Owl in Flight Art Lesson : Elements of Art emphasized
line, texture, pattern and color

What a HOOT!
An Owl lesson that allows for a full range of creativity and introduces the elements of Art 

This lesson was completed by a group of 15 children grades 4 - 6. 

This is the second in a series of 7 lessons are designed to introduce the students to the elements of art. Elements of art are the key components of any work of art. When children learn art terminology, it is like learning to read and write the language of vision. They are better able to express what they have created and the creations of others. 
The learning objective for this activity was to identify and create pattern and texture using brush strokes and color. I designed this lesson out of a desire to have the students to build confidence with color mixing. Their palettes were simple but included a fun element of gold metallic that could be mixed with other colors for fun effects. 
Activity: (for time sake) the children were given a precut template of an owl in flight.  We discussed the symmetry, line, texture and pattern and they were give over a dozen examples of illustrations and photographs of Owls to reference. We spent a short time looking at images of the face in order to recreate the eyes and beak proportionally. 

Art Lesson: Owl in flight created by a 5th grader

There were only 2 rules for this art lesson. 
Placement of the eyes needed to be uniform and similiar to an owl found in nature. We discussed the owl's ear tufts and the crown. 
To create the owl's eyes the student drew a V shape and placed eyes on either side and the beak at it point. 
From there the students were given a plaette of primary colors, white and black and created the colors for their owls each unique to the personality and style of the child. 

Those students who completed early were allowed the opportunity to create a simple background for their owls. 

Our supplies:



in brown.
*our classes are an hour long and projects must be completed in 1 class session so timesaving shortcuts are made however every effort is made to give the children options for extended activities to encourage continual learning outside the classroom.

Art Lesson: Line and Pattern

We are working with patterns in math. Our one room schoolhouse is filled to the brim with busy minds ages 5 to 10. Although each child is working at his/her own level they are all mastering the concept of pattern. Today we pulled out the crayons and created a work of art building upon the concept of line patterns.

Our 45 minute impromptu art class started with a discussion of shape verses line. We examined our handout of different lines, the straight line, zigzag, diagonal and so on...
The we examined our handout on line patterns. Simply the same type of line repeated.
Then the game began.
A blank half sheet and black crayon in hand the children listened.
I called out shapes that they were to fill the paper with. Large enough to overlap. The goal was to create new shapes.
1 large triangle
1 large square
1 large circle
a straight line
a zigzag line
2 shapes of their choice.

Its October and although our weather doesn't act like it. Its time for the kids to pull out their pumpkins and start thinking fall thoughts. Our art lessons have begun. This series of classes will focus on the elements of art.
Our first lesson the elements of art.
Line, shape, color, value are simply explained with a demonstration painting of a pumpkin.
The children are allowed to practice brush strokes using double loading paint and mixing directly on the paper
Then we move on to talking about contrast and the color palette.
The art lesson was successful for students eights - twelve.

Art Lesson: Pretty as a Peacock

Another Art Lesson with a COOL Palette

Peacocks are large, colorful pheasants (typically blue and green) known for their iridescent tails. The male (peacock) Indian Peafowl has iridescent blue-green or green colored plumage. The peacock tail ("train") is not the tail quill feathers but the highly elongated upper tail coverts. The "eyes" are best seen when the peacock fans its tail. Like a cupped hand behind the ear the erect tail-fan of the male helps direct sound to the ears. Both species have a crest atop the head. The female (peahen) Indian Peafowl has a mixture of dull green, brown, and grey in her plumage. She lacks the long upper tail coverts of the male but has a crest. The female can also display her plumage to ward off female competition or signal danger to her young. ...more

Art Elements: Cool Palette, Naturally Repeating Patterns
Art Standards: Coloring, cutting, gluing

Parent/Teacher please preview these lesson plans before presenting: PATTERN Let's learn more about Patterns | Palette and other ART VOCABULARY

Materials:

Printable craft template tail feathers | peacock body

printable reference sheet pdf

Cardstock

tape, scissors, glue and pencil

coloring pencils, pens or crayons

This printable art lesson is designed to create a standing peacock. Slightly bend the tail feathers to create an angle that will allow the cardstock to stand alone. glue the face to the front middle. It is also possible to attach it to a toliet tube for more stablity.

More about the male peacock:

National Geographic