Leapin’ Lizards!
One way or another, I try to fit in a lesson involving my least favorite species of all…lizards. Hate finding them in my backyard, but I admit, they’re way too fun to draw.
For this lesson, I demonstrate my strategy for drawing lizards on the white board. This is the key to the success of the piece. You don’t have to draw well, but it helps to draw things in order.
Step 1: With a black oil pastel, draw a circle for the eye.
Step 2: In front of the eye, draw a line curving up and over the eye and down along the neck and back. Don’t stop there!Bring the all the way down curving around below the body to form a tail.
Step 3: Go back to the start of this line (up by the head) and draw a line down and around to form the belly. The belly should stop at the tail.
Step 4: Put in the legs. Go right over the belly line.
Step 5: Add branch, decorations and leaves.
Now, bring out the chalk pastels and let the kids go wild. The more colors the better. Of course, the final step is to take the black oil pastel and go over all the original black lines again. This is the key for really making the piece stand out.
Are these done on white or black paper? What size?
Hi Char,
I use the regular 12″ x 18″ size, but you could cut it down. Also, black paper always yields more intense results than white.
Good luck!
patty, I love these
I miss my 5th graders from last year. At this new school, I teach k-4…and no 5th. In 5th, I find they are SO creative, and just plain fun!
Thanks, Katie! I love these too. So vibrant. I agree about the 5th graders. They’re my favorite class to introduce new projects too.
Do you have the younger students do the black outlining on their projects, or do you do this for them?
I love your site! Thanks for all of your wonderful work & ideas!
Renee
Hi Rene,
No, I don't touch the student's art unless I'm demonstrating something specific for them…like, look at this color or try this, etc.
Even the smallest kids can trace, so this is a fairly easy way to finish up a project and make it shine.
I did this lesson with my third graders. They loved it. The only thing we did differently is outline everthing with black glue instead of pastel. My students loved it.
There is a great new book called Art & Max by David Wiesner: “Max wants to be an artist like his friend Arthur, but his first attempt at using a paintbrush sends them on a whirlwind trip through various media, with unexpected consequences.” I plan on reading that as our inspiration for this lesson (beginning a drawing unit)… it also reinforces the idea of telling a story without words.
Wow!!! I cant wait to try this !!! Its going to be so much fun!!!!!
Hi! I love projects done on black paper. I wonder…if you use black paper , what do you use to draw the picture un the begining ?
It really depends on the project…sometimes oil pastel sometimes chalk.