Spooky Season Art Project

The start of a new school year is always hectic. New students, subjects, and schedule. For me, that means taking on grade 8 math and science for the first time in my career! By October many generalist teachers have used their art blocks to finish projects from other classes, which is what we have to do some days! But if you’re looking to mix it up, I’ve got an easy lesson that is cross curricular and fairly low prep.  

Neon Skeletons  

Supplies: 

• Acrylic paint markers (I got mine on Amazon) 

• Black card stock 

• Printouts of your choice 

• Rulers 

• Pencils 

• Erasers 

• Practice sheets (optional) 

Grade Level 

This was a resource from The Cozy Art Teacher that I adapted for my grade 9 students last year, but this could be modified for students all the way to grade 4-5 if you change a few things.  

Process

First you need to get the students to practice transferring an image using a grid. Grids are a fantastic tool to scaffold lessons about proportion, observation, and the use of space in art. You can use any imagine, add a grid over it and print a paper the same grid. Students need to take time to copy the original image square by square.  Once they have practiced this skill, they need to use a ruler.  I have mine mark out using inches on the left then right sides of their reference image papers, and connect the two marks to create a straight line.  This will be the most challenging part for most, so take your time. Many students have not been explicitly taught to use a ruler in a few years and reminders will be needed.  

After they have made rows they will measure across the top and bottom and connect the marks to crest column. Once their grid is correct and they have checked using the ruler to see if they have made 1x1 inch squares, they will start creating the same grid on their black card stock.  Encourage them to press lightly so they can erase the pencil marks after.  

Both grids get labels across the columns and rows. I use letters and numbers.  

Now they are ready to start transferring. Some students will be overwhelmed by the project at first, so I get them to cover their reference image and work one row or square at a time. This helps the project feel less daunting. Once they have finished, they recheck each square and can start colouring! 

We used bright colours for the outlines with the paint markers. Once dry, they can erase all of their pencil lines easily.  After that, they add more details and accents with the markers to create interest and then they are complete! 

Extensions

What I like about this project is it is so easily modified, and you can use almost anything as a reference, as long as it has a solid outline. Find a simple colouring book and use the images from there, or have your students create their own for a bigger challenge.  

You can use it for science to create fun posters for the body or skeletal systems, plant or animal cells, or the water cycle. With the ruler and measurements, we are connecting to math, and the grid can directly relate to map skills in social studies.  Have them write a story or a poem to go with their drawing, and you’ve got ELA tied in too.  

If you’re interested in the original lesson, check it out here! Finding blogs like this one with lessons laid out takes the pressure off coming up with ideas when you’re a generalist.

Don’t feel you have to reinvent the wheel! 

Happy creating! 

~Aimee