Perhaps this is my favourite Grade 3 art project because the results are always stunning and the kids LOVE chameleons! This is a great cross-curricular project that ties science into art since the students talk about key characteristics of chameleons. The end result is an ink/oil pastel resist technique.
Materials required:
- A3 paper
- pencils, erasers
- oil pastels
- inks (can use watercolours as well but I prefer the vibrancy of ink)
Duration: 3-4 lessons of 80 minutes each
1. I show students a finished example of the project so that they get an idea of what is expected. We began by talking about chameleons, where they live, why they change colour, how their eyes move. More importantly, we discussed what basic shapes can be used to draw their body such as triangle for the head, oval for body, etc. When they start to draw, I emphasized two points: (a) draw big & (b) draw light. I asked the students why they were supposed to draw big and light and they all came up with reasons like "so we can see it clearly, we have enough space to add colours and patterns, so that we can erase it easily, etc." I love how their logical minds work!
2. For the low ability students I had a step-by-step drawing guide. As for my high abilities, they used photographs as a reference and could draw a chameleon from different angles.
3. After the chameleon drawing was complete, students had to draw patterns on the body and develop a background. I displayed an image on the board with different kinds of leaves, flowers, etc. Of course students were not limited to this and were welcome to use their own ideas as well. This was the end of the first lesson.
4. As a starter for the second lesson, we watched a small video clip of how chameleons change colour. The kids loved it! During this lesson, we outlined the drawing in oil pastels and coloured in a few, selected areas only. I think the key aspect here is telling them to press down hard with their pastel as you will always get some students who are rushing to finish and their outlines are too lightly done to withstand the ink which will be applied on later. What do you think of the work in progress?
5. In the third lesson, we began using inks. The kids love how the resist technique works and I think it is important to question them about why oil pastel and ink resist each other as it makes them think scientifically about the materials they use.
6. In the fourth lesson, students outlined their work with a black marker. The idea here is to tell them to outline around the oil pastel instead of over it. Don't they look gorgeous?
Materials required:
- A3 paper
- pencils, erasers
- oil pastels
- inks (can use watercolours as well but I prefer the vibrancy of ink)
Duration: 3-4 lessons of 80 minutes each
1. I show students a finished example of the project so that they get an idea of what is expected. We began by talking about chameleons, where they live, why they change colour, how their eyes move. More importantly, we discussed what basic shapes can be used to draw their body such as triangle for the head, oval for body, etc. When they start to draw, I emphasized two points: (a) draw big & (b) draw light. I asked the students why they were supposed to draw big and light and they all came up with reasons like "so we can see it clearly, we have enough space to add colours and patterns, so that we can erase it easily, etc." I love how their logical minds work!
2. For the low ability students I had a step-by-step drawing guide. As for my high abilities, they used photographs as a reference and could draw a chameleon from different angles.
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| Step-by-step drawing guide |
4. As a starter for the second lesson, we watched a small video clip of how chameleons change colour. The kids loved it! During this lesson, we outlined the drawing in oil pastels and coloured in a few, selected areas only. I think the key aspect here is telling them to press down hard with their pastel as you will always get some students who are rushing to finish and their outlines are too lightly done to withstand the ink which will be applied on later. What do you think of the work in progress?
5. In the third lesson, we began using inks. The kids love how the resist technique works and I think it is important to question them about why oil pastel and ink resist each other as it makes them think scientifically about the materials they use.
6. In the fourth lesson, students outlined their work with a black marker. The idea here is to tell them to outline around the oil pastel instead of over it. Don't they look gorgeous?
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