OVERVIEW
Artists get to paint their big animals using acrylic paints. They get to choose realistic color or crazy fun color. Then the Big Shapes idea is reinforced, along with review of The Most Important Spot. They’ll create artwork in oil pastels by drawing a big shape first, such as a circle, and then creating designs inside to color. One of these is a face inside the big head shape, which previews their self-portrait coming up next week.– – –
Grades K-2
Week of April 7 – April 11
1 Hour & 30 Minutes
Lesson At A Glance
Here’s a brief overview of the complete lesson. It’s also on your prep page in the Ready, Set, Go! section (below the lesson).
Colored buttons jump to each section in the full lesson plan below.
10 Minutes – Artists’ Choice – markers
5 min – Setup for acrylic painting
5 min – Acrylic painting basics
22 min – Paint clay animalsnly
3 min – Clean and put away materials/trace to the canvas
15 min – Draw big shapes SLIDESHOW
25 min – Color designs – oil pastels
If Time- Make extra design
5 Min – Everyone helps
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SCROLL & TEACH
LESSONPLAN
Each section is a different color. Read over once and then you can SCROLL & TEACH using any device you like. It’s designed to work well with your phone.
LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to use their imagination
M A T E R I A L S
- 8.5″ x 11″ copy paper
- 2B Pencil
- White Eraser
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
1.1 Greet
Greet students as they come in and help them choose a chair.
Kneel down so that you are on their level. Bending over emphasizes the differences in your height, while kneeling makes them feel more important. Have tape and marker ready so you can stick some tape on the table by each student and write their name on it as they sit down.
1.2 Choice
Encourage students to work with one piece of paper for a while. If someone uses the phrase, “free draw”, explain that artists’ choice is something only artists can do, while free-draw is something anyone can do. You want to use the phrase to elevate the students’ expectations of their work.
Everyone should take their time with the work and make a finished piece of art. Limiting the paper can also help kids focus on the work. If someone finishes in super-fast time, ask them what more they can do to the existing paper. Ask again several times – unless they appear overly frustrated; then you can allow them to move on to a new work.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to set up their work area for painting with acrylics.
M A T E R I A L S
- Acrylic paints
- Water containers
- Small sized brushes
- Paper towels
- Animal sculptures
- Smocks
- Wax paper
- Small pieces of cardboard
- Plates or trays for mixing paints
- Air-Dry clay for anyone who missed last week
Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.
Paint pigment list:
- Napthol or Pyrrol Red
- Hansa or Light Yellow
- Pthalo Green (blue shade)
- Cyan or Cerulean Blue
- Ultramarine Blue
- Dioxazine Purple
- Magenta
- Burnt Umber
- Raw Sienna
- Titanium White (professional grade only)
2.1 prep
TIP
If anyone doesn’t have a sculpture because they missed last time, Let them choose between painting an animal with the acrylics on paper, or doing last week’s sculpture in clay. Have clay available just in case.
2.2 prep
TIP
Don’t let students play with the sculptures. Explain that these are really breakable and not like plastic or even regular glass figurines. Air-Dry clay is fragile. White tacky glue can re-attach things but they have to be taped up and left overnight.
2.3 setup
Students set up their work area. Ask several people to go get water tubs filled, and others to find smocks. That way you have two or three groups in different areas so you don’t get backed up with lines.
Each student gets a water tub and make sure to place paper towels everywhere.
2.4 setup
TIP
A great way to get your class to refocus on a new instruction or activity, is to make a little distraction game. First have everyone stand up. Then you can ask them to do a simple task, such as rub their tummy and pat their head at the same time. Or count backwards from 5. End with a quick celebration of their skills; “yay!”
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to paint with acrylics.
M A T E R I A L S
- Acrylic paints
- Water containers
- Small brushes
- Paper towels
- Animal sculptures
- Smocks
- Wax paper
- Small pieces of cardboard
- Plates or trays for mixing paints
3.1 teach
Give instruction on how to use acrylic paint.
“Today we’re using grown up paint. It’s called acrylic paint, and it is very different from the tempera or watercolors we usually use.
How many ways do you think it’s different? No, not a million! Just 3. But those 3 things are important.
One. It’s not washable.
If you get it on your clothes it won’t come out. I can sometimes get a small bit out if we try right away while its still very wet, but I need you to be very careful with your clothing.
Two. It doesn’t get wet again after it dries.
You can add water to our regular paint and it will turn back into paint, but once this paint dries, it’s a lot like plastic. Water does nothing to it. Make sure you don’t leave a brush out of water too long.
Three. It’s more expensive. So don’t play with it. This is for grown ups. Can you show me how well you can handle grown up paints?”
3.2 teach
Teach about getting and mixing plates
“We’ll have one plate with your original colors on it. Then you’ll have another plate for mixing your own special colors. There is no green or orange. Who knows how to mix green?
How about orange?”
Try not to mix too many colors together. That always makes a muddy brown.
TIP
How to mix secondary colors
GREEN: yellow + blue
ORANGE: yellow + red
(not as much red!)
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to paint with acrylics
M A T E R I A L S
- Acrylic paints
- Water containers
- Small brushes
- Paper towels
- Animal sculptures
- Smocks
- Wax paper
- Small pieces of cardboard
- Plates or trays for mixing paints
- Water containers
- Spray bottles
- Water droppers
- Paper towels
- Smocks
4.1 paint
Explain to your class that they can paint their sculpture using crazy silly colors and patterns, or paint it realistically, using the colors or grays that we see on real animals. Formula for making gray: blue + brown + white. Or use black and white, just don’t let students mix gray into other colors because it will look dull. Set aside to dry with names by each one. Caution: these are more fragile than regular figurines.
4.2 help
TIP
If a student is unhappy, sometimes they’ll intentionally ruin a piece to prevent admitting that they couldn’t do it the way they wanted. This is very normal but can be a short-term crisis for the student. See if you can do something to the work (with permission) that will help them get past whatever is the main problem.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to clean up.
M A T E R I A L S
- Sink to clean brushes
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STEP 6. Big Shape Designs
Students will draw big shapes on paper & fill with designs while you display a slideshow. 15 MinutesLEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to draw big shapes.
M A T E R I A L S
- 11″ x 17″ white card stock papers
- 2B pencils
- Erasers
Shapes Slideshow (tap any image to open viewer)
1. Here’s a picture of a piece of paper. There is a large circle hand-drawn on it. This is one shape I want you to think about.
2. Here’s another paper with a large square shape. Now you have two big shapes to think about.
3. And one more; here’s a polygon with 8 sides. It looks a bit like a stop sign, because that’s the same shape. You can make polygons with 6 or 7 sides too.
4. Now choose one of the 3 shapes and draw it in pencil, nice and large as shown on each of these papers. P A U S E
5. Now, in a minute, you’ll use your pencil and add a line, inside the shape. The line can be wavy or straight. Start from one edge of the shape and go to the other side. Draw your line so that it touches each edge. Look at your paper and think about it. When you’re ready, make your line. P A U S E
6. Add a few more lines until you have several. don’t too too many though. Make sure every line ends when it gets to another line or edge. Don’t let lines just stop in the middle of nowhere.
7. Here’s another idea, with not as many curves.
8. Later, we’ll fill this in with colors like this! P A U S E until everyone has finished their lines.
9. For the second paper we’ll draw a face. Here’s a face for you to look at. It’s not really anybody in particular. Where are the eyes on the face? Are the at the top? Or at the bottom? That’s right, they are in the middle. In fact, everyone’s eyes are in the middle, not the top of the head. The ears are beside the eyes.
10. Now let’s take the second paper and draw the face, but first, just draw the BIG Shapes. Here they are without the face details inside. ONLY draw the shape and do not yet draw the details. Once everyone is finished, I’ll go back to the previous picture and you can finish.
6.1 teach
Display slideshow and let students follow along
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to color creatively.
M A T E R I A L S
- 2B pencils
- Erasers
- Oil pastels
- Paper towels
- Blender sticks
7.1 color
7.2 blend
7.3 color
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to design
M A T E R I A L S
- 2B pencils
- Erasers
- Oil pastels
- Paper towels
- Blender stick
8.1 design
Students can make a 3rd design.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know the importance of cleaning up.
M A T E R I A L S
- Paper Towels
- Cleaning wipes
- Sink
- Waste baskets
- Well-lit spot for photos
- Camera or phone-camera
9.1 CLEAN
Students set up their work area.
- Wash hands
- Super-wash brushes if used
- Put art supplies away
- Wipe tables & toss trash
- Remove any smocks (last)
- Check for items on floors and tables
9.2 PHOTO
Try to get photos of your student’s artwork. Find a good spot for quick lighting without highlights or shadows from your hands and device. Ideally in-between two strong lights on each side.
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OBJECTIVES
- Practice and improvement in mixing and using acrylic paints. Also finer details with a small brush.
- Understanding some of the differences in acrylic paint, how big shapes are drawn before details, and some basics about the human face.
- Accomplishment in finishing their 3D painted sculpture and some large pastels too.
- Fulfillment in creating the sculpture at every step. Also in designing and creating their own pastel designs.
TROUBLESPOTS
Sabotage – If a student is unhappy, sometimes they’ll intentionally ruin a piece to prevent admitting that they couldn’t do it the way they wanted. This is very normal, but can be a short-term crisis for the student. See if you can do something to the work (with permission) that will help them get past whatever is the main problem.
Play activity – See the tip of the day. Paint is a lot of fun to play with. So are the sculptures. Make sure you help students understand that these are not toys, but are works of art. Just like art on the wall, you make it to look at, but not to touch.
Missed last week – If anyone doesn’t have a sculpture because they missed last time, Let them choose between painting with the acrylics on paper, or doing last week’s sculpture part. Have clay available just in case.
ART WORDS
Big Shapes – Artists draw better when working with the biggest 3 or 4 shapes on a picture first, before adding details.
Fragile – Can be broken easy.
CLASSROOM
PREP
Have a bunch of amazing supplies ready, and cut a few things apart before-hand in a way that make you look amazing.
Print all of your PDFs from the lesson plan and cut any references apart as needed.
What your room needs
Here are your printable lists and room prep instructions.
Opens in new window
CLASSROOM
MATERIALS
- 11×17” Copy Paper
- 8.5 x 11” Copy paper
- 4B pencils
- Erasers
- Markers
- Oil pastels
- Blender sticks (stumps)
- Clipboards
- Paper towels
- Acrylic paints
- Water containers
- Small sized brushes
- Paper towels
- Animal sculptures
- Smocks
- Wax paper
- Small pieces of cardboard
- Plates or mixing paints
- Air-dry cla
PREVIEW
Week 32: Self Portraits
Students learn insights about the face and then use mirrors to draw themselves. They paint right over the drawing in tempera paint for a fantastic self-portrait. Afterwards, a game of drawing in the round leads to some very crazy face drawings! Mirrors are needed for each student.
Week 33: Box Animal Safari
Shoeboxes and cardboard tubes are needed so begin a drive to bring them in. Kids will build a safari animal out of paper, boxes and paper towel tubes, using tape, hot glue and enthusiasm. You’ll need a lot of masking tape, and the best for this is the wide like packing tape. Packing tape is also useful for stronger bonds, if you then cover it with masking tape so it can be painted. This project is built one week, and painted the next.
Use this button to view our parent’s blog. Share the link: http://parentart.org, with your student’s parents so your they can read about the lesson each week.
