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Watercolor Family Tree Painting
Submitted by: Stormey Kasser
Title of Lesson: What's in Your Tree?
Grade level: Third Grade
Goals / Objectives:
Students will learn the value of and how to incorporate symbolism as a means of expressing personal meaning as they create an original family tree which represents their family and culture. They will incorporate language arts skills through expressing their personal story in writing a composition, as well as history as they orally express the ideas they have set forth both in their symbolic rendering as well as their writing composition.
The goal is for the student to acquire basic knowledge, skills and experience with the use of symbolism and visual culture to express personal meaning. They will build on their language arts and history skills as they gain experience in writing about personal experiences and expressing those ideas orally.
The student will produce an original family tree incorporating two each of both art principles and elements.
The student will use symbols to represent his family members and culture.
The student will identify his general intent and expressive qualities in his work.
The student will incorporate language arts skills in writing about important personal experiences as a basis to producing an original work based on his project.
The student will incorporate history skills as he orally expresses his ideas based on his own knowledge and experience of his family.
The student will associate concrete ideas with appropriate vocabulary.
Materials Needed:
Each child will need:
#6B Drawing Pencils
1 sheet of 11"x14" (28 x 35.5 cm) Watercolor Paper
Clean water
1 Sheet of Copy Paper
or 
Download the Word Version of this Lesson 
Lesson Description:
Art Elements and Art Principles of Art Design: line, space, balance, unity
Vocabulary Terms:
Line – a dot that moves out into space.
Space – positive space is the actual object, while negative space is the space surrounding it
Balance – symmetry (symmetrical, asymmetrical or radial)
Unity - all the parts work together to make the whole
Symbol – an item used to represent something else
Horizon – where the sky meets the earth
Family – a group of people who are related in some way, such as your descendants or those you live with as a unit
Culture – beliefs and customs shared by a particular group of people
Express – share your thoughts out loud
Personal – unique to you
Procedure:
Set up: Place supply baskets with enough materials for each group or table in designated supply area.
Whole class discussion of family tree, visual culture, symbolism, describing process and procedure for project as well as incorporating vocabulary words (Written on board in advance)
Preview project and instructions with class. Show examples, model process for visual learners, leaving technique examples on the board.
Helpers pass out table supply baskets.
With pencils, copy paper and clipboards, walk class outside as a group to observe the shape and structure of a tree. Point out the parts of the tree as well as the horizon line and how the tree meets the earth. Let them trace the outline in the air of the tree first with their fingers, then with a pencil.
Students draw a quick sketch of the tree in front of the horizon line on their copy paper. Write the names of 5 family members they will include on their family tree.
Return to classroom. Students will lightly sketch their tree onto watercolor paper.
Students will add symbolic representations of their five family members.
Students will use watercolors to paint the sky and the area around the tree. Set aside to dry.
Using pencil and lined paper, students will write a composition about their family tree, including who they have represented, where they are from, what is special/what they do, and what the symbol they have chosen for the person means.
Students will reclaim their art work and complete the painting, beginning in the back of their work, to the center, then the foreground, being careful not to paint in wet areas to prevent paint "running".
Allow dry time between painting adjoining areas.
Display student art work in conjunction with original story.
"Spotlight Museum" – Student and his work are "spotlighted". Student presents his work teach group, identifying and orally expressing his general intent in his work as well as the expressive qualities he utilized.
Assessment(s): Grading Rubric:
National Visual Arts Standards Covered:
Visual Arts Standards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6
TEKS:
Art 3.1A, 3.1B, 3.2A, 3.2B, 3.2C, 3.3A, 3.3B, 3.4A
Language Arts 3.19
History 3.17A, 3.17B, 3.17C
