safari

During this lesson we created a hidden safari animal. We started off the lesson pretending we were in a kindergarden - 1st grade setting, coming up with different animals we would see if we went on a safari. We first began creating ruby red glasses so we were able to identify the animals the teacher had in the classroom. This activity got us ready to create our own hidden safari animal. We began drawing an animal with a light blue colored pencil (cool color) upside down to make it easier to create the composition by looking at a visual example of that animal. After creating our animal, we started to fill the page with three warm colors : yellow, orange, and red to "hide" the animal. We used repetition of designs and patterns that covered the page to get your eyes to focus on that design rather than the safari animal in light blue.Once the page was covered with the warm colors, we used our ruby red glasses to make sure the safari animal stood out when we put on the glasses.


As an extension activity, the teacher could put up hidden safari animals around the school and have the children go on a safari scavenger hunt to locate these different animals while wearing their ruby red glasses. They would have clues written out for them to locate the animal and facts around the school describing the animals and where they live in the safari. After the students had their scavenger hunt, we would take a field trip to the zoo to identify animals we would see in the safari. On the field trip, students will write down facts about each animal as they observe them so they are able to understand the habitat of the animal.

Here is a picture of my hidden safari project. The image I created was a lion.

Eric Carle Books

In our last project, we created a two-page layout for a storybook based on the artwork of Eric Carle. We had first watched a video on how Eric Carle illustrates his storybooks. Once we had a good understanding of the different steps, we started painting different colors with many textures for our "scenes" on 12X18 sheets of paper. Next, we drew images to use for our storybook and cut the pieces out. We used these shapes as stencils for the textured paintings for the scenes. To finish off the project, we were to use layering in the storybook with the different colors for the scenes and create lettering on the pages just like a storybook would include.

As an extension activity, the students will create a collage based on Eric Carle's, Very Hungry Caterpillar. The students will make their own painted scenes to create the layering for the storybook. After the students complete the collage, we will make a 3D version of the caterpillar. The students will use paper strips to create the links of the caterpillar's body and a cut out shapes of different foods it can eat. This activity is great for props so the students can retell the storyof the Very Hungry Caterpillar.

This is a picture of the storybook I created. My story is about a unique butterfly who finally realized that everyone in life is different, no two butterflies are the same.

Van Gogh Tissue Collage

The tissue collage was another creative project that was an extension to our Van Gogh finger painting. We created a Van Gogh inspired cityscape using the same ideas of Starry Night for a background. We cut different shapes and designs out of  several colors of tissue paper and glued them to a 12X18 sheet of paper. Once the tissue paper was glued, we used a glue-water mixture to cover the whole paper that blended some of the tissue paper and created different colors. After the mixture dried, we used oil pastels and a silver marker to create bold lines to show the flow and structure of colors, similar to Van Gogh's Starry Night. To finish the project, we had to cut out a silhouette of  a city or a farm which was much like the foreground in Starry Night.

As an extension activity, teachers could use this same activity but use different mediums for an early elementary class. The students could use the oil pastels, crayons, markers, colored pencils to show movement of the "wind" in the background. Instead of using tissue paper cut outs, students will have the choice to use string/yarn, fabric, beads, miscellaneous items in the class, to show a more creative side but still focus on the lines and movement of the picture. For the foreground, students can choose a setting in which they are familiar with or interested in putting on their art work. This type of activity is still following the Van Gogh Starry Night concept but allowing the children to come out of their comfort zone in creativity.

For my tissue collage, I chose to use a white cityscape because of the busy, bright lights, never resting, city life. The background shows the different flows and movement of the night sky in the distance.

Van Gogh Fingerpainting

In class we learned a little background information on the artist, Vincent van Gogh. Once we received some information on the artist we were asked to make our own version of his famous painting, Starry Night, by finger painting. One of our requirements of the activity was to include tints and shades within our painting and to make sure we had similar strokes to that of Starry Night and include a background, middle ground, and foreground. This was a great activity to allow younger children to learn about Van Gogh and be involved in the lesson.

As an extension activity, teachers could use this as an art history lesson. We will discuss different time periods: egyptian, middle ages, renaissance, impressionism, and modern art. Students will create a time line with these specific periods and be exposed to many artists and cultures. Once we have a basic knowledge of each of these periods, students will then draw or paint (choice is up to students as long as there is variety) a picture of something they had learned from that certain time period. When all are complete, we will hang them up around the classroom during that specific unit.

Here is my Van  Gogh fingerpainting! I kept it relatively the same as the original and really focused on the strokes with my fingers to emphasize the lines and stroke Van Gogh used in his Starry Night painting.