This lesson is a lot of work in the beginning, but is visually stunning in the end. The students are reviewing the art element: Line. Additionally, they are learning complex pattern, repetition, and two new lines.
I begin by drawing an animal on 18"x24" drawing paper. If I need to, I will piece four of these together to make it bigger. I cut around the animal and then cut it into pieces. Each piece is labeled on the back, close to the edge of the piece. I write the student's name, class and teacher, animal name and then two hash marks that line it up to the next piece. When students come in, they use tempera cakes to paint lines on their piece of the puzzle. We usually practice together in the beginning with markers. Then they create their own design on the back. Then they get their puzzle piece. Students can use the design they have already created or create a new one.
I sometimes mat the piece with black paper and cut around it. In that case, all of the information on the back either needs to be re-written or the mat needs to only be glued in the center so that you can still see the information written on the puzzle piece. I add eyes, nose, mouth to the animal and then hang them in the hall. In past years, I have also taken a photograph, and put the picture on Artsonia as a fundraiser.
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