Audubon's Birds

 

Fiona Black

Unit of Study: Art in Nature

Subject: Art

Grade: 6th

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The Big Idea: 

 

Students will practice their observational skills and how to give and take constructive feedback on their work.

 

Specific Essential Questions addressed in this lesson:

 

What kinds of birds do you see around this area? What kinds of colors do you see in those birds? Are the big or small? Where do you think they might live?

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Learning Outcomes/Expectations/Objectives:

 

As a result of this lesson, students will understand that observational drawing requires looking intently at your subject and connecting your gaze to your hand as it draws. 

 

As a result of this lesson, students will know the that giving constructive feedback requires being specific and personal.

 

As a result of this lesson, students will be able to give and take constructive feedback.

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Learning Activities:

 

Introduction/Opening (5-10 minutes)

Begin by showing a slideshow of Audubon's work. Do you see any kinds of birds that you recognize? What kinds of backgrounds do you see in these paintings? Explain that students will be doing their own watercolor bird paintings, but the project will focus on the steps leading up to the final painting.

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Show students what each step will look like and explain that they should be doing a minimum of 3 sketches (with feedback) before starting their final painting. Each time you do a sketch, you need to get peer feedback on it and adjust your next sketch accordingly. The best way to do this is to swap sketches with a partner so you can give each other feedback.

 

Demonstration (5 minutes)

Class-wide demo on how to give constructive feedback.

 

Examples of helpful feedback:

-The beak needs to curve down more.

-The legs should be wider apart.

-The eyes look great, you got their shape perfectly!

Example of unhelpful feedback:

-I like the wings.

-The neck doesn't look right.

-You didn't get the color right.

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Now ask students why these are helpful/unhelpful. Feedback needs to be specific and give the other person an opportunity to either fix or keep something about their sketch. 

 

Have a teacher sketch prepped, put it up on the board and ask students to give feedback in order to practice. Remind them to take notes of the feedback they receive so that they can remember what to fix when making their next sketch.

 

Transition: Send students to seats to begin working.

 

Activity (30 Minutes)

-Student will work on this project within the time frame given.

-Start by going to the National Audubon society website and picking a bird to draw.

-Once they've picked one they should print it out and start on their first sketch.

-Remember they are drawing from observation, so they should be using the printed image as a guide.

-After doing a minimum of 3 rounds of sketches and feedback, students may begin their final painting.

-Final draft will be on larger paper in color (students can use watercolors and/or colored pencils)

 

Cleanup (3 minutes)

-Clean up materials and put work away. 

 

Materials needed for the lesson:

• watercolor set [1 per student]

• watercolor paintbrushes [1-2 per student]

• watercolor paper (12x18) [1 piece per student]

• sketch paper [3-5 pieces per student]

• pencils [1 per student]

• printer and computer (this project can be done with books as opposed to computer and printer, so long as there are enough to go around)

 

Teacher Materials needed for demonstration:

• pre-prepped sketch of bird

• pencil

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