Llama Llove in Elementary Art

When I choose an art project for my students, I think about what new vocabulary and drawing skills they could learn, what new media they could try, and how they can connect to the subject.  Sometimes I pull themes from literature or science.  This "Llamas in Perspective" lesson, adapted from a Deep Space Sparkle lesson, had it all!  

First we talked about the life and talents of the llama, particularly the Peruvian llama...how they are pack animals who help humans, how they spit when they are agitated and sit down stubbornly when they are overburdened.  I told the kids I use llama poop on my plants because it's a great "unscented" fertilizer! 

We practiced a llama drawing in their sketchbooks.  I love that many of the students said they drew them all week long at home.  We then talked about drawing and painting tricks that fool the eye into perceiving depth as we drew our scene together, step by step, and went over the lines with Sharpie.  Students were free to add their own little details, decorations, and paint colors to individualize their work.  We used tempera cakes, which are similar to watercolors, on heavy duty Bristol paper.  

Finally, we "embellished" our mounted picture with handmade tassels.  I told them that tassel-making is a "handicraft" that the Peruvians would do to decorate their llamas.  The lesson took two 90-minute class periods.  Check out the slideshows below.

TUESDAY CLASS

WEDNESDAY CLASSES