In this project, kids look at different defense mechanisms animals have developed to protect themselves, specifically focusing on rainforest creatures.
They then brainstorm the ideal creature to live in the rainforest, create marionette puppets of their creatures using cardboard tubes as their base, and paint the surface.
A note that the Doodles Academy curriculum encourages a growth mindset by focusing on process over product: projects are designed to allow students to tell their own stories and individualize art projects. This creates a more engaging and more challenging environment where students learn to solve their own problems rather than copying a model.
A typical day in the project:
Students watch a video giving them context and demonstrations.
Students receive instructions and work on their art independently.
…and more:
-Guardians will receive emails detailing concepts they can discuss with their children.
-After the final lesson, students will submit a photo of their artwork and an artist statement.
Materials:
- Pencil & coloring medium of your choice (markers, colored pencils, etc.)
- Cardboard tubes x2 (paper towel tubes)
- Cardstock or thin cardboard that you can cut (recyclable such as cereal boxes would work)
- Masking tape &, optionally, hot glue
- Tempera paint (or other opaque paint)
- Brushes
- Water containers & rags
- Thick string, such as cooking twine
- Sticks (popsicle sticks, skewers, etc.)
- Beads (that fit over the string) OR 2 pipe cleaners