Lions, Tigers, and Bears

Lions, tigers, and bears…oh my!

Research projects in first grade are interdisciplinary mashups of language arts, science, social studies, library, Bible, and art.

First graders put their research skills to work during a sixweek long interdisciplinary unit on animals. Students began by conducting preliminary research on various animals; they eventually selected the one that interested them the most, and began in-depth research. Students combed through print, online, and multimedia sources, searching for more information on their animal and learning how to separate their findings into categories – habitats, predators, and physical appearance to name a few. The project culminated with the publication of books, authored and illustrated by each student, that presented the information students had collected during the unit.

Prayers from a Different Point of View

Students spent time during the unit writing a prayer from their animal’s perspective, allowing them to practice the key social, emotional, and intellectual skill of perspective taking. All hearts, even animals, can seek God!

In art first graders were challenged to use their animal knowledge and draw BIG. Students turned drawings of their chosen animal into paintings by adding both watercolors and tempera cake paints. With some creative paper stuffing, the animals transformed into an immersive 3D zoo. The project strengthened students’ observation and hand-eye coordination skills, all while developing their patience, creativity, and love of research!

STEP-BY-STEP:

1. Look at a reference photo – draw a BIG animal in pencil! 2. Sharpie over your pencil lines. 3. Color animal in with crayon. 4. Watercolor over crayon. 5. Paint background with tempera paint. 6. Staple on paper backing and stuff with paper.

UNITY QUILT

Inspired by modern quiltmaker and artist Libs Elliot, each art student contributed a single quilt square to the life-size art installation. The students used a shared key for colors and shapes to express their individual qualities and interests (i.e., orange for athletic, pink for outgoing). The repetition of geometric shapes, diagonals, and colors highlights similarities among the students while preserving each’s individuality.