Painting Macquettes

Fourth and Fifth graders are putting the finishing touches on their macquettes with acrylic paint.

Maps of Dinosaur Islands

First graders made maps of their own Dinosaur Islands. They used rubber stamps of dinosaurs to show which dinosaurs live where on their island. They colored with colored pencil.

Clay Dinos

Second graders are making clay dinosaurs. They are using models for reference to make their sculpture look like a specific dinosaur, like the triceratops above.

Lesson Plans -- Week 23

Lesson Plans
Week 23: 15-17, 20-22.


Kindergarten/First Grade
Read to students: “Rattletrap Car” by Phyllis Root. Discuss: what unusual things were used to make the car run? Show students how they can use basic shapes to draw a car. Students will add imaginative details to create their own “rattletrap” car.

Second Grade
Clay sculpture. Using pinch and pull method of making three dimensional objects from clay. Using dinosaurs as models.

Third Grade.
Cut-away views. Discuss how artists show the inside and outside of a building simultaneously.
Fold 12x18 paper in half. Use rulers to measure. Follow directions to make a house shape. Cut into shape of house. Draw outside of house on outside. Open paper to show the interior of the house.
913A. Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities.

Fourth Grade/Fifth Grade.
Review: what are macquettes? (Statues artists make to use for reference when drawing.) For example, animators and artists like James Gurney use them.
Students will paint their sculptures with acrylic paint.
913A. Recognize critical processes used in the examination of works in the arts and humanities. Compare and contrast
913F. Know how to recognize and identify similar and different characteristics among works in the arts

Making Macquettes

In our recent artist visit, we learned how artists sometimes make macquettes, or statues they use for reference when drawing. Some art classes are making their own macquettes.

Third graders are using plasticene, or modelling clay to make temporary models of dinosaurs to use while drawing. Caden Williams made the beautiful dimetrodon below.



Brittany Hovan got very creative with a rider and saddle.

Fourth graders are using clay to make imagainary animals. This is how we do it. First we go to the box of wildlife cards. We close our eyes and pick two cards. The assignment is to make a model of an imaginary animal that has some characteristics of both animals.

While we work, we use the wildlife cards as reference.

These will be dried and then fired. Next week we'll add color to them.

Fourth graders are using clay to make imagainary animals. This is how we do it. First we go to the box of wildlife cards. We close our eyes and pick two cards. The assignment is to make a model of an imaginary animal that has some characteristics of both animals.

James Gurney's Visit

Today was a very special day at Lynch-Bustin Elementary School. Artist James Gurney, the creator of Dinotopia came and talked to us about how he creates his paintings and books.

Every class got a chance to hear him, see him draw and ask questions.

He showed students how many stages are involved in taking an idea from rough sketch to finished painting.

Here Mr. Macik is explaining his great idea for using Hero-Clix to teach Algebra!

The presentation was informative and fun. What I hope kids get out of it most is how the things we learn in school can be the springboard for a lot of creativity, excitement and fun. What we always knew is that learning is important. What James Gurney reminded us of is that it can be a lot of fun.