ARTS EDUCATION TEACHER HANDBOOK

VISUAL ARTS :: ELEMENTARY LESSON PLANS

ELEMENTARY LESSON PLANS

Submitted by Melanie Messick, Forsyth County Schools

Lesson Title:
My Monkey in the Jungle- Henri Rousseau ~ French Exotic Landscape

Grade Level or Course:
Second Grade

Time Allotment:
Three (50 minute) lessons

Targeted Goals and Objectives from the 2000 North Carolina Arts Education Standard Course of Study and Grade Level Competencies, K-12:

1.01 Understand the process involved in using the media.
2.02 Recognize specific media and processes.
3.05 Identify center of interest (emphasis) in a composition.
4.03 Begin to recognize that an artist's background and experiences are important in shaping an artist's work.
6.05 Discuss artwork using the design principles of repetition, emphasis, and movement.

Targeted Goals and Objectives from the North Carolina Standard Course of Study and Grade
Level Competencies, K-12 for other content areas.

Relates to Social Studies, reading, and writing objectives.

Lesson Objective(s):

As part of their social studies animal study/unit, students will create a painting of a monkey in their natural habitat. Students will learn about the French Exotic Landscape by Rousseau and receive background information on his work and style.

Students will also discuss monkeys (how they look, discuss features, size, color, etc.) as well as describe what a jungle or rain forest looks like (location)- where one might see monkeys.

Materials/Equipment Needed:

Day 1: 18x24 assorted construction paper, brown, black, white, gray, paint/brushes, Henri Rousseau's French Exotic Landscape print, visuals of monkeys and jungle (rain forest)foliage, books, photographs, etc. The Great Kapok Tree by Lynne Cherry or other jungle/rain forest Literature, and student examples

Day 2: paint, lighter color for face hands, inside of ears, green paint- different shades for foliage (or other colors that are suitable), Rousseau's prints and other jungle visuals.

Day 3: black markers, oil pastels, and visuals.

Lesson Procedure:

Day 1 - Lesson 1

After the introduction/background of Henri Rousseau, inform students that they will have the opportunity to create a painting of a monkey similar to the work of Rousseau. Discuss monkeys, how they look, features, colors, and etc. basic shape of monkey (head, neck, shoulders, body, arms, and legs).

Guided practice:

Pass out paper.
Review painting techniques.
Demonstrate on the board how to begin the shape of the monkey with paint (begin with oval head, neck, shoulders, body, arms, legs). There will only be one large monkey. Encourage students to work large and fill the whole page.

Independent Practice:

Students will begin their paintings using only one color for the monkey on the first day. Monitor progress. Remind students of painting techniques. Review Rousseau and his work. Inform students that they will continue painting the jungle background and the lighter color for the face area on the next day. Everyone will clean up.

Day 2 - Lesson 2

Review Rousseau and previous steps of the lesson. Inform students that will paint

Base color of face and add the background. Review background, middleground, and foreground. Discuss jungle/rain forest-different kinds of plants and trees, vines, etc. Show visuals. If time allows read the story of The Great Kapok Tree to help motivate.

Guided Practice:

Pass out paintings
Demonstrate how to pint the lighter contrasting color for the face and how to add the painted jungle background.

Independent Practice: as students begin painting, check to see that they are working to fill their paper with their background. Remind students of painting techniques.

Inform students that they will add details and features (eyes, nose, mouth, etc.) on the next day. Review vocabulary.

Day 3 - Lesson 3

Inform students that they will finish their "Monkey in the Jungle" paintings.

The teacher will review Rousseau and show visuals of monkeys again. Discuss the details (features) that will need to be added- eyes, nose, mouth etc. Discuss texture and how it could be added. Discuss details I foliage etc. Show visuals.

Guided Practice:

Pass out paintings.
Demonstrate how to add eyes, nose, mouth, texture for fur, wrinkles on face etc., with black marker.
Demonstrate how to use oil pastels for the details in the foliage, (veins in leaves, lines in vines, etc.

Independent Practice: monitor students as they work to make sure they are using oil pastels effectively.

Assessment: (group or individual)

The teacher will lead a group discussion and ask students to view the paintings and compare to Rousseau's work. How are they similar/different? This may be oral or written. Students could also write a story about his or her monkey and what experiences their monkey might encounter while in the jungle or rain forest.

Special Considerations:

Although the lesson was designed for three class periods, another session may be needed depending on the amount of previous painting experience and skill by the students.

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