Capturing Light on Pumpkins!

The first grade science curriculum’s light unit asks students to evidence their understanding of how to make a shadow, using a light source, object, and surface.  In Art class students are exploring this idea. Last year we painted trees in landscapes in support of showing their science knowledge.

We began by looking at objects under a flashlight. Artists noted how shadows always fall opposite the light source. After identifying that the things needed to create shadows, students began sketching their pumpkin and a light source on paper, then painting with shades of yellow, orange, and brown. We discussed how to blend the colors and paint in the direction of the curves of the pumpkin to show its form. Students worked to make their pumpkins look realistic by showing the light coming from a specific direction.

Tiny pencil sun with arrow to where the pumpkin would be brightest!

This artist chose a lightbulb instead of sun.These are how they looked at the end of the first class.

  At the start of the second class, students cut out the pumpkins and glued them to a background paper they selected. Artists used oil pastels to add light source, ground, and shadow.

In the third class, artists used cut paper collage to add faces, and could choose to add additional details with oil pastel.

This candlelit pumpkin emerged out of a whole spooky graveyard scene on the third class!

      It empowers first grade artists to "show what they know" about science through the making of an artwork- that is the essence of true integration of content!

   

Across each pumpkin, you can really see the visual evidence of how the color moves from sun to shadow with shaded transitions. As artists added a light source and a surface on which the pumpkin’s shadow would fall, and details and faces, true seasonal magic grew!

These are displayed on the first floor bulletin boards, stop by to see them anytime school is open.