Isabelle Davis

Lesson Plans & Teaching Tools

Complete, field-tested lesson plans with objectives, assessments, and classroom-ready materials. Click any lesson to expand and explore the full plan.

Grades 2-5 35-50 min Drawing & Painting

Colors of Us

Mixing Skin Tones with Chalk Pastel

🎨 Chalk Pastel
👥 Community Building
🌈 Color Theory

Students explore skin tone diversity by mixing chalk pastels to match their own complexion, contributing to a collaborative community collage.

🎯 Big Idea

Every skin tone can be created from the colors of the rainbow. Difference is normal, beautiful, and part of our shared community.

❓ Essential Question

How can I mix colors to match my own skin tone, and why does representing many tones matter in our school community?

📚 Learning Objectives

  • Students layer and blend chalk pastels to mix a skin tone that closely matches their own.
  • Students practice observation and iterative testing (compare, adjust, re-test).
  • Students contribute an individual color tile to a collaborative artwork, recognizing themselves as part of a larger community.

🧰 Materials

✓ Small index cards (1 per student)
✓ Chalk pastels (full spectrum)
✓ Paper towels/wipes
✓ Large printed school photo
✓ Spray fixative (teacher only)
✓ Glue/tape for collage

📖 Key Vocabulary

Layering Blending Hue Value Warm/Cool Undertone

⏱️ Procedure Timeline

5-7 min
Opening

Brief discussion about skin tone diversity. Demonstrate layering technique on index card.

20-30 min
Work Time

Students mix their own skin tone: layer → blend → compare → adjust. Teacher circulates.

Check
Understanding

Students explain their color recipe. Teacher provides feedback and approval.

5-10 min
Collaboration

Arrange cards as "sky" around school photo. Closing circle reflection.

✅ Assessment

Formative

Teacher observation during mixing and student explanation of color choices.

Summative

Finished tone card that reasonably matches student's skin tone; inclusion in community collage.

🎓 Differentiation & Supports

  • Provide limited starter palette for overwhelmed students
  • Offer color recipe cue cards (warm: yellow/red; cool: blue/green)
  • Allow students to compare to hand/arm if preferred

📥 Downloadable Resources

📄

Lesson Slideshow

PowerPoint / PDF

🎥

Demo Video

MP4 / YouTube Link

📋

Color Recipe Cards

Printable PDF

Grades 6-8 5 Days Sculpture & 3D

Name Aliens

From 2D Design to 3D Sculpture

♻️ Recycled Materials
🎨 2D to 3D
💡 Creative Problem-Solving

Students create imaginative characters by folding their names into symmetrical drawings, then transform their 2D designs into 3D sculptures using recycled materials.

📖 Project Overview

In this five-day project, students explore how artists move from 2D design to 3D form by creating imaginative "Name Aliens." Starting with a folded-paper drawing based on the symmetry of their names, students design colorful, personality-filled 2D aliens, then use recycled materials to bring those designs to life as 3D sculptures.

📚 Learning Objectives

Artistic

Design a symmetrical "Name Alien" and transform it from 2D to 3D using recycled materials.

Conceptual

Explore how ideas evolve across materials and forms; how shape, color, texture communicate emotion.

Reflective

Evaluate creative decisions through written and visual documentation in digital portfolio.

🎯 National Visual Arts Standards

  • VA:Cr2.1.6a / 7a / 8a – Students experiment with drawing and construction techniques, refining details and taking creative risks.
  • VA:Cn10.1.6a / 7a / 8a – Students make connections between their creations and popular culture, documenting influences.

🧰 Materials

✓ Recycled materials (cardboard, bottles, etc.)
✓ Drawing paper
✓ Scissors
✓ Glue, tape, hot glue
✓ Markers, colored pencils, paint
✓ Optional: googly eyes, string, fabric

⏱️ Five-Day Timeline

Day 1
Introduction & 2D Design

Discuss symmetry, show examples (Tim Burton, Nick Cave, Jim Henson). Students sketch symmetrical aliens using folded name technique.

Day 2
Refining 2D & Planning 3D

Complete coloring/details. Discuss 2D-to-3D translation. Sketch construction plan with materials labeled.

Day 3
Begin 3D Construction

Safety review. Demonstrate building techniques (rolling, stacking, joining). Students build base form.

Day 4
Continue Building & Add Details

Continue construction and stabilization. Add painted/drawn details, texture, color, pattern.

Day 5
Finish, Reflect, Portfolio Upload

Final touches, photograph work, upload to digital portfolio, write artist statement, gallery walk.

✅ Assessment

Formative

Ongoing observation: creativity, 2D-to-3D translation, craftsmanship, problem-solving. Teacher questioning during work time.

Summative (Portfolio)

Photos of 2D and 3D work, progress photos, artist statement answering: How did you transform your design? What materials showed traits? What inspired you?

📚 References & Inspirations

Tim Burton – The Art of Tim Burton (2009)
Nick Cave – Soundsuits (assemblage, texture)
Jim Henson – Creature design in Labyrinth (1986)
Rozsika Parker – The Subversive Stitch (1984)

📥 Downloadable Resources

📄

Planning Sheet

Printable PDF

🎥

Construction Demo

Video

📊

Rubric

Assessment Tool

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