Here There Be Monsters Art Lesson Plan

Here There Be Monsters Art Lesson Plan

An art lesson plan for kids who love collages! 

Grade Level: 3rd - 6th grade 

Time Required: 3 45 minute class periods

Objective:

Students learn all about the legendary Kraklen, and create an exciting painted paper collage 

Vocabulary: 

Collage, Texture, Wash, Splatter, Effect, Highlight, Graphic, Reversed 

Materials: 

Faber-Castell Tempera Paint: blue, green, red, orange, white  

Faber-Castell 9x12 Watercolor Paper

Paint Brushes (round and flat) 

Toothpicks 

White Paper 

HERE THERE BE MONSTERS;

THE LEGENDARY KRAKEN AND THE GIANT SQUID by HP Newquist 

Here There be Monsters is an exciting collection of long-ago myths, scientific discovery, historical accounts and the giant squid's appearance in art, literature and film. It is a mesmerizing and original book, perfect for kids with active imaginations and an interest in science and mystery. 

In this lesson plan, drawing, painting and graphic effects are combined to create an exciting image of the monstrous and colossal Kraken rising up from the depths! 

 Art Lesson Plan

Stormy sky paper: Show students how to use medium flat brush and paint a wash of watery blue and black paint on 9x12 watercolor paper. Blot a bit with a rag to get a cloudy effect. 

Ocean paper: Students mix a few shades of blue and green, and paint the paper. 

Squid paper: Paint the paper in a mixture of orange, red, pink and white. When dry add texture by splattering with a darker shade, using a dry stiff paint or toothbrush

 Art lesson Plan

1.) Demonstrate how to achieve the white-capped wave effect by slowly ripping the ocean paper from right to left. Show how to guide and control the tear to create the "motion" of the waves. Create 3 horizontal pieces and position them on the stormy sky background. 

 Art Lesson Plans

2.) Teach students how to draw a giant Kraken on the back of the painted squid paper with it's long arms flailing every which way. Show them how after cutting it out, they will be turning it over to reveal the painted side, and the drawing will be reversed. 

Art Lesson Plans

 3.) Next, Students cut out the Kraken in one piece and flip it over. To make things easier, younger students could also cut out some of the more difficult arms separately and arrange them as they want in their pictures. 


Art Lesson Plan

4.) Show students how to position their Kraken between the waves. Do not yet glue down so as to allow flexibility with the final addition of the ship.

 Art Lesson Plans

5.) To create the ship, have students cut out it's hull from brown paper. Used here, is a small scrap of painted paper resembling wood, leftover from another project. A reminder of how to never throw away painted paper scraps! The masts are made out of flat toothpicks - the taller, center mast is two toothpicks glued together. Glue all masts to the back side of the ship. Let dry. 

 Art Lesson Plans

6.) Next, demonstrate how to lightly draw some sails on white paper and cut them out. This might take a bit of time for students to get the sails sized just right and glued onto the masts. There are many configurations of sails, so any way that students want to do it is fine. Don't forget a flag, maybe even a pirate's flag. 

 Art Lesson Plans

Positioning the ship and the Kraken: Now it is time to have some fun positioning this poor, unfortunate sailor's ship caught in the clutches of this fearsome and colossal Kraken! Show students how to experiment with positioning and gluing down the capsized ship tilted, or even upside down, low in the water or high in the sky - Mayday! Mayday! 

Kraken eye: Students cut the one-eyed monster's giant eye out of construction paper and glue the pieces together. Don't forget the little white highlight which helps to bring this killer Kraken to life! 

Trim: Trim the edges to the original size of the background paper, and mount on larger black construction paper. 

 

DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE LESSON PLAN

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