• Home
  • Art Lessons 
    • Art Lessons
    • Pre-School Lessons
    • Elementary Lessons
    • Jr./Middle Lessons
    • High Sch. Lessons
    • College Art Lessons
    • Substitute Lessons
    • Art/Drama Lessons
    • Art Activities
    • Art Lesson Links
    • Cartoon Lessons
    • Files for Teachers
    • Submit a Lesson
  • Art Jobs & Careers 
    • Art Jobs & Careers
    • Advertising Art
    • Animation Careers
    • Art School Search
    • Art Career Advice
    • Desktop Publishing
    • Fashion Design
    • Graphic Design
    • Illustration
    • Art Job Openings
    • Art Job Search
    • Special Effects
    • Video Game Design
    • Web Design
  • Art Departments 
    • Art Departments
    • Art Room Home
    • Elem. Art Depts.
    • Secondary Art Depts.
    • Art Schools
    • World Art Schools
    • Art School Search
  • Art Resources 
    • Art Resources
    • Great Architects
    • Activities & Games
    • Art Advocacy
    • Artist Encyclopedia
    • Art Associations
    • IAD Art Gallery
    • List of Art Galleries
    • Art Associations
    • Art of India
    • Art of Mexico
    • Art News
    • Art Periods & Styles
    • Art Schools
    • Art Test
    • Art Magazines
    • ASCII Art
    • IAD Art Awards
    • Art Blogs & Podcasts
    • Cartoon Gallery
    • Christmas Art
    • Clip Art & Images
    • Constitution Day Art
    • Easter Art
    • Great Art Sites
    • Halloween Art
    • Holi Festival Art
    • Impressionator
    • John Lloyd Wright
    • Mayan Art Culture
    • List of Art Museums
    • Native American Art
    • Pet Peeves in Art
    • U.S. Art Museums
    • Great Photographers
    • Pointillator Game
    • St. Patrick's Day Art
    • Student Art Galleries
    • Art Tessellations
    • Thanksgiving Art
    • Valentine's Day Art
    • Art Video & Cameras
  • Art Teacher Toolkit 
    • Art Teacher Toolkit
    • Art Activitites
    • Art Assessment
    • Art Community
    • Best Practices
    • Brain Research
    • Common Core Art
    • Art Contests
    • Art Curriculum
    • Classroom Discipline
    • Flipped Classroom
    • Free Art Things
    • Art Instruction
    • Art Links
    • NCLB & the Arts
    • PBIS & the Arts
    • Art Rubrics
    • School Law
    • Special Education
  • Home
  • Art Lessons 
    • Art Lessons
    • Pre-School Lessons
    • Elementary Lessons
    • Jr./Middle Lessons
    • High Sch. Lessons
    • College Art Lessons
    • Substitute Lessons
    • Art/Drama Lessons
    • Art Activities
    • Art Lesson Links
    • Cartoon Lessons
    • Files for Teachers
    • Submit a Lesson
  • Art Jobs & Careers 
    • Art Jobs & Careers
    • Advertising Art
    • Animation Careers
    • Art School Search
    • Art Career Advice
    • Desktop Publishing
    • Fashion Design
    • Graphic Design
    • Illustration
    • Art Job Openings
    • Art Job Search
    • Special Effects
    • Video Game Design
    • Web Design
  • Art Departments 
    • Art Departments
    • Art Room Home
    • Elem. Art Depts.
    • Secondary Art Depts.
    • Art Schools
    • World Art Schools
    • Art School Search
  • Art Resources 
    • Art Resources
    • Great Architects
    • Activities & Games
    • Art Advocacy
    • Artist Encyclopedia
    • Art Associations
    • IAD Art Gallery
    • List of Art Galleries
    • Art Associations
    • Art of India
    • Art of Mexico
    • Art News
    • Art Periods & Styles
    • Art Schools
    • Art Test
    • Art Magazines
    • ASCII Art
    • IAD Art Awards
    • Art Blogs & Podcasts
    • Cartoon Gallery
    • Christmas Art
    • Clip Art & Images
    • Constitution Day Art
    • Easter Art
    • Great Art Sites
    • Halloween Art
    • Holi Festival Art
    • Impressionator
    • John Lloyd Wright
    • Mayan Art Culture
    • List of Art Museums
    • Native American Art
    • Pet Peeves in Art
    • U.S. Art Museums
    • Great Photographers
    • Pointillator Game
    • St. Patrick's Day Art
    • Student Art Galleries
    • Art Tessellations
    • Thanksgiving Art
    • Valentine's Day Art
    • Art Video & Cameras
  • Art Teacher Toolkit 
    • Art Teacher Toolkit
    • Art Activitites
    • Art Assessment
    • Art Community
    • Best Practices
    • Brain Research
    • Common Core Art
    • Art Contests
    • Art Curriculum
    • Classroom Discipline
    • Flipped Classroom
    • Free Art Things
    • Art Instruction
    • Art Links
    • NCLB & the Arts
    • PBIS & the Arts
    • Art Rubrics
    • School Law
    • Special Education

 

Insects and Bees Art Unit

Submitted by: Julianne W. Sterling, Elementary Art Teacher
Length of Lesson:

This lesson is part of a 5 lesson unit. (This is an art extension from ELA classrooms)

Grade level:

2nd to 3rd grade (Ages 7-9)

 

Goals / Objectives:

Students will make realistic observation drawings of bees and insects, collecting these into a book. Students will be able to draw an insect and name the different body parts: head, thorax, abdomen. This lesson is part of a 5 lesson unit, where the students will make a book of drawings of insects, bees and flowers.


Materials Needed:

Drawing Paper., Watercolor Paint., pencils, Sharpie Fine Point Markers. and Tissue paper.


Insect book sample Pin it! Share on Facebook Lesson Description:

The meta-cognitive strategy of modeling will be used in this lesson, the teacher should emphasize practice in the first lesson (Tim van Gelder, Teaching Critical Thinking, 2005) - Practicing for transfer, students will get hands on practice drawing insects and bees. Most students will not start the lesson knowing how to scientifically draw an insect, and will be asked stretch their thinking about what they know about scientific drawings. Piaget explains how, at times, this process results in a "reach beyond the grasp" as one evolves, searches for new knowledge, and encounters "new territory." (Catherine Twomey Fosnot and Randall Stewart Perry)


Assessment(s):

• Students will turn in an initial drawing where they have drawn and labeled the parts of the insect. Teacher will sort student work for understanding and what needs to be retaught.  

• Use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art

• Gallery walk and written TAG feedback from peers
• Make art or design with various materials and tools to explore personal interests, questions, and curiosity.

Day 1

TIME

TEACHER ACTIONS

STUDENT ACTIONS

MATERIALS

10 minutes

Gather information on what students already know about bees and how to protect them in our urban environment. Students will reflect upon what they know and state what they wonder/frame questions about insects. Data will be collected on large chart paper in order to refer back over the unit.

Students have been studying bees in their ELA classrooms and will be asked to share their knowledge.

Graphic organizer of student knowledge.

20 minutes

Why bees are important: Watch videos about bees. https://video.nationalgeographic.com/video/news/

Review sideshow on Bees and pollination.

Students take notes and ask questions.

Students add to our graphic organizer.

20 minutes

Guided Practice

Inform students that bees are insects and we will start with drawing a generic insect. Educate students that they will practice the observational drawing of an insect today. Ask about the difference between observational drawing and drawing from imagination. Walk around the room to check for understanding. Guided and chunked instruction of drawing an insect part by part. Teacher will be at the board drawing, students will.

Students ensure they have all the correct tools and materials. Students will follow step by step modeling to draw an insect.

Practice Newsprint., pencil, and Magic Rub Erasers..

10 minutes

Closing

Ask students to pair share what they liked about their drawings and what was challenging.

   

Day 2

TIME

TEACHER ACTIONS

STUDENT ACTIONS

MATERIALS

10 minutes

Review diagram of an insect.

Insect diagram Pin it! Share on Facebook

Ask students to work in pairs with white boards to diagram part of insects. Quick assessment for review, checking table groups. Review chart of student knowledge, see if students have anything to add this week about bees.

Students have been studying bees in their ELA classes.

They will draw with a partner

Large paper chart, Dry Erase Boards, Dry Erase Markers

7 minutes

Play video of How to draw insects: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfLIMMecq8g

Watch video

 

20 minutes

Students will practice three observational drawing of a insects today. Modeling by teacher with 3 guided drawings of insects from different perspectives. Guided and chunked instruction of drawing an insect part by part. Teacher will be at the board drawing, students will draw at their desks. Reflection after the third drawing. Students will pair share which drawing they feel the best about. They will work on this drawing in independent practice.

Students ensure they have all the correct tools and materials. Students will follow step by step modeling to draw an insect.

Practice paper, pencil, and erasers.

20 minutes

Independent Practice: Students add color and sharpie to the drawing they find most successful. Teacher circulates to each table group.

Quiet work time.

 

5 minutes

CLOSING: Gallery Walk. Students share work with quick gallery walk around the classroom, where they can leave 3 positive notes for classmates about their artwork.

Students have practiced gallery walks as part of their reflection routine.

Post-it notes and pens.

Day 3

TIME

TEACHER ACTIONS

STUDENT ACTIONS

MATERIALS

5 minutes

Review bees are insects and have the same basic body parts. Review chart of student knowledge, see if students have anything to add this week about bees.

Students have been studying bees in their ELA classes

Large Chart Paper

4 minutes

Show video of how to draw bees. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9_6BtwM8OQ

Watch video

 

20 minutes

Students will practice three observational drawing of a bees today. Modeling by teacher with 3 guided drawings of bees from different perspectives. Guided and chunked instruction of drawing an insect part by part. Teacher will be at the board drawing, students will draw at their desks. Reflection after the third drawing. Students will pair share which drawing they feel the best about. They will work on this drawing in independent practice.

Students ensure they have all the correct tools and materials. Students will follow step by step modeling to draw an insect.

Practice paper, pencil, and erasers.

20 minutes

Independent Practice: Students add color and sharpie to the drawing they find most successful. Teacher circulates to each table group.

Quiet work time.

 

5 minutes

CLOSING: Gallery Walk. Students share work with quick gallery walk around the classroom, where they can leave 3 positive notes for classmates about their artwork.

Students have practiced gallery walks as part of their reflection routine.

Post-it notes and pens.

Day 4

TIME

TEACHER ACTIONS

STUDENT ACTIONS

MATERIALS

5 minutes

Review how bees are pollinators and how important they are for plants, food and our environment.

Review chart of student knowledge, see if students have anything to add this week about bees. See if there are any recent news articles.

Students have been studying bees in their ELA

Large paper chart.

4 minutes

Show video of how to draw flowers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoDgicWgR0U

Watch video

 

20 minutes

Introduce parts of the flower. Students will practice two observational drawings of flowers today. Modeling by teacher with 2 guided drawings of two different flowers. Teacher will be at the board drawing, students will draw at their desks. Reflection after the second drawing. Students will pair share which drawing they feel the best about. They will work on this drawing in independent practice.

Students ensure they have all the correct tools and materials. Students will follow step by step modeling to draw an insect.

Practice paper, pencil, and erasers.

20 minutes

Independent Practice: Students add color and sharpie to the drawing they find most successful. Teacher circulates to each table group.

Quiet work time.

 

5 minutes

CLOSING: Gallery Walk. Students share work with quick gallery walk around the classroom, where they can leave 3 positive notes for classmates about their artwork.

Students have practiced gallery walks as part of their reflection routine.

Post-it notes and pens.

Day 5

TIME

TEACHER ACTIONS

STUDENT ACTIONS

MATERIALS

5 minutes

Show sample of an accordion book. Pass rubric for assembled book to students and review

  Rubric

2 minutes

Watch video on how to make an accordion book.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VqliRQWm34

Watch video

 

10 minutes

Model folding paper. Model cutting and pasting drawings. Show examples of cover art with author and illustrator.

Students ensure they have all the correct tools and materials. Students will follow step by step modeling to draw an insect.

Paper, Scissors., Glue Sticks.

30 minutes

Independent Practice: Students paste drawings and develop their cover art. Teacher circulates to each table group.

Quiet work time.

 

10 minutes

Review rubric. Gallery Walk. Students share work with quick gallery walk around the classroom, where they can leave 3 positive notes for classmates about their artwork.

Students have practiced gallery walks as part of their reflection routine.

Post-it notes and pens.

 

You can also download a PDF of this lesson here. PDF




HOME | ABOUT | CONTACT | ADVERTISE | NEWSLETTER | © Incredible Art Department

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
Search website

SHARE

ADDITIONAL INFO

  • Incredible Art Home
  • Pre-School Lessons
  • Elementary Lessons
  • Jr./Middle Lessons
  • High Sch. Lessons
  • College Art Lessons
  • Substitute Lessons
  • Art/Drama Lessons
  • Art Activities
  • Art Lesson Links
  • Cartoon Lessons
  • Files for Teachers
  • Submit a Lesson