Block Party

Fourth Grade Art Lesson
5 Class Periods

Block Party, Fourth Grade Art Lesson

 

“Why do two colors, put one next to the other, sing?

Can one really explain this?

No. Just as one can never learn how to paint.”   -Pablo Picasso

 

 

Day 1:

• Through follow along demonstration have students draw top block.  Begin middle blocks.
• Vocabulary discussed during this demonstration:  perspective, parallel lines, vertical line, and horizontal line.

Day 2:

• Finish middle blocks with follow along demonstration.
• Reinforce the idea of parallel lines (two lines that run side by side and never cross).
• Continue follow along demonstration to create bottom three blocks.
• Students may add additional blocks if they feel comfortable with concept.

Day 3:

• Discuss with students how light and shadow help make a two-dimensional drawing appear three-dimensional.
• As a class plan out the light and shaded sides of each cube.
• Have students paint the hue (pure color) side of cube.

Student painting hue side of cube.

Day 4:

• Discuss with students how to correctly mix a tint (white + color) and shade (color + black).
• Have students paint the sides of the cubes corresponding to the way light would be hitting the object.

Day 5:

• Have students outline blocks with black oil pastel to sharpen edges.
• Discuss complementary colors schemes with students (colors oppositie on color wheel: red and green, orange and blue, yellow and violet).
• Have students paint background of composition using correct complementary color scheme for their piece.  Students were allowed to use a tint, shade or hue of the complementary.

Example of Student Work: