Exploring the Jungles of Rousseau

Submitted by: Pam Stephens - LESSON SUMMARY
Title of Lesson: Exploring the Jungles of Rousseau
Grade Level: 2 - 4 (Ages 7-10)

 

Objectives(s): Students will:

• Keenly explore masterworks by Henri Rousseau

• Accurately interpret masterworks by Rousseau

• Effectively demonstrate visually and orally an understanding of the content of masterworks of Rousseau

• Thoughtfully reflect upon learning

Essential Questions:

1. Who is Henri Rousseau?

2. What did Rousseau express through works of art?

Resources & Materials

• Masterworks by Rousseau, Tropical Jungle , On the edge of a forest, and Sleeping Gypsy

• Dropping in on Rousseau video and book

• Question cards

• Assorted live plants

• 12” x 18” (30.5 x 46 cm) heavy white Drawing Paper

• Watercolor Crayons (or Watercolor Pencils)

• Brushes, water containers

• Rousseau Lesson Ideas

Motivation

• Distribute question cards and preview questions

• Show first two paintings in the video

• Answer question cards

• Display prints and look for clues in the pictures that show Rousseau’s technique of enlarging houseplants to appear to be jungle plants

• Discuss careful observation and enlarging

• Demonstrate drawing from life

Activities/Sequence

Create a jungle scene from house plants

1. Place the plants on various tables and allow students to draw at each station for about 10 minutes

2. Encourage filling the page, overlapping, enlarging, seeking details

3. Demonstrate use of watercolor crayons

4. Ask students to color the artwork; encourage mixing of colors

5. Demonstrate using water with the brush

6. Allow to dry overnight

7. Outline or add details with Sharpie Fine Point Markers

Optional:  On a small sheet of paper, draw animals to cut out and hide in the jungle.

8. Reflect orally or in writing about the masterworks and student work.

9. Create a 5” x 5” (12.7 x 12.7 cm) clay tile that reproduces a small segment of the original drawing.

Assessment Rubric

 

Objective	Novice	Acceptable	Mastery
Actively explore masterworks by Henri Rousseau	Will not or cannot actively explore masterworks by Henri Rousseau	Explores masterworks by Henri Rousseau in limited ways	Actively explore masterworks by Henri Rousseau in multiple ways
Accurately interpret masterworks by Rousseau	Will not or cannot accurately interpret masterworks by Rousseau	Interprets masterworks by Rousseau in limited ways or with slight support	Accurately interprets masterworks by Rousseau in a variety of ways and with support
Effectively demonstrate visually and orally an understanding of the masterworks of Rousseau	Cannot or will not effectively demonstrate visually and orally an understanding of the masterworks of Rousseau	Demonstrates visually and orally a limited understanding of the masterworks of Rousseau	Effectively demonstrates visually and orally a deep understanding of the masterworks of Rousseau
Thoughtfully reflect upon learning	Will not or cannot thoughtfully reflect upon learning	Reflect upon learning with limited care and thoughtfulness	Thoughtfully reflects upon learning and supports ideas

 

Question Cards

Who is the artist? Where did he live? What did the artist draw and paint? What was the artist’s secret about his work?

Student Reflection

Name _______________________ Teacher __________________ Date   Use complete sentences to answer these questions.   Who is Henri Rousseau? Tell one fact about Rousseau’s jungle artwork. What did you express through your artwork?