Sky Color Penguins
Whenever literature and art come together in a lesson, count me in! That’s why I love Sky Color Penguins!
Not only is it a process-based lesson (the background) but it is a product-based lesson as well (the penguin)! If this came home from one of my kids, it would be going in a frame!
Objectives for this lesson:
Students will draw and cut their own shapes for the penguin (great beginning lesson on drawing for littles!)
Students will learn background and foreground
Students will review symbolic art vs. realistic art
Once again, I find myself using a Peter H. Reynolds picture book. You might be familiar with his other two art themed books, The Dot and Ish.
Coffee Filter Dots from the book The Dot and Ish Paintings from the book Ish.
This book is called Sky Color . It is about a little girl named Marisol who has to paint the sky without any blue and she is not sure what to do but she figures it out in the end!
SKY COLOR PENGUINS
Materials:
watercolor paper
watercolor paint and brushes
construction paper
scissors
glue
pencil
It takes me about three 40 minute classes but I am an art teacher so I gather it would take less in a regular classroom setting.
DAY 1: I hook the kids by reading the book Sky Color and discussing the types of skies.
sunset sky
dusk sky
night sky
dream sky
rainy sky
We have explored symbolic art (imagination art) vs. realistic art in a previous lesson so we discuss the skies as a review. All the skies are realistic except the dream sky, which is symbolic.
Next, the kids use watercolor paints to paint their skies however they want! Since this is a watercolor wash, I spray water on their watercolor paper first.
DAY 2: I demonstrate each step as well as use a slide presentation which I made. Each child “draws” and cuts their own shapes to make the penguin.
DAY 3: DETAILS! Students use shapes to make hats, scarves, mittons, and whatever else their little imaginations can make.
I do this project at the same time they are learning about penguins in their class with nonfiction literature.
Since the guided slide presentation (see below) was so helpful with young children, I made it available on Teachers Pay Teachers! Consider using it! It makes the lesson a breeze!
Make a slide presentation OR save time and get mine on Teachers Pay Teachers!
You will not be disappointed with the results. And if you make it, post a picture and tag me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram or Tik Tok @amywardcreates!
Happy Creating! Amy