What child or adult does not love ladybugs? This lesson is not only fun but reinforces the letter L.

Goal (Terminal Objective):

Students will learn about the letter L by making a Ladybug.

Objective:

The students will experience various art materials while learning about the letter L and ladybugs.

National Standards:

Visual Arts Grades K­4 Content Standard 1: Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes

Visual Arts Grades K­4 Content Standard 2: Using knowledge of structures and functions
Visual Arts Grades K­4 Content Standard 3: Choosing and evaluating a range of subject matter, symbols, and ideas

Visual Arts Grades K­4 Content Standard 5: Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others

Visual Arts Grades K­4 Content Standard 6: Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines (Science and English Cross Curriculum Connection)

Purpose:

Students will learn to follow directions sequentially to complete all of the steps necessary for a ladybug and to supplement their science lesson on ladybugs.

New Vocabulary:

finger paint, watercolor paint, circle, half, semicircle, and antenna

Materials:

#66-7022 Finger Paint set

#22-9085 washable Black Glitter Watercolor Magic

#56-6010 Natural Hair Brush Assortment

#22-1403 Glue Stick box

#22-7209 Construction Paper Pencils

#22-5103 Children’s Smart Smock (light color blue)

#22-7244 144 ct. Graphic Pencils

#22-0907 Children’s Soft Handle Cushion Grip Scissors

Three white drawing papers, circle templates, (Pictures of ladybugs could be taken from a Google Images search but most students will be familiar with what they look like.)

Time:

2 or more art periods depending on complexity desired.

Introduction and Motivation (Set):

Draw an upper and lower case L on the board.
Ask the students what letter it is and what things begin with L.
Ask the students if they have been learning about ladybugs in class.
Show them a picture of a ladybug.
Show them the example of the finished ladybug.

Instruction:

Demonstrate how to trace the circle template onto the paper (using sturdy paper plates seems easier than flat paper templates). Trace two large ones and two small ones. Note: it is easier to paint and to store if the students paint the circles before cutting them out.
Use Sargent Art red glitter finger paint to completely cover one of the large circles. The use of finger paint paper is not necessary for this since finger paint paper wrinkles so much. The remaining circles will be covered with Sargent Art black glitter watercolor paint. Allow them to dry.

Cut out the large black glitter and red glitter circles. Fold the large red circle in half and cut into two equal pieces. Glue the two halves onto the top of the large black circle. Leave a space between the two red halves so that it looks like the ladybug is ready to fly.

Cut out the two smaller black circles. Glue one small black circle onto the back edge of the large black circle to create the ladybug’s head. The remaining black circle will be cut into smaller circles for the spots on the ladybugs red back. Demonstrate how to fold the black painting so that multiple circles can be cut at once. Use a scrap of the black from cutting the circles for the back to form antenna. Use the white construction paper color pencil to add a face onto the ladybug. Note: A black chenille stem could also be masking taped to the back of the head for antenna and wiggle eyes could be used.

Activities:

(1) Guided Practice:

1. Students use a pencil to trace circle templates.
2. Paint one large circle with red glitter finger paint.
3. Paint remaining circles with black glitter watercolor magic.
4. Cut out the large circles.
5. Cut out the smaller black circles. Glue one of the black circles behind the large black circle to form the head.
6. Fold the red circle into halves and cut apart on the fold. Glue onto the large black circle leaving a space between the two halves of red.
7. Fold the remaining black circle into fourths so that multiple circles can be cut at once. Glue these spots onto the red semicircles.
8. Add black scraps for the antenna.
9. Add a face with a white construction paper color pencil. Note: a white crayon will also work but show up as well.

(2) Independent Practice and Check for Understanding: The teacher will circulate among the students as they work to make sure that they are staying with the objectives of this composition, asking direct questions when understanding is not being observed. The teacher will help when necessary and add positive reinforcement as the students work.

(3) Closure: Students display their work. The teacher will guide a critique to help younger students to learn the process, pointing out the strong qualities of successful compositions.

Evaluation:

Teacher will evaluate the works individually based on the following criteria:

Level One- ­­ The finished ladybug has all of the parts assembled correctly. The red and black paint extends to the edges of the circles. The cutting is done very well. The circles on the back are good size, not too few or too many. The antenna has successfully been added. A face has been drawn very well onto the head. The craftsmanship is excellent.

Level Two- ­­ The finished ladybug has all of the parts assembled correctly. The red and black paint does not extend to the edges of all of the circles. The cutting is done well. The circles on the back are mixed in size with some large and some small. The antenna has been added. A face has been drawn onto the head. The craftsmanship is good.

Level Three- ­­ The finished ladybug has most of the parts assembled correctly. The red and black paint does not extend to the edges of all of the circles. The cutting is not done well. The circles on the back are small and not all of them are circular in shape. The antenna has been added in the wrong place. A face has been poorly drawn onto the head. The craftsmanship is variable.

Level Four- ­­ The finished ladybug has most of the parts not assembled correctly. The red and black paint does not extend to the edges of any of the circles. The cutting is very poor having the appearance of being ripped or torn. The circles on the back are very small and are not circular in shape. The antenna has not been added or has been added to the wrong place. A face has been poorly drawn onto the head or may be placed in the wrong place. The craftsmanship is poor.

Extensions:

Create a habitat with paper for the ladybug.

Resources:

https://libraryzone.wikispaces.com/Ladybugs+page
http://www.celticbug.com/Legends/Lore.html
http://storiesforchildren.tripod.com/id329.html