6 sessions; 40 minutes per session

Objectives
Students will:
-draw a chameleon from observation
-experiment with watercolor paints and rubbing alcohol/salt
-identify warm and cool colors, choose one to paint their chameleon
-learn facts about chameleons
-learn and paint tints and shades
-create a collage

Materials Needed
-8.5 by 11 white cardstock
-pencils with erasers
-sharpies (thin and thick)
-liquid watercolor in orange, red, yellow, blue, green and purple
-paintbrushes
-rubbing alcohol
-iodized salt
-tempera paint in white, green and black
-off white cardstock
-cardboard scraps
-glue
-scissors
-9 by 12 construction paper in blue, green and black

Need these materials? Visit Blick!

Class-wide Activity
-True/False chameleon facts activity
-View chameleon slideshow with guided questions
-Watch two videos of chameleons in action (catching insects and changing color)
-Listen to two books about chameleons read by the teacher
-Tints/Shades activity
-Demonstration on watercolor techniques, drawing chameleons, painting tints and shades, drawing and cutting leafs, and collage. Individual Activity
-Draw a chameleon sketch in the sketchbook using the visual handouts.
-Draw a large, final chameleon on white cardstock with pencil.
-Trace the chameleon with sharpie.
-Paint with either warm or cool colors in liquid watercolor. Experiment with rubbing alcohol and iodized salt techniques.
-Paint tints and shades of green with tempera paint on off white cardstock.
-Draw large leaf shapes on the back of the dry painted papers.
-Cut out leaves and cut out chameleon.
-Create a collage on construction paper with leaves, cardboard “branches”, and chameleon with glue.
-Add details with construction crayons.

Assessment:
Students will be graded on their sketch from 0-5 points. They will be graded using the rubric attached based on requirements.

Resources
-Chameleons Are Cool by Martin Jenkins
-Printed drawings of chameleons
-30 facts (true and false) about chameleons
-Video of chameleon changing color
-Video of chameleon catching and eating an insect
-Slideshow of a variety of chameleons (colors and sizes)
-Print outs of various leaf shapes and sizes
-A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni

I have done this for two years and it is always a success. I love the tie in with fact/fiction and science.

[K-4] Students use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories

[K-4] Students use art materials and tools in a safe and responsible manner

[K-4] Students know the differences between materials, techniques, and processes

[K-4] Students describe how different materials, techniques, and processes cause different responses

[K-4] Students describe how different expressive features and organizational principles cause different responses

[5-8] Students use subjects, themes, and symbols that demonstrate knowledge of contexts, values, and aesthetics that communicate intended meaning in artworks

[K-4] Students understand there are various purposes for creating works of visual art

[K-4] Students understand there are different responses to specific artworks

[K-4] Students understand and use similarities and differences between characteristics of the visual arts and other arts disciplines

[K-4] Students identify connections between the visual arts and other disciplines in the curriculum

Color/Value, Shape, Texture

Collage, Mixed Media, Painting, Paper, Tempera, Watercolor

English/Language Arts, Science

chameleons.docx
chameleonrubric.docx