Two lessons in Perspective

Today, I learned of the massacre of the children at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT.  I don't know what to write after that sentence.  The faces of the 2nd and 1st graders I teach keep coming to mind.  Their tiny voices, shiny hair, uninhibited grins.  Big people are supposed to protect the little people in this world.  It hurts my heart to think about it too hard.

It's a lesson in perspective whenever something this tragic happens.  I have my family, my friends, my work, my mental and physical health, my... everything.  It makes every current worry seem so much less important.

I'm not going to go on about gun control or health insurance for the mentally ill, not here in this blog-space.  This space is about bringing positivity into the world and into children's lives through art.  Read on if you'd like to learn about a lesson in a different kind of perspective. 

BAOBABS PERSPECTIVE LESSON

(Best for grades 3-8)

This lesson was a part of the Madagascar Mural Collaboration residency that I did with 4th graders last week (the previous blog post has all that info).  This was the second big art project that we worked on in the classroom, while small groups were painting the mural.

Supplies:

-Watercolor sets and brushes

-Black and white tempera paint

-Background paper (we used watercolor paper taped to brown construction paper)

Day 1:

1.) Introduce students to Baobabs through pictures and/or youtube video. I like this one.

2.) Have kids describe in words what the shape of a baobab tree is like. How are they different from other trees? (wide, curved trunks, branches only at the very top and spreading outwards, etc.)

3.) Have kids paint sunsets with watercolors covering their whole papers. Let dry.

Day 2:

1.) Explain perspective to the kids. Things that are closer to you will look bigger and darker. Things that are further away will look lighter and smaller.  Explain that today, they will be painting the baobab trees that are furthest away in their pictures.

2.) Mix up some grey tempera paint. Have kids outline their baobabs in pencil first.

3.) Have kids paint in their baobab trees and some of the ground with the grey paint.

Day 3:

1.) Have kids paint the closer baobabs in black tempera. Explain perspective again, emphasizing that they should paint these trees a little bigger than the last ones.  Make sure they know it's ok if their trees overlap each other some. 

2.) Now put them up and talk about how awesome they are!