Creatures of the Night

Creatures of the Night lesson plan

Chase away nighttime fears by reading books and drawing creatures of the imagination.

  • 1.

    Share ideas about scary creatures of your imagination. Describe the creatures in terms of shapes, colors, textures, sounds, and sizes. Compile a list of descriptive words.

  • 2.

    On a large sheet of dark construction paper, lightly sketch a scary Creature of the Night with Crayola® Construction Paper Crayons.

  • 3.

    Fill the shape with color. Experiment first on scrap paper if these are new techniques: Blend colors by overlapping them. Make a heavy layer of color, then draw over it with another bright or deep color. Put a pad of paper or a magazine underneath the paper for smoother crayon laydown. Do crayon rubbings by removing the paper wrapper, placing paper on a textured surface (such as screens or doilies), and rubbing with the side of the crayon. Make two thick layers of crayon, then scratch off the top layer with an open paper clip. If a technique works well, cut it out with Crayola Scissors. Use Crayola Glue Sticks to attach any crayon rubbings.

  • 4.

    Glue the list of descriptive words to the back of the drawing. Children describe characteristics of each other's creations, and see how closely the word list matches these descriptions.

Benefits

  • Students brainstorm a list of words describing scary creatures they imagine now or imagined when they were younger.
  • Students read books such as <u>There's a Nightmare in My Closet</u>, and share how they deal with scary experiences.
  • Students represent imaginary nighttime creatures using various color techniques such as blending, layering, rubbing, and etching.

Adaptations

  • Especially with young children, make certain that they feel comfortable during the discussion and creation of their artwork. Fears can be very real to preschoolers. Offer plenty of reassurance.
  • Write original stories that involve the imaginary creatures, either in small groups or individually.
  • Create a crayon rubbing center. Ask families to donate textured items such as sandpaper or plastic mats, as well as broken crayons. Children can experiment with different textures, inside and outdoors, and with various types of paper.