Habitats and Homes Lessons 4-6:
Observe & Create Shapes
introducing artist Bill Traylor to explore the use of shapes in image making
Grade Level Focus: Kindergarten/ 1st Grade
School: 21st Century Primary Center
Teaching Artist: Kimberly Moore, Molly Cranch
Classroom Teacher: Eileen Ward, Kierra Young-Bey
Materials: crayons or pastels, thin paper, materials to put under paper and rub.
Lessons: 3
Unit: Habitats and Homes
Summary
Introduce artist Bill Traylor. Use Traylor’s work to inspire exploration of shapes and their use in creating birds. Add implied texture feathers.
Lesson Sequence
Lesson 4: Learn about artist Bill Traylor and discover how he uses simple shapes to create his artwork. Find and draw shapes from Traylor’s art.
Lesson 5: Introduce organic and geometric shapes with this video Shape - Scratch Garden. Design birds or other animals observed outside, inspired by Bill Traylor’s shape art.
Lesson 6: Review the difference between real texture and implied texture using an artist resource. Create implied texture feathers and add them to birds from Lesson 5.
Next Generation Science Standards
K-LS1-1
K-ESS2-2
K-ESS3-1
K-2-ETS1-1
K-2-ETS1-2
National Visual Arts StandardsCREATING
Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and works.
VA:Cr1.1.Ka, VA:Cr1.1a, VA:Cr1.2.1a
Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr2.1.Ka, VA:Cr2.1.1a
Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
VA:Cr3.1.Ka, VA::Cr.1.1a
PRESENTING
Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic works for presentation.
VA:Cr4.1.Ka
RESPONDING
Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
VA:Re.7.1.Ka, VA:Re.7.1.1a
Anchor Standard 8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
VA:Re8.1.Ka, VA:Re8.1.1a
CONNECTING
Anchor Standard 10: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
VA:Cn10.1.Ka, VA:Cn10.1.1a
Artist Connections
Bill Traylor
Additional Resources
Textures in Nature (Grinell College)
Lesson Sequence
Lesson 4: Learn about artist Bill Traylor and discover how he uses simple shapes to create his artwork. Find and draw shapes from Traylor’s art.
Lesson 5: Introduce organic and geometric shapes with this video Shape - Scratch Garden. Design birds or other animals observed outside, inspired by Bill Traylor’s shape art.
Lesson 6: Review the difference between real texture and implied texture using an artist resource. Create implied texture feathers and add them to birds from Lesson 5.
K-LS1-1
K-ESS2-2
K-ESS3-1
K-2-ETS1-1
K-2-ETS1-2
National Visual Arts StandardsCREATING
Anchor Standard 1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and works.
VA:Cr1.1.Ka, VA:Cr1.1a, VA:Cr1.2.1a
Anchor Standard 2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
VA:Cr2.1.Ka, VA:Cr2.1.1a
Anchor Standard 3: Refine and complete artistic work.
VA:Cr3.1.Ka, VA::Cr.1.1a
PRESENTING
Anchor Standard 4: Select, analyze, and interpret artistic works for presentation.
VA:Cr4.1.Ka
RESPONDING
Anchor Standard 7: Perceive and analyze artistic work.
VA:Re.7.1.Ka, VA:Re.7.1.1a
Anchor Standard 8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
VA:Re8.1.Ka, VA:Re8.1.1a
CONNECTING
Anchor Standard 10: Synthesize and relate knowledge and personal experiences to make art.
VA:Cn10.1.Ka, VA:Cn10.1.1a
Artist Connections
Bill Traylor
Additional Resources
Shape - Scratch Garden
Textures in Nature (Grinell College)
Work examples:
Lesson 4: Observe, Discover and Draw
![presentation of Bill Traylor's work]()
![finding shapes in the work of Bill Traylor]()
![drawing of a bird using basic shapes]()
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student-made birds using basic shapes
Lesson 6: Create Birds with Implied Texture
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Lesson 4: Observe, Discover and Draw
Lesson 5: Create Birds with Shapes
Lesson 6: Create Birds with Implied Texture
implied textures added to birds
