Submitted by Ti Hewitt, middle school art teacher,
St. Elizabeth School in Kansas City, Missouri.
Lesson: Mysterious Creatures
Grade Level: 6th - 8th grade

Materials:

• Picture of Albrecht Durer's Rhinoceros
• encyclopedias
• paper
• pencil or writing instrument

Procedure:

This is a fun project that requires pencils, papers, and a set of borrowed encyclopedias. It is also necessary to locate a copy of Albrecht Durer's drawing of a Rhinoceros.

Explain to the class that Albrecht Durer created this drawing of a rhino simply by hearing someone's description of the animal. And that this, of course, was his interpretation. Have each student pair up with a partner.

One student will read the description of a "secret" animal from an encyclopedia while the other will draw from the description. Once the young artist has guessed what animal they are creating the two will switch.

It is also very fun to hang the finished pieces and have other members of the class try to guess what animals the drawings are of.

Optional:

Finish drawings with pen and ink