Sea inventory

In this lesson students will create a beach mural with sand, shells, and blue and white finger paints. They will count objects added to the mural as they go along.

A lesson plan for grades K–1 Visual Arts Education and Mathematics

By Dinah Jackson

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• explore various mediums via coloring, finger-painting, sifting sand, and gluing of sea shells.
• work in cooperative groups of 4 or 5 to help create the class mural.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

3.5 hours

Materials/resources

• construction paper
• crayons
• blue and white finger paints
• sand
• shells
• glue
• sea stencils (e.g., fish, crabs, octopus)
• 3′ x 5′ newsprint (newspaper end-roll)baggies

Pre-activities

Ask students to name the sea objects they know, and write these vocabulary words on the board. Have the entire class repeat each new vocabulary word after it is written. Throughout the lesson, have students use the correct names for the items that they are coloring, painting, or gluing.

Activities

1. Assign students to cooperative groups of three to four students.
2. Explain that they will be creating an ocean mural including some of the following items: fish, mammals, shells, water, and sand.
3. Students will use crayons to draw or trace sea creatures on the bottom half of a 3′ by 5′ newsprint. (I cover the top half of the mural in newspaper to help the children stay in the appropriate area.)
• After drawing the sea creatures on the bottom half of the mural, students will orally count the total number of creatures.
4. Students will mix blue and white finger paint. After it has been mixed, students will paint a “blue ocean” over the bottom half of the mural on top of their crayon drawings.
• Before students wash their hands they will place their handprints on an 8″ by 10″ construction paper. When the prints have dried, students will gather as a group to count orally, “How many fingers did it take to make our sea?”
• The teacher will write in consecutive numbers the fingers on each handprint while the students count aloud the numbers. Students will recognize each written symbol when the teacher points to specific numbers.
5. After the paint has dried, students will put their hands inside clear baggies so that they can spread glue on the top portion of the mural. While the glue is still wet, students will sprinkle sand on the glue. Each child will add a handful of sand to the top portion of the mural until it is covered with sand. Students will orally count how many handfuls of sand it takes to make the beach.
6. Students will glue shells onto the “beach” portion of the mural.
7. After the sand and shells have been glued to the top of the mural students will orally count the number of shells on “our beach.”
8. In groups of 4-5, students will problem solve the question: “Are there more small shells or big shells on our beach?” Students will use shell stickers and paste on large construction paper to determine shell sizes. Each group will share their process and results with classmates.

Assessment

Students’ efforts will be observed.

Creativity and imagination will be evaluated when the final product has been completed.

When questioned, students will be able to identify each sea creature, and type of shells (i.e., big, small, or large).

Supplemental information

Comments

It is advisable to cover each half of the mural while students are working on specific parts.

Adult supervision is necessary for the finger painting and gluing of sand shells.

As stated earlier, this thematic unit also incorporates math and language arts. In addition, lessons for this particular unit can include science, social studies, and healthful living activities.