Have you ever seen a penguin? Penguins are birds with black and white feathers, but they cannot fly! They have very heavy bodies shaped like torpedoes that make them very good swimmers. Emperor penguins live in Antarctica where it is very cold, but their body temperatures are the same as humans. Layers of fat keep them warm. The emperor penguin has been identified as an endangered species.

http://www.foxcrofts.com/Photos/Emperor%20Penguin.jpg (penguin image)

http://www.evilcon.net/wordpress/wp-content/EmperorPenguin1Little_chick_stands_on_snow.jpg (penguin chick)

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/locations/antarctic-archive.shtml (Antarctica)

Goal (Terminal Objective):

Students will create sculptured emperor penguins and place them in student-made 3-dimensional habitats resembling Antarctica. This project will give students a better understanding of Antarctica, global warming, and the emperor penguin as an endangered species.

Objective:

Students will sculpt realistic emperor penguins after learning about this unique bird. They will learn about the geography of Antarctica and build habitats for the penguins.

National Standards:

Visual Arts Grades K-4 Content Standard 1: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes

Visual Arts Grades K-4 Content Standard 2: Using knowledge of structure and functions

Visual Arts Grades K-4 Content Standard 3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas

Visual Arts Grades K-4 Content Standard 5: Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others

Purpose: Students will focus on creating 3-dimensional art forms. They will be introduced to Canadian artist, Peter Redden, who sculpts many sea animals, including penguins.

New Vocabulary: emperor penguin, Antarctica, continent, habitat, Peter Redden, endangered species, global warming

Materials:

#56-6012 brush sety

#22-1309 tempera cakes

#35-1436 craft sticks

#22-1403 glue sticks

#66-5421 Acrylic jar set

#22-4007 Natural Assorted modeling clay

tag board, pencils, sketch paper for thumbnail sketches, scissors

Time: 3-4 lessons (45-60 minutes each)

Introduction and Motivation (Set):

1. Teacher introduces students to Antarctica and the emperor penguin. Students find the continent on a world map. Do people live in Antarctica? How would you travel to get there? Why can penguins live in this cold climate? What kind of bodies do they have? Teacher shows pictures of emperor penguins. Do penguins also live in other parts of theworld?
2. Teacher introduces students to the artist, Peter Redden. Where is Novia Scotia? A variety of the artists’ sculptures, including penguins and other sea animals, are presented.
   http://www.finesculptures.com/penguins/penguins.html
   http://www.finesculptures.com/
3. Teacher introduces newvocabulary.
4. Teacher shows students a teacher-made emperor penguin habitat, followed by a class discussion of sculpting a penguin and building a habitat. Students are given time to make thumbnail sketches of penguins and penguinchicks.

Instruction:

Lesson 1:

Teacher presents photos of emperor penguins to students. Teacher demonstrates using white modeling clay to sculpt the penguin body. Teacher demonstrates making penguin head and feet with black clay and then flattening out the black modeling clay to cover the penguin back and make the wings. Craft sticks are used to cut and shape the clay. Students refer to their thumbnail sketches and sculpt penguins with modeling clay. White acrylic paint is used to touch up penguin bodies and add detail to eyes and beaks.

Lesson 2:

Teacher presents photos of penguin chicks to students. Using gray modeling clay, teacher demonstrates sculpting the body and head in one piece. Wings are attached. Teacher demonstrates using black and white acrylic paints to paint the head and face. Students sculpt penguin chicks with modeling clay and paint the heads and faces.

Lesson 3 :

Teacher presents landscape photos of Antarctica. Teacher demonstrates folding
14” x 7” tag board in half to make the habitat. Teacher demonstrates drawing water and land on the ground (base) and then drawing the backdrop of mountains and sky on the other half of the tag board. Teacher demonstrates painting the habitat with tempera cakes, mixing colors directly on the tag board. In addition, small pieces of tag board are used to make icebergs that will be glued on the tag board to give the illusion of depth.

Lesson 4:

Teacher demonstrates applying a thin coat of acrylic glitter glaze over the ice, mountains, and icebergs. When dry, the icebergs are glued into the scenery and the penguins are placed into their habitats. Students complete their habitats.

Activities:

(1) GuidedPractice:

1. Students review 3-dimensional art and make penguins with modeling clay. They are introduced to Peter Redden and discuss his sculptures of penguins and other seaanimals.
2. Students create habitats for their penguins with understanding of the landscape ofAntarctica.

(2) Independent Practice and Check forUnderstanding:

1. Teacher circulates through the room during student work time, answering questions and offering support asneeded.
2. Teacher notes students’ understanding of directions and reviews with the class ifnecessary.

(3) Closure:

1. Students show their completed penguin habitats to classmates and tell classmates what they learned about emperor penguins and Antarctica. Habitats are displayed on tables around theroom.
2. Students discuss the importance of respect forindividuality.

Evaluation:

Level One – The artwork conveys excellent knowledge of penguins and Antarctica. It shows excellent understanding of 3-dimensional design and working in mixed media. The finished artwork is original and detailed. Craftsmanship is excellent.

Level Two – The artwork conveys good knowledge of penguins and Antarctica. It shows understanding of 3-dimensional design and working in mixed media. The finished artwork is original and detailed. Craftsmanship is good.

Level Three – The student has made an effort to convey some knowledge of penguins and Antarctica. It shows some understanding of 3-dimensional design and working in mixed media. The finished artwork is original, but lacks detail. Craftsmanship is fair

Level Four – The artwork does not convey knowledge penguins and Antarctica. It shows little understanding of 3-dimensional design and working in mixed media. The artwork is original, but lacks detail. Craftsmanship is poor.

Extension: Teacher may introduce students to Kids Zone. A variety of penguin facts, stories, worksheets, songs, coloring pages, and puzzles are available. A penguin slide show may be viewed.

http://www.kidzone.ws/animals/penguins/activities.htm

Resources:

http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Animals/CreatureFeature/Emperor-penguin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Penguin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_Antarctica
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/blcantarctica.htm
http://www.culturekiosque.com/nouveau/news/penguins.html