Visual Arts
Grade 3: Visual Arts
ELEMENTS OF DESIGN
• Line: variety of line (e.g., thick, thin, dotted)
• Shape and form: composite shapes; symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes and forms in both the human-made environment and the natural world (e.g., symmetrical: insects, flowers, skyscrapers; asymmetrical: windblown trees, some contemporary additions to buildings [asymmetrical façade in Daniel Libeskind’s design for the Royal Ontario Museum])
• Space: foreground, middle ground, and background to give illusion of depth
• Colour: colour for expression (e.g., warm and cool colours); colour to indicate emotion; mixing of colours with white to make a range of warm and cool tints
• Texture: real versus visual or illusory texture (e.g., smooth surface of a ceramic work versus drawing of rough tree bark); etching by scratching through surfaces (e.g., crayon etching on a scratchboard)
• Value: mixing a range of light colours and dark colours
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN
• Variety: slight variations on a major theme; strong contrasts (e.g., use of different lines, shapes, values, and colours to create interest [bright or light colour values, dark colour values])
Nature Journaling: I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of...
Nature Journaling is an incredible tool for students to look for symmetrical and non-symmetrical shapes, form, textures and contrasts in their natural surroundings . Their nature journal allows them to write/draw their observations helping to cement the concepts being taught.
At this age all three prompts "I notice..., I wonder...?, and It reminds me of..." become very intuitive. However, the last statement becomes very important for making the connections. Encourage students to begin writing using single words or simple sentences. Please note that spelling is not the focus in a nature journal. At this age you may start to see art fears - ensure you are re-iterating it is not about a pretty picture. It is about their observations. Please see the link below for tips on giving feedback. Using a combination of words, pictures and numbers allows the students multiple tools to document their observations. With permission Bethan Burton has allowed us to link to her website as she has written a blog post for Teaching nature journaling at all ages.
Here are some more ideas to get you started.
Engage the fives senses (whenever possible)
Make leaf prints ( paint the leaf and press the print into the journal)
Make leaf rubbings
Trace the items they are looking at
Add leaves into the journal using tape
Here is a downloadable lesson from John (Jack) Muir Laws and Emilie Lygren book: How to Teach Nature Journaling. All resources shared with permission. "I Notice..., I Wonder...?, It Reminds me of..."
GIVING FEEDBACK here is a fantastic resource from Jack and Emilie
NOTE: You are encouraged to spend time in the outdoors Nature Journaling. However, you can also bring nature inside, look out your wonder window, have a refrigerator Safari or even observe a house plant or pet.
Crayon Etching
Gather an assortment of crayon colours and a full sized black crayon. You will also need a blank piece of paper, something hard to write on and a solid stick you find on the ground (nothing longer than your hand, and this can be replaced with another object that has a pointed edge, but not too sharp that it will cut through paper. Example: stone, pen or marker lid, popsicle stick, dime, etc. Now find a spot to sit outside or sit near a window so you can look outside.
Use a variety of colours (not black) to fill in the blank piece of paper, you can choose to use patterns or blocks of colours, but make sure you fill in all the white spaces with solid colours
Next you will cover your entire coloured page with black crayon
Now look for something natural that you want to draw, you can go simple by copying the contour (outline) of something or you can include details like texture and patterns
Feel free to add in designs that you create on your own
You may want to add a border by etching off the black crayon around the edges of your paper
PRO TIP #1: use brand name Crayons or check to see if your black crayon will colour over the others.
PRO TIP #2: if you make a mistake, colour over it first with a coloured-crayon and then the black crayon and try again.
Curriculum Links:
see Writing
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Design a Treehouse
What do you think about living in a tree house? Have you ever been inside one or thought that you would like to be? What would your design look like?
Watch this video about designing your ultimate tree house.
Head outside and find a comfortable spot to sit
Take time to think about your tree house design, look out into nature for inspiration
To start make a draft copy - write or draw out ideas
Once you are ready, start your design
Draw and add in colour if you choose
Share your design with someone
Materials: Paper, Pencil, Eraser, and other materials you feel would work
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Flower Fun
Find a space to explore that will allow you to see flowers (or other plants). These can be flowers in a garden, wild flowers on a lawn, trail or in a forest, flowers in pots in your home, or flowers you find in a book or magazine. Start with one flower. Can you draw one of the petals of the flower using a pencil and paper? Can you draw the whole flower? Try this activity a number of times to add to or focus your drawing by considering the following ideas:
Symmetrical and asymmetrical shapes: is your flower or plant symmetrical or asymmetrical?
Space: add a foreground, middle ground, and background to give the illusion of depth
Colour: colour for expression (warm and cool colours)
Texture: add details that show the texture you find on your flower
Value: mixing a range of light colours and dark colours to show where the light is touching the flower and where shade is evident
Don't have any flowers or plants? Look for leaves, pine cones, seeds or even blades of grass!
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Making Mandalas
Making mandalas is a fun and relaxing art form that can be done inside and outside.
Go for a nature walk or explore throughout your home to find and collect many items of different shapes, sizes, colours and textures (flower petals, rocks, sticks, leaves, beads, marbles, pasta etc.)
Have a clear space to create or you can even draw a pattern on a piece of paper to follow when placing your items
Start with the outside circle to define the space. Work your way around the inside placing shapes in alternating, repeating patterns until you have a beautiful design. You can try to create different patterns or different shapes within your art.
Focus on using symmetrical, growing patterns and different colour values to make an interesting design
Making Natural Paint Brushes
Start by watching this video about how to make your own paint brushes by using natural materials. You will also learn the importance of respectfully harvesting live plants. Once you have made your paint brushes it is time to get creative!
Materials:
White glue
Yarn, twine, string or any other materials similar to this that you have
Acrylic paint
Scissors
Paper (thicker) to paint on
NOTE: This can be used with the Nature Journaling activity at the top of the page.
Nature Photography
Photography is an incredible way to look closely at the natural world around you and express your creativity!
What are the benefits of "looking closely?
It allows you to slow down and take time in nature
It allows you to notice things you may not otherwise, for example if you look at the pictures on the left; the snapping turtle has moss growing on its shell, or their eyes have yellow in them. The second picture, of the flower, allows you to see that the plant grows in an amazing repeating pattern.
It also allows you to be creative with how you are capturing and framing your photographs
For this activity you will need the following materials:
Any device, phone, tablet or camera that will take a photo
If you have access to a macro lens that attaches to one of your devices this can add a whole new element of fun but it is NOT essential
Here are some tips to remember when using a device for photography:
Focus picture by tapping the screen
Keep device steady (helpful to place one end against something sturdy, i.e. the ground)
Get down to eye-level with the subject for a better perspective and to portray nature in its own habitat. Look straight up or down to discover beautiful natural patterns in plants and trees - the view up a tree-trunk or down, to show repeating patterns in plants.
Photographing from below will make things look larger
Slow down and take time to think about composition
Look for bold colours, striking patterns or exciting action to create stunning photos.
When photographing animals - focus on the eyes, or other body parts, remember to ALWAYS give them space and use the zoom to get a closer picture.
Experiment with composition by moving your subject away from the centre and using the rule of thirds
Activity
Head outside, look out your window or photograph items inside your home.
You may also want to think about a project or theme for your pictures for example:
Flowers/Trees/Clouds
Family/Neighbourhood
Insects/Animals
Geometric shapes
Take photos of things really close and get other to guess what they think the picture is actually of when zoomed out. The book series "Looking Closely" is a great resource! Here is an example of what the inside of the book looks like.
Any other theme you choose or it can be just for fun
We are Stardust.webmMaterials Needed:
White paper that can be painted on
Black paper to use as a background
Crayons or oil pastels and a permanent black marker for outlining
Paint brush
White acrylic or tempera paint
"Dye" - there are many options for this:
Use watercolour paint
Use food colouring and water it down to make a dye
Make your own watercolour paint
Scissors
Glue stick
Planet You!
Have you ever thought how much you are like the Earth? That your salty tears are like the ocean or that your lungs are like the trees. Did you know that your sneeze is as strong and fast as a tornado? For this project you will design these similarities!
First listen to the story "We Are Stardust" By: Elin Kelsey, Artwork by: Soyeon Kim and Published by: Owl Kids on Tumblebooks through the Peel BYOD library. Follow the instructions in the video on the left.
Procedure:
Draw an outline of your body on white paper. Use a pencil so that you can erase. Think about showing how you are like the Earth. Come up with at least five symbols that represent these ideas and draw them on your body outline.
Outline everything in permanent marker (like a sharpie) or use a black crayon. NOTE: Do NOT use a washable marker or it will bleed when you add the "dye" later.
Colour in every part with crayon or oil pastels that you do not want to be coloured by the "dye" later. Use as many colours you would like. Remember that if you want something to remain white you will need to colour it white.
Next choose the colour of "dye" you would like to use for you picture. Make sure it is watered down. Using your brush paint your whole picture. You will notice that the areas with crayon or pastels are resistant to the dye.
While your outline is drying, gather your black paper and white paint. Water down your paint a bit, dip your brush in the paint and splatter (best way is to hold the brush sideways and tap it towards the paper) it on the black paper. This will make it look like stars on your paper.
When your outline is dry, cut it out and glue it on your galaxy.
Hang it up and show off your work!
THIS IS ONLY ONE WAY OF DOING THIS PROJECT. IF YOU HAVE ANOTHER IDEA THEN DO THAT! BE AS CREATIVE AS YOU WANT!
Curriculum link:
See Oral Communication - Plant Show & Share: Explain to family member what all your symbols mean and how you are the same as the earth.
See Writing - Crayon Etching- Story: Write a paragraph explaining your drawing and how each of the symbols makes you like the earth.