BIRD IN A NEST – Colour Mixing, Texture, Form

Students use Model Magic and twigs to create a small nest and then make a bird to sit in it.

Required Time

40 Minutes

Grade Level

Kindergarten to Grade 3

Subject

Language Arts
Science
Visual Arts

Vocabulary

colour detail form texture

Materials

Model Magic Classpack - Assorted Colours Glue Stick Small Twigs Corrugated Cardboard - 10 cm x 10 cm (4" x 4") Glue Sticks Glitter Glue Small Styrofoam Eggs

Shop Crayola Products

Model Magic Classpack, Assorted Colours
Washable Glue Sticks, 2 Count
Washable Glitter Glue Classpack, 20 Bottles

Steps

BIRD IN A NEST – Colour Mixing, Texture, Form - Step One

Step One

  1. Mix red, yellow and blue Model Magic together to make brown.
BIRD IN A NEST – Colour Mixing, Texture, Form - Step Two

Step Two

  1. Pinch the brown Model Magic into a round nest shape.
BIRD IN A NEST – Colour Mixing, Texture, Form - Step Three

Step Three

  1. Press broken twigs into the Model Magic nest.
BIRD IN A NEST – Colour Mixing, Texture, Form - Step Four

Step Four

  1. Spread glue over the surface of the small piece of cardboard.
BIRD IN A NEST – Colour Mixing, Texture, Form - Step Five

Step Five

  1. Mix blue and yellow together to make green.
  2. Make a leaf shape with the green Model Magic.
  3. Press it onto the small piece of cardboard.
BIRD IN A NEST – Colour Mixing, Texture, Form - Step Six

Step Six

  1. Press the nest onto the leaf.
  2. Set it aside to dry.
BIRD IN A NEST – Colour Mixing, Texture, Form - Step Seven

Step Seven

  1. Flatten a small piece of Model Magic into a shape about .5 cm thick.
  2. Cover the Styrofoam egg with it.
  3. Add a small ball for a head.
  4. Add wings, a tail and other details.
BIRD IN A NEST – Colour Mixing, Texture, Form - Step Eight

Step Eight

  1. Press the bird into the nest.
  2. You may want to add some glitter glue to the cardboard.
  3. Allow the Model Magic to dry for 2 days.

Learning Goals

Students will be able to:

  • create a bird in a nest sculpture using Model Magic and twigs;
  • use primary colours to mix new colours;
  • work independently and self-regulate;
  • share their ideas with peers; 
  • demonstrate a sense of accomplishment.

Extensions

Have students:

  • explore sorting and classifying using the Colourful Fall Birds lesson plan available on this website;
  • explore ideas about birds using the Bird Watching lesson plan available on this website;
  • apply what they learned about Model Magic to make puppets using the Stick Puppet lesson plan available on this website.

Prepare

  1. If possible take your class on a nature walk to observe signs of spring and gather some small branches that can be broken into twigs.
    - if this is not possible gather twigs to bring into the class
  2. Gather and make available, books about birds and signs of spring such as, Birds, Nests, And Eggs, by Mel Boring; Hello, World! Birds, by Jill McDonald; National Geographic Kids Bird Guide of North America: The Best Birding Book for Kids from National Geographic's Bird Experts, by Jonathan Alderfer; The Listening Walk, by Paul Showers, and Aliki; The Song of Spring, by Hendrik Jonas; and A Nest Is Noisy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, and Sylvia Long.
  3. Download and display the Colour and Texture posters available on this website.
  4. Set up an art centre with Model Magic, twigs, glue sticks, and small pieces of cardboard to place the sculptures on.

Introduction

  1. Conduct a read-aloud with a book such as A Nest Is Noisy, by Dianna Hutts Aston, and Sylvia Long.
  2. Focus on:
    - characteristics of birds
    - birds they have seen in their neighbourhood
    - characteristics of nests
    - how nests match the birds that make them
  3. Introduce the art centre.
  4. Introduce the challenge.

Activities

The Challenge

  1. Use Model Magic and twigs to create a bird's nest.
  2. Use Model Magic to create a bird with wings, tail and beak.
  3. Mix primary colours to make brown and green.
  4. Make your sculpture in your own creative and unique way.
  5. Explain how you made your artwork.

The Process

  1. Ensure that students understand the challenge.
  2. Establish success criteria with your students, for example,
    I know I am successful when I:
    - use my own ideas to make a bird in a nest
    - use primary colours to mix new colours 
    - use twigs to add details
    - make a bird with wings, tail and beak
    - explain how I made my bird in a nest
    - explain why I made my bird in a nest the way I did
  3. Guide students through the steps outlined in the lesson plan.
  4. Observe students as they work.
  5. Provide individual assistance and encouragement.

Sharing

  1. Gather students to view and discuss their art. Ask students to share:
    - what they learned about making a bird's nest
    - how they mixed new colours
    - how they made their bird
    - why they made their bird the way they did
    - what they like best about their artworks
  2. Display all the artworks in the classroom.
  3. Encourage students to view the artworks and notice how they are similar and how they are different.

Assessment

  1. Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting.
  2. Observe students as they discuss their artworks – speaks with a clear voice, looks at audience while speaking, holds artwork to the side, provides accurate information, answers questions from the audience effectively.
  3. Observe students as they listen – looks at presenter, asks effective questions, supports ideas with evidence found in the artwork.
  4. Use a checklist to track progress. (Downloads - BirdInNest_tracking.pdf)
  5. Have students in grades 1 - 3 use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Downloads - BirdInNest_self-assessment)

Downloads

Similar Lessons

COLOURFUL FALL BIRDS – Colour Mixing, Texture, Form

BIRD WATCHING – Colour, Contrast, Detail