The Grouchy Ladybug

Students will learn the meaning of illustration, will be introduced to a famous illustrator and will create an illustration based on the style of this particular artist.

A lesson plan for grades K–1 Visual Arts Education

By Jean Caldwell

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Related topics

• Learn more about Eric Carle, The Grouchy Ladybug, arts, hands-on, paintings, printmaking, and read-alouds.

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Learning outcomes

Students will:

• listen to the well-known book, The Grouchy Ladybug, and as it is read, will pay close attention to the illustrations.
• be introduced and become familiar with the work of the author/illustrator, Eric Carle.
• create their own illustrations of ladybugs based on the story, using either collage or printmaking techniques.

Teacher planning

Time required for lesson

45 minutes

Materials/resources

• The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle Publisher: HarperTrophy; 1996 ISBN: 0064434508
• 9×12 manila paper
• black crayon for drawing
• crayons for filling in rest of picture
• if printing
• small potatoes cut in half
• red and black tempera paint
• palette plate for paint
• brushes
• if collage/cutting
• small rectangles of red construction paper
• scissors
• glue

Pre-activities

Write the words ‘illustration’ and ‘illustrator’ for the students to see on a board or overhead. Since this is a ‘big’ word for kindergartners, have them repeat the word out loud. (Throughout the lesson, have students say the words.) Show examples of books with ‘good’ illustrations. Illustrations are special pictures, often found in books. Illustrations usually accompany written material. Show pictures of well-known illustrators. Illustrators are special people, artists who design pictures in books, on posters, for greeting cards, etc.

Read the book, The Grouchy Ladybug. Introduce students to Eric Carle, a very well-known children’s book author and illustrator. His books are colorful and unique. Many of his stories are about animals. The illustrations are painted papers cut out and glued like a collage.

Activities

1. Look at ladybugs. If possible, bring a real ladybug to the classroom. Show close-up images of actual ladybugs. Look for artistic renderings of the ladybug, i.e. jewelry, cards, knick-knacks, etc. Have students describe the shape and color of this insect. What makes it an insect? Is the ladybug a ‘good’ bug or a ‘bad’ bug?
2. To begin their own illustrations, the students need to draw with the black crayon several large leaf shapes and greenery to fill in the background areas on the manila paper. They should imagine that they are really close to a bush, covered with several ladybugs. Encourage them to draw so leaves hang off the edges of the paper and even overlap. Point out how the sky and sun will not be in these illustrations. The teacher can do an example to help guide the students. Color the leaves and vines in values of greens. Green is a cool color.
3. If printing, distribute the pre-cut potatoes, paint and palettes, and brushes. To create the ladybugs, simply touch the cut side of the potato into the red paint and then press it down on top of a leaf. This is the bug’s body. With a brush, add the head, spots, antennae, and legs using black paint. Print several ladybugs among the leaves.
4. If making a collage, distribute red construction paper, scissors, and glue. The students are to cut a circle from the rectangle piece of red paper to create the bug’s body. Glue the circle to a green leaf. With a black crayon, add the rest of the body. More than one bug can be added.
5. Red is a warm color. Warm colors are really noticeable. Cool colors are not so readily seen. Discuss this with the students. The red bug on the green leaves is hard not to notice. These colors, red and green, seem to brighten each other (contrast and complementary).
6. Once the pictures are complete, have students think about what kind of ladybug theirs might be. Is your ladybug friendly? Grouchy? Lazy? Silly? Lonely? The prettiest one in the whole backyard? Write down a few sentences to several paragraphs (if able) to accompany their illustrations.

Assessment

• Students display finished work.
• Students explain how they did simple printing technique or collage.
• When questioned, the student will be able to define or demonstrate an understanding of illustration and illustrator.
• Students recognize illustrators as artists working as professionals with specialized skills.
• If shown, students will be able to identify Eric Carle’s illustrations based on their knowledge of his unique style.