Hide-'N-Seek Animals

Research distinctive animal characteristics to include in a repeated shape landscape like those of Henri Rousseau.

• 1.

  Listen to or read <i>Who Is the Beast?</i>, in which an animal discovers that segments of the "beast" that others fear are parts of its own body. Compile a list of fearsome animals that might be identified by a body part, such as a skunk's stripe. Study photographs and drawings of these animals.

• 2.

  Look carefully at Henri Rousseau's fanciful paintings of rain forest animals. Note the repetition of plant shapes. Compare these plants and animals to rainforest photographs.

• 3.

  Choose one animal to portray hiding in its natural habitat. Study its shape, color, markings, and textures. How might these characteristics help camouflage the animal? Find out what natural elements abound in its environment, too, such as plants.

• 4.

  Draw the animal using Crayola® Colored Pencils. With Crayola Scissors, cut out and glue the animal to a construction paper background.

• 5.

  On oak tag or poster board, draw a simple outline of one natural element in the animal's habitat, such as a leaf. Plan ahead. Choose a size that will enable you to use several of these shapes to camouflage most of the animal. Cut out the shape to make a s

• 6.

  Color a thick outline around the edge of each shape with colored pencils. Fill in with light colors (tints). Draw in darker details with Crayola Fine Line Markers.

• 7.

  Experiment to find a pleasing way to lay the shapes on top of the animal drawing and background. Overlap and cluster shapes to create harmony. Use a Crayola Washable Glue Stick to attach the shapes so the fearsome creature appears partially hidden by vege

Benefits

• Children research distinctive animal characteristics in various ecosystems and recognize how different animal markings help camouflage them.
• Students create an authentic landscape with a partially hidden animal.
• Students explore how repeated shapes unify design and create a harmonious work.

Adaptations

• Keep the animal identities a mystery as students work. Then play a game in which students try to identify each other's animals and their habitats.
• Younger students or those with disabilities might be more successful in making prints with real leaves, or with sponges cut in leaf shapes. If time is limited, work in pairs to create one scene.
• Go on a nature walk and find local creatures in parks, playgrounds, and other natural areas that blend in with their surroundings. Make sketches with notes about coloring and shapes. Create a classroom mural of local flora and fauna.