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Instructor: Christine Thornton
UNIT: Mixed Media
Lesson: Australian Aborigine Lizard Paintings
Grade Level: Elementary School
OBJECTIVES:
Students will:
1. Learn the characteristics of Australian Aboriginal "dot paintings"
2. Learn how to draw lizards by copying photographs
3. Create an original mixed media “dot painting” based on the style of the Aboriginal artists
Materials:
· pencils, sketching paper
· pastel paper in various earth tones
· black construction paper
· chalk pastels in shades of brown, white and black
· tempera paint in shades of brown, white and black
· Q-tips
· scissors
· glue
Vocabulary:
· Aborigine
· Australia
· dot paintings
· "dreamings"
· ancestors
· lizards
· mixed media
Motivational Resources:
· globe
· lizard books, toys and photographs
· didgeridoo recordings
· books and reproductions of Aboriginal art
· photographs of Aboriginal Australians and the Australian Outback
PROCEDURES:
Day One: Drawing Lizards
1. Look at many different photographs of lizards, discussing their size and shape, where they live, what they eat, how they hide
from enemies, etc..
2. Sketch three different kinds of lizards, examining the shape of each body part and paying close attention to proportions, patterns
and details. Choose your favorite.
3. Fold a piece of black construction paper into fourths. Draw your favorite lizard on the folded black construction paper with
white chalk. Cut out lizard so you get four black lizard shapes. If time is left over, color lizard sketches.
Day Two: Australian Aborigine Art
1. People everywhere on Earth have made art all throughout history. In some places, the art looks very different from what we’re
used to here in the United States. In Australia, the native people are known as Aborigines. Some of the Aboriginal tribes live today
as they did thousands of years ago. Like their ancestors before them, they use art as a way to tell stories, known as "dreamings."
Dreamings are the aboriginal folk tales and myths that teach why things happen the way they do. Aboriginal artists paint pictures of
dreamings to pass these stories on from generation to generation. We will be creating our own version of an Aboriginal dot
painting.
2. First, arrange your four black lizards in an interesting pattern or design on the earth-colored paper. Aborigine artists use earth
colors because traditionally, their paint came from natural materials like clay and ochre. When you have the lizards how you want
them, glue them down.
3. Next, practice making dots and lines like the Aboriginal artists on scrap paper. Use a Q-tip and tempera paint to make dots, and
chalk pastels to draw lines. Copy the samples of Aboriginal paintings, then try your own patterns. Think about how you want your
finished design to look. Imagine a story that you can tell about your four lizards that would be represented by dots and lines.
4. Once you’re comfortable using the materials and have decided how you want your final art to look, add dots and lines to the
lizard picture. If time is left over, offer to help a neighbor with their dots or help the teacher with clean-up
Day Three and Beyond:
Continue production, if necessary, for third day.
Conduct a class critique:
-- What does my artwork show?
-- What do I like about my work?
-- What would I do differently next time?
-- What do others have to say about my work?
EVALUATION:
--Can student identify characteristics of Australian Aboriginal dot paintings? (Earth colors, dots and lines, animals)
--Did student participate in class critique?
--Does student artwork contain four carefully drawn and cut out lizards?
--Are there lines and dots in the style of the Aborigines?
UNIT: Mixed Media
Lesson: Australian Aborigine Lizard Paintings
Grade Level: Elementary School
OBJECTIVES:
Students will:
1. Learn the characteristics of Australian Aboriginal "dot paintings"
2. Learn how to draw lizards by copying photographs
3. Create an original mixed media “dot painting” based on the style of the Aboriginal artists
Materials:
· pencils, sketching paper
· pastel paper in various earth tones
· black construction paper
· chalk pastels in shades of brown, white and black
· tempera paint in shades of brown, white and black
· Q-tips
· scissors
· glue
Vocabulary:
· Aborigine
· Australia
· dot paintings
· "dreamings"
· ancestors
· lizards
· mixed media
Motivational Resources:
· globe
· lizard books, toys and photographs
· didgeridoo recordings
· books and reproductions of Aboriginal art
· photographs of Aboriginal Australians and the Australian Outback
PROCEDURES:
Day One: Drawing Lizards
1. Look at many different photographs of lizards, discussing their size and shape, where they live, what they eat, how they hide
from enemies, etc..
2. Sketch three different kinds of lizards, examining the shape of each body part and paying close attention to proportions, patterns
and details. Choose your favorite.
3. Fold a piece of black construction paper into fourths. Draw your favorite lizard on the folded black construction paper with
white chalk. Cut out lizard so you get four black lizard shapes. If time is left over, color lizard sketches.
Day Two: Australian Aborigine Art
1. People everywhere on Earth have made art all throughout history. In some places, the art looks very different from what we’re
used to here in the United States. In Australia, the native people are known as Aborigines. Some of the Aboriginal tribes live today
as they did thousands of years ago. Like their ancestors before them, they use art as a way to tell stories, known as "dreamings."
Dreamings are the aboriginal folk tales and myths that teach why things happen the way they do. Aboriginal artists paint pictures of
dreamings to pass these stories on from generation to generation. We will be creating our own version of an Aboriginal dot
painting.
2. First, arrange your four black lizards in an interesting pattern or design on the earth-colored paper. Aborigine artists use earth
colors because traditionally, their paint came from natural materials like clay and ochre. When you have the lizards how you want
them, glue them down.
3. Next, practice making dots and lines like the Aboriginal artists on scrap paper. Use a Q-tip and tempera paint to make dots, and
chalk pastels to draw lines. Copy the samples of Aboriginal paintings, then try your own patterns. Think about how you want your
finished design to look. Imagine a story that you can tell about your four lizards that would be represented by dots and lines.
4. Once you’re comfortable using the materials and have decided how you want your final art to look, add dots and lines to the
lizard picture. If time is left over, offer to help a neighbor with their dots or help the teacher with clean-up
Day Three and Beyond:
Continue production, if necessary, for third day.
Conduct a class critique:
-- What does my artwork show?
-- What do I like about my work?
-- What would I do differently next time?
-- What do others have to say about my work?
EVALUATION:
--Can student identify characteristics of Australian Aboriginal dot paintings? (Earth colors, dots and lines, animals)
--Did student participate in class critique?
--Does student artwork contain four carefully drawn and cut out lizards?
--Are there lines and dots in the style of the Aborigines?
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| Sample Lesson Plan: Australian Aborigine Lizard Paintings |
Noah, age 5
Lauren K., age 7
Deanna, age 7
