Aurora Borealis Chalk Pastel Lesson

The Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights as they are commonly called, is a natural light display that can be seen particularly in the higher latitudes of the Arctic.  These lights give the horizon a greenish or sometimes reddish glow.  The following art lesson creates a tree line and glowing lights with the use of stencils and chalk pastels.  Children preschool age to early elementary will enjoy completing this lesson to create the Northern Lights.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
Aurora Borealis

stencil

chalk pastels

Materials:

-cardstock/poster board for stencil making

-scissors

-chalk pastels or chalk in various colors

-q-tip/cotton balls/blending stumps for smearing

-black construction paper

-aerosol hairspray or fixative

Preparation:

 Create two stencils using the cardstock one for the tree line and one for the glow of the Northern Lights.  The tree line stencil is simply triangle tops of varying size.  If you wish to add detail to the trees you can snip out sections of the tree tops.  The stencil for the Northern Lights is simply a wavy line.  For younger children you may want to add tape to the stencil as they have a difficult time keeping a stencil in place on their own.  Older children may cut the stencils themselves.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Winter Silhouette

The following lesson is a painting that uses tints of blue to create a winter sky.  Black paint is used to create tracks in the snow that lead to the silhouette of person sledding.  This is a great way for children to explore adding white to a color while creating a beautiful and simple piece of artwork.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
tint
silhouette

Materials:

-tempera paint (blue, white, black)

-brush

-masking/painters tape

-paper plate (for tint mixing)

Preparation:

Using scissors cut a curved line for the horizon from masking or painters tape.  Place this in the bottom third portion of the picture.  This aids in maintaining a clean line for the impression of snow while the curved lines of the sky are painted.  On the paper plate place three varying amounts of blue paint.  Next place white paint of varying amounts in two of the blue paint portions for the students or child to mix on their own.  Add a small amount of black for the silhouette of the sledder, the tree, and the footprints.  Place a small amount of water in a cup for rinsing brushes on top of a paper towel next to the paper.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Flower Field

After painting a background of yellow and blue, students will use a sponge brush and their fingers to create a field of flowers.  This lesson can be used to tie in with Impressionist painting and the portrayl of overall visual effects versus detail.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
Impressionism

Materials:

-tempera paint

-sponge brush

-brush

Preparation:

Pour a small amount of blue, yellow, and green paint on separate ends of a paper plate for the sky, ground, and stems.  Place small dots of various bright colors of tempera paint on another plate for children to dip their fingers in when making flowers.  It is okay to layer the colors on their finger.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Night Landscape

The following lesson is a chalk pastel lesson that can be used to explain the elements of a landscape.  When using a fixative or hairspray to set the picture be sure to spray in a well ventilated area if not outside.. 

Vocabulary to Introduce:
landscape
chalk pastel

Materials:

-dark textured paper

-chalk pastels

-fixative or hairspray

Preparation:

Due to the messy nature of chalk pastels you may want to have baby wipes or wet paper towels on hand to clean up hands immediately.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:



Cherry Tree Blossoms

In this lesson children will use thinned tempera paint and a straw to blow the paint across the paper and create the branches of a cherry tree.  Thinning the paint gives it the look of sume-i ink painting.  The blossoms are created by using paint dipped on the tips of their fingers and printed in a cluster of five petals.  You can also use this as an opportunity to discuss tints by demonstrating that by adding white to red you create pink.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
printing
sume-i
tint

Materials:

-white paper

-black and pink (red and white) tempera paint

-water for thinning the black paint

-straw

Preparation:

Thin the black paint beforehand with just enough water to give it some transparency and fluidity when using the straw.   Place red and white paint on a plate together but mix it in front of the students to demonstrate creating a tint.  Cut the straw down to a length that is more manageable for the children.  It may also help in keeping the mess down to have baby wipes or wet paper towels to immediately wipe fingers after printing.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:



Construction Paper Landscape: A Tearing Lesson for Precutters

A landscape is a picture that shows elements of natural scenery whether through a beach, a lake, trees, or mountains. This lesson uses tearing to create a landscape and would be appropriate for preschool students who do not cut.  Even students who are still working at the skill or have some proficiency at it may enjoy this lesson as well as tearing is a fun process.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
landscape

Materials:

-construction paper

-glue

Preparation:

Rather than giving students glue sticks we often place glue on small paper plates and give them q-tips to brush it on. 

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process:

Action Painting!!!

Action painting is fun for children because it provides a novel means of placing paint on the paper.  You can use a wide variety of ways to do this whether using a squirt bottle filled with paint, a ball or marble rolling across the paper, or even a toy car whose wheels have been dipped.  You can use the work of Jackson Pollack as an example if you wish to tie it in with art appreciation.  In addition, I intentionally used the primary colors with the purpose of being able to see color mixing which can be an additional objective of your lesson.

Vocabulary to Introduce:
action painting

primary colors (red, blue, yellow)

secondary colors (orange, green, purple)

Materials:

-aluminum pan

-tempera paint (red, blue, yellow)
-containers for paint
-plastic spoons
-ping pong balls, golf balls, marbles, or toy cars
-scotch tape
-thick white paper

Preparation:

Tape the paper into the bottom of the aluminum pan.  Place the three colors of paint in the containers and place a plastic spoon in each.  You do want to let the child try to transfer the ball or marble from the container to the pan on their own in order to practice the small motor skill.

Our YouTube Video demonstrating the process: