- HAPPY HABITATS -
Lesson Description
In this class period, students used their 2D or 3D creature to design and build a habitat to live in. Jennie introduced the concept of "habitat" with images of various environments like desert, grassland, rainforest, outer space, and underwater. The students helped her brainstorm the types of creatures that live in these habitats and what they do to move around and survive there. Then the class worked together to help Jennie build a virtual habitat on the SMART Board for the fictional "Wummox" creature. Students suggested giving it a log to hide in, tree bark to eat, a path to slither around on, and a lake to drink out of. Students then used their sketchbooks to plan habitats for their own 2D or 3D creature, following the pictoral guide above to outline its sources of food, water, shelter, and camouflage. Each student received a uniquely sized shoebox to make into a habitat that will allow its creature to survive. Students incorporated newly learned techniques such as cut paper for grass, glued-on sand, and colorful paper for backgrounds. They will add finishing touches next class period, making sure that their creature will be able to survive in the habitat they made.
Enduring Understandings
Learning Target
Using 2D and 3D art materials, students will be able to create a habitat that considers the features of their creatures
Key Concepts
Living things, texture, animals, function, habitat, environment, survival
Skills
Cut, build, use hot glue safely, imagine, observe, combine
Art Focus
Exploring three-dimensional space
Literacy Focus
In-process critiques (talking about art as it is being made), telling stories about our creatures
In this class period, students used their 2D or 3D creature to design and build a habitat to live in. Jennie introduced the concept of "habitat" with images of various environments like desert, grassland, rainforest, outer space, and underwater. The students helped her brainstorm the types of creatures that live in these habitats and what they do to move around and survive there. Then the class worked together to help Jennie build a virtual habitat on the SMART Board for the fictional "Wummox" creature. Students suggested giving it a log to hide in, tree bark to eat, a path to slither around on, and a lake to drink out of. Students then used their sketchbooks to plan habitats for their own 2D or 3D creature, following the pictoral guide above to outline its sources of food, water, shelter, and camouflage. Each student received a uniquely sized shoebox to make into a habitat that will allow its creature to survive. Students incorporated newly learned techniques such as cut paper for grass, glued-on sand, and colorful paper for backgrounds. They will add finishing touches next class period, making sure that their creature will be able to survive in the habitat they made.
Enduring Understandings
- People investigate new ideas by synthesizing pieces of reality
- Environments fit the needs of living things
- The characteristics of living things are designed for function
Learning Target
Using 2D and 3D art materials, students will be able to create a habitat that considers the features of their creatures
Key Concepts
Living things, texture, animals, function, habitat, environment, survival
Skills
Cut, build, use hot glue safely, imagine, observe, combine
Art Focus
Exploring three-dimensional space
Literacy Focus
In-process critiques (talking about art as it is being made), telling stories about our creatures
- THE ART MAKING -
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Students start to make connections about animals and why they live in certain habitats. They infer which habitats are best suited to creatures using prior knowledge, for instance fishes and their ability to breathe underwater.
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This student discussed why she switched from an outer space to underwater habitat because her creature is a stingray. She was in the middle of brainstorming more unique liquids for her creature to drink other than water.
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This student uses cut paper to make a grass shelter. She explains that this flying worm will hide from danger and be safe from predators and weather in this enclosed area.
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