Observational Drawing

Objective

• Students will enhance their observational skills by drawing objects using pencils.
• Students will explore the use of markers and pencil crayons to add colour and dimensions to their drawings.

Curriculum Alignment

Ontario Arts Curriculum: Visual Arts, Grade 5

• Strand: Creating and Presenting
• Expectation: D1.1 Create two- and three-dimensional works of art that express feelings and ideas inspired by personal experiences and/or observation of the natural and human-made environment.
• Specific Skill Area: D1.1 Interpret aspects of daily life in their art (e.g., a plant, toy, or other familiar object).

Materials Needed

• Pencils
• Erasers
• Blank paper (one per student)
• Markers
• Pencil crayons
• Seven different objects for observation (one per table)

Classroom Setup

• Arrange the students into 7 groups of 4.
• Place one object in the centre of each table for observation.

Detailed Lesson Plan

Introduction (5 minutes)

1. Greeting and Objective Overview

   • Welcome the students and explain what they will be doing today.
   • Discuss the importance of observational drawing and how it helps to improve attention to detail and artistic skills.

2. Brief Explanation of Observational Drawing

   • Explain what observational drawing is: drawing what you see in front of you as accurately as possible.
   • Emphasise the importance of looking at the object often while drawing to capture its details.

Activity Instructions (20 minutes)

1. Grouping and Material Distribution

   • Divide the students into their pre-assigned groups.
   • Ensure each student has a pencil, an eraser, and a sheet of blank paper.
   • Distribute the markers and pencil crayons among the groups.

2. Drawing the Object (10 minutes)

   • Instruct students to spend the first 10 minutes focusing solely on drawing the object in pencil.
   • Encourage them to focus on details such as shapes, lines, and proportions.
   • Circulate the room to provide guidance and praise effort and attention to detail.

3. Adding Colour (10 minutes)

   • After the initial 10 minutes of drawing, ask students to start colouring their drawings using markers and pencil crayons.
   • Remind them to think about the colours they observe in the object and try to replicate them.
   • Encourage blending of pencil crayon shades to create a more realistic effect.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

1. Gallery Walk

   • Have students place their finished drawings in a central area.
   • Allow students a few minutes to walk around and observe the artworks created by their peers.
   • Ask for a few volunteers to share what they found challenging or enjoyable about the activity.

2. Reflection and Clean-Up

   • Lead a short discussion on how observational drawing can improve their overall artistic ability.
   • Collect materials and ensure all students help in tidying up their workspace.

Assessment

• Formative Assessment: Observe students during the drawing process, providing feedback to guide their progress.
• Summative Assessment: Evaluate the completed drawings based on attention to detail, use of colour, and overall effort.

Extension Activity

If time permits, students can swap tables and attempt a quick observational drawing of a different object, comparing the similarities and differences in form and colour with their original drawing.