Lesson Plan Submitted by Bonnie Raphael
Story teller at the library in Calabasas, CA.
Grades: Kindergarten - 2nd grade
Materials:
- Books
- markers
- crayons
- felt
- feathers
- paper scraps
- paper
Procedure:
We first read a story and then the children make art related to the story. We did one last week called "camouflage collage." The story we read was about a little girl who had gotten lost (My mother is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World was the story --but there are tons of stories that have this type of theme...) The children "hid" something in the collage they had created by drawing a picture of it with markers or crayons, then surrounding the object or figure with felt, feathers, paper scraps, ETC. When we were done the children tried to figure out what was hidden in each other's artwork.
Alternate lessons:
This lesson will especially be of interest to boys. There is a variety fo camouflage in the military. Military camouflage can be integrated into a lesson by having students design their own camouflage shirts that might hide them in a place of your choosing.
Grades: 4 - 6, Two to three periods
Materials:
- Fabric paints (These can be expensive so buy them in large containers)
- brushes & water jars
- White T-shirts (Pre-washed)
- Fabric pencil or marker
Procedure:
Did you know that the military now has new camouflage that is created by computers? They think that this will hide the soldiers better to make them safer from gunfire.
Ask: What is the purpose of camouflage? Do you see it anywhere else besides on soldiers? What kinds of insects, fish or animals have camouflage? What is it that makes their skin blend in with the background? What kind of pattern does it have?
Today we will be creating our own camouflage shirts. You may create a camouflage that hides you better in an art room, outside, or anywhere else. Look at the patterns of real camouflage. It is different for different soldiers and countries, isn't it? What is it about the pattern that hides the soldier? You also may create camouflage that animals or bugs use. Sketch your ideas first before you start painting? What colors will you use? Students will then sketch their designs and begin painting their camouflage shirts. They may refer to the images below:
This is an example of camouflage from the Chinese Army. What do you think the blue camouflage on the right hides this soldier in?
This is camouflage for American soldiers. The two uniforms on the left are the new digital uniforms that they say hide them better.
Here is a close-up of the new dessert camouflage. Right- Can you see the man hidden here?
