High School Art project ideas Grade Level: 4-6 Grades Time Needed: Two class periods (1 hour

each)Description: Students will explore the characteristics of the sea turtle and its environment. Texture, color, balance and pattern are emphasized in these wonderfullycolorful sea turtle paintings. for High School Art project ideasMaterials:12 x 18 white construction paper (thicker paper is best)Oil CrayonsErasersPencilsWatercolor paint: bluesWater cupsPaint brushes Newspaper Optional: saltPreparation: Class example completed, sea turtle photos, sea turtle books, Finding NemoPIXAR/Disney.Vocabulary: Sea Turtle, ocean, Australia, texture, resist, balance, pattern, contour lines.References: Sea turtle, nature, National Geographic Society publications/posters HighSchool Art project ideasObjectives: Students will be able toDescribe the characteristics of the sea turtle and its environment.Construct a drawing of a sea turtle using the principles of texture, color,

balance and pattern. with High School Art project ideasProcedure:Begin by discussing the different types of sea turtles using many visual references.(An excerpt from Finding Nemo that features the sea turtles would also grabattention.)Discuss the different characteristics of the sea turtles anatomy, head, flippers, tail, and

shell.We are going to pretend that we are looking over the edge of a boat in the ocean,looking down through the clear water to view a swimming sea turtle.

Using the paper vertically, students begin by drawing an outline of a large oval shell in pencil. Then create an oval head at the top of the paper, two large front flippers,two small rear flippers and a tail. (Teacher may complete each step along withstudents on the chalkboard) Next, students create the pattern on their turtle shell by creating contour lines bothvertically and horizontally. Discuss how artist use contour lines to make flatshapes on their paper appear to be three-dimensional. The vertical contour linescan be described to the students as making the number 11 that bend outward inthe middle. The horizontal contour lines can be described to the students as twofrowns on top, and two smiles on the bottom. This creates the shell design. HighSchool Art project ideasStudents then take their white paper and crumple it into a ball, being careful not toforce or hit the paper ball, which would cause the paper to rip. (Wrinkling the paper creates creases that will accept more pigment of the watercolor step, givesthe illusion that light is refracting

through the ocean water.)Using photo references, students will color their turtles only with oil crayons. NOBLUE is the only color limitation. (Blue color will get lost when turtles are painted with blue watercolor, students will need more than one reminder).Emphasize the importance of pattern and variety. White oil crayons will work well if they press very hard. Students may mix colors on their papers. Color thehead, flipper and tail using shades of green, white and brown. (I allowed studentsto use non-traditional colors for the shells like the ones used in the movieFinding Nemo. Next, use the blue watercolor paints to paint over their entire paperturtle and all.Explain that we have drawn our turtles under water; this means we have to paintthem under water, starting at the top and working our way down the paper. (Basicwatercolor resist idea)Discuss how water looks under the ocean or in a pool with sunlight passing throughthe water. The light reflects and refracts into these geometric stylized shapes of dancing light. The crumpling of the students paper,

combined with the watercolor painting technique, will give the sea turtles the appearance that they areswimming under the sea. As students are painting in their turtles, let themexperiment with sprinkling salt upon their wet works of art.Evaluation after the lesson: Great success with every student, fun and engaging. Be sureto use the heaviest white paper to decrease the chance of ripping, after crumpling and painting the projects become quite fragile. Students liked creating both realistic turtleshell patterns, and using their imagination for creative and unique patterns. Wonderful tiein with the students ocean life sciences curriculum. SEE
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