This jack-o-lantern lesson can be used with any grade level and the results are so much fun. The students really got into thinking about what types of shapes they could cut-out to make the most interesting jack-o-lanterns. We discussed positive and negative space, symmetry, and reversed images. First, we started with the orange paper, folded it and drew only half of a pumpkin, added the features and cut them out (while the paper was still folded). Next, the students cut all of the pieces of paper that had a folded edge in half. Then, students put their jack-o-lanterns back together using only half of the pieces. To add some artistic flair to their work, students added line and shape designs to the orange paper with a black marker, and green or yellow designs to the black paper with a GelFx marker.
For students who do not celebrate Halloween, they can do the same project but instead of the jack-o-lantern, they can use random geometric and free-form shapes.
I know you said any grade can do this, but what grade did you teach it to??
ReplyDeleteThat was my 6th grade class from last year. I think that grades 3-6 will be able to do it just fine. Now, the 3rd graders will probably need the step-by-step directions, "Draw a triangle here...now draw a line here...cut on the line..."etc.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing! I have done positive/negative space pumpkin project before but I like how you have added using patterns to fill in! Nice twist on what I've done before so students who have taken my class before are doing something new too :)
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! I noticed the pattern sheets they seem to be referencing, did Students fill in blank pattern sheets first, or did you provide them with sheets that had different patterns on it?
ReplyDeleteYour students are so creative! I've link to you from my blog post http://expressivemonkey.blogspot.com/2014/10/my-top-5-pumpkin-pins.html
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