MY BIRTHDAY NUMBER – Texture, Pattern, Contrast

Students will be able to:

• create a number design filled with patterns and information about their birthday number;
• create texture on foil tape;
• create colour effects on foil tape;
• demonstrate technical accomplishment and creativity;
• support their ideas with evidence found in the works. 

Have students:

• use cardboard to build a 3-dimensional number sculpture that displays a variety of information about the number in a playful way;
• work with others to arrange the sculptures in a way that tells a story;
• use a device to photograph the arrangement;
• use the photos to create a digital story about "Number Land".

1. Prior to this lesson have students experiment with aluminum foil using the Exploring Aluminum Foil lesson plan available on this website.
2. Download and display the Texture, Contrast and Repetition posters available on this website.
3. Teach or review concepts about texture, contrast and pattern.
   - texture - the way a surface feels, or looks as if it feels
   - contrast - placing elements that are related, but different beside each other
   - pattern - motifs repeated in a predictable way

1. Review how to make marks in the foil using a dull pencil and/or a wooden candy apple stick.
2. View the Texture poster and discuss the difference between real and simulated textures.
3. View the Contrast poster and discuss how to create contrast using colour, pattern and different elements.
4. View the Repetition poster and discuss how to make a pattern.
5. Have students share some of the interesting facts and expressions they learned about their birthday number.
6. Introduce the challenge.

1. Place students into small groups. 
2. Ask them to: 
   - compare their work and describe how they are similar, and how they are different;
   - talk about the interesting things they learned about their numbers;
   - talk about what was difficult and what was easy for them.
3. Share ideas with the whole class. 
4. Ask them to tell how they felt about doing this project.

1. Observe students as they work – thoughtful focus, discriminating, seeking more information, elaborating, experimenting.
2. Observe students as they discuss the drawings – active listening, insightful contributions, supporting ideas with evidence found in the artwork and from personal experience.
3. Use a checklist to track progress. (Downloads - MyNumber_tracking.pdf)
4. Have students use the self-assessment form to evaluate their work. (Downloads - MyNumber_self-assessment.pdf)