Human proportions 5th and 6th grade

 Looking at and drawing a proportional human skeleton. Spot light artist Jean-Michel Basquiat 

Mr. Bones hanging out with Picasso 

Dem Bones

Leg bone connected to the hip bone...
Working with a pre printed skeleton, students cut and assembled the
form and added Day of the Dead details.

Imagine a Skeleton

What does a human skeleton look like? If I wanted to know about skeletons where could I go to get information? If I wanted to see a skeleton where could I go?

Mr. Bones Part 2

Mr. Bones Part I

What does a skeleton look like? If I wanted to see a skeleton where would I go?

6th grade Little Altars

This culturally connected project, builds on 6th grade world history standards and connects to Common Core objectives, allowing for lots of discussion, observation and hands on learning experiences.

Meet Mr. Bones

This two part project blends Science and Art. What does a skeleton look like? How many bones are in an adult human skeleton? What is the biggest bone in the human body? What is the smallest bone in the human body? Using imagination and observation, discussion and hands on direct drawing students are introduced to the marvels of the human skeleton.

Drawing Mr. Bones:
We fold the pre-cut long black construction paper in half. Using white color pencils, white charcoal pencil or white crayon, students draw a skull at the top, pelvic bone on the fold line and two feet at the bottom. Now the job is to connect these parts. Using red light green light/direct drawing we build our Mr. Bones together step by step. Here are a few examples of the end results. I also send home a skeleton information hand out so that the artists can continue their studies.

Mr. Bones Observed

Day of the Dead

In honor of this cultural celebration 4th and 6th grade students are creating projects connected to this event.

Using a Sharpie to layout the details

4th grade students add details to skull



 4th graders drew and cut out (on newspaper) a large skull shape. This was painted with white tempera paint allowing some of the type to show through. This process is to reflect on the actual construction of paper mache skulls used to celebrate the day of the dead. Cardboard panels were given to each student and one sheet of foil. They covered the board with the foil leaving the surface as smooth as possible, names on the back of the board. The skull was glued in the middle of the foil area-this will provide the frame/background for the skull.

Part three is adding color and embellishments to both the sugar skull image and the background/frame. Artists used color sharpies, buttons, sequins and other decorative elements to complete these festive pieces.







Black and white skulls on silver foil panels

 

working at tables to add color and detail

 

Decorative Skull Drawings

 While connecting to World Studies standards for 6th grade this lesson also allows students to develop their drawing and design skills. Using handouts, drawings from their sketchbook's and table resource images as well as classroom discussion students draw a basic human skull. Taking inspiration from the Day of the Dead celebrations of Mexico, students add color, pattern and details to personalize their drawing. Works are done on black paper with color pencil, metallic color pencils, crayons, construction paper crayons and metallic crayons.

 

Mr. Bones Imagine and Observation



imaginary

human skeleton

This is a wonderful two part art project for 2nd grade. It  introduces the human skeleton, body proportion, and builds on imagination by using observation skills.
Part I imagine a human skeleton. Discuss where you "find" skeletons, review the basic body parts (I like to use the song head and shoulders knees and toes). Give the students a limited time to draw their very own imaginary human skeleton using pencil and pre-cut white paper. Remind artists that no two imaginary skeletons will look alike.

Part II using handouts, table images and a large skeleton model (we call ours Mr. Bones) explore the bones of the human skeleton. How many bones do adults have compared to babies. Give students black pre-cut construction paper and white color pencils or crayons. Using a simplified direct drawing approach draw the entire skeleton together. Remind students about body proportion (hands in relation to hips...) proper names for bones and how the skeleton works.

This project can be expanded to challenge many grades. Display both drawings together and compare and contrast the imagined Mr. Bones with the observed Mr. Bones.

September 2009

Large Paper Skeleton
4th grade students cut and assemble large paper skeletons and decorate them in connection to
the "Day of the Dead" celebration.

September 2009

Mr. Bones
2nd grade, Mixed and 6th
Imagine and Observe