Art In Antarctica
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Introduction with Gavin and Jordan
This week, children will use real-life observations to create meaningful art. They’ll sketch a brown skua bird, inspired by its unique features, and design a caricature of a gentoo penguin using simple shapes.
These pieces will form the basis of a storybook that encourages empathy and inspires positive change. By uploading their books to the Upschool library, children will share their creativity globally, using their work to promote awareness and make the world a better place.
Hi everyone, Gavin here, and I’m joined by Jordan from Young Art USA. Today, we’re surrounded by an incredible Adélie penguin colony in Antarctica, and we’ve got not one but two creative challenges lined up for you!
First, let’s start with a touch of realism. This week, you’ll sketch a brown skua bird. Observe its strong, sleek form, its impressive wingspan, and its sharp, observant features. Focus on capturing the little details that make this bird so unique as you bring it to life on paper.
Next, it’s time to get creative with a different Antarctic resident—the gentoo penguin! For this activity, you’ll design a caricature of a gentoo penguin using bold, simplified shapes like circles, triangles, and rectangles. Exaggerate its key features—its waddle, its beak, or even its quirky personality. Use these shapes to create a fun, expressive character.
But that’s just the beginning! Take your gentoo penguin caricature and craft a story around it. What kind of adventures might your penguin have? Once your story is complete, you’ll turn your creation into a storybook. Don’t forget to include illustrations and bring your penguin’s personality to life through art and narrative.
Finally, when your book is ready, you’ll upload it to the Upschool library to share it with children around the world. By contributing to the library, your work will inspire countless others and showcase the beauty of creativity and storytelling.
We can’t wait to see your sketches, caricatures, storybooks, and the impact your creations will have in the Upschool library.
Let’s get started!
Your Weekly Keywords
In this activity, students will collaboratively define ten key vocabulary words related to caricatures and creative expression. As the teacher, guide them to explain these terms in their own words, encouraging the use of simple, clear language rooted in their understanding.
Students will avoid using dictionaries, fostering discussion and collaborative problem-solving as they explore the meanings together. Once they’ve developed their definitions, they’ll share and compare them with peers, refining their ideas through thoughtful discussion and feedback.
This activity promotes deeper understanding of pointillism concepts, strengthens vocabulary skills, and encourages active engagement with art and collaboration.
This week, students will explore ten key vocabulary words related to caricatures and artistic expression. These words will connect to their project, where they’ll use simplified shapes to create expressive, penguin-inspired characters.
Working in pairs, students will define the words based on their own understanding, without using a dictionary. Afterwards, they’ll compare definitions with another group to discuss differences and gain new insights. This activity builds vocabulary, enhances creativity, and ties art concepts to meaningful storytelling.
Quote of the Week – Al Hirschfeld
This activity introduces students to thought-provoking quotes from influential artists like Al Hirschfeld, encouraging them to explore the meaning and ideas behind the words.
As the teacher, guide discussions to help students uncover the artistic concepts and philosophies that shaped these quotes. For Hirschfeld, students can reflect on how staying playful and imaginative keeps art alive, and how simple lines and shapes can tell powerful, expressive stories.
Encouraging students to connect these quotes to their own work fosters a deeper appreciation for the link between creativity, individuality, and the stories art can tell. Collecting and displaying these quotes in the classroom provides ongoing inspiration and reminds students of art’s profound ability to reflect and shape the world around us.
This week’s quote is from Al Hirschfeld, a renowned caricature artist known for his expressive and distinctive work:
“Artists are just children who refuse to put down their crayons.”
Take a moment to think about what he might have meant. How does creativity stay alive when we keep our sense of play and wonder? How can simple shapes and lines transform into something meaningful and full of personality?
If his words inspire you, try bringing this idea into your own work. Think about how the shapes you use can bring energy, humour, and life to your caricatures. You could even create a space in your classroom to display quotes like this and keep the inspiration flowing!
Sketch With Jordan – Drawing a Brown Skua
This week, your students will take on the exciting challenge of drawing a brown skua. With the support of a detailed task card and an instructional explainer video, this activity will guide them through capturing the bird’s unique features, such as its strong wings, sleek form, and striking details.
This hands-on activity is a wonderful way for students to develop their artistic skills while fostering creativity and engagement. It also provides a meaningful opportunity to connect art with learning about this remarkable Antarctic bird.
This week, we’re taking on an exciting and creative challenge: drawing a brown skua! Check out the task card I’ve prepared for you, and don’t forget to watch the explainer video below for all the tips and techniques to help you along the way.
Once you’re ready, it’s your turn to bring this incredible bird to life on paper. Focus on its sleek form, strong wings, and striking features as you sketch.
Let your creativity shine and capture the essence of the brown skua in your drawing. We can’t wait to see your amazing artwork!
Sketch With Jordan - Full Video
In this activity, students will watch a video where Jordan demonstrates how to draw a brown skua, focusing on its strong wings, sharp beak, and sleek, dynamic form. Techniques like shading, texture, and movement will be showcased to help students capture the essence of this powerful bird on paper.
Teachers are encouraged to emphasise the importance of focus and active listening, guiding students to carefully observe and understand the methods Jordan demonstrates. This approach will support students in applying these techniques to their own sketches, enhancing their artistic skills through thoughtful observation and practice.
This week, Jordan will guide you through the process of drawing a brown skua, showing you how to capture its unique features like its sharp beak, strong wings, and sleek, powerful form. Watch closely as Jordan demonstrates techniques for adding shading, texture, and movement to bring this remarkable bird to life on paper.
After watching the full video, you’ll be ready to start your own sketch in the next activity. Take your time, enjoy the creative process, and let your artistic skills highlight the beauty and strength of the brown skua!
Sketch With Jordan - It’s Your Turn
This activity encourages students to independently apply the drawing techniques demonstrated by Jordan as they sketch a macaroni penguin. Students will build their skills step by step, focusing on capturing the penguin’s unique features. They can further explore their creativity by adding paint or other colours to reinterpret their sketches.
This approach accommodates varying skill levels, gradually increasing complexity and inspiring students to push their artistic boundaries. Completed pieces can be added to their portfolios, celebrating their growth and achievements throughout the cours
After watching the full video, grab your pencils and start sketching the majestic calling elephant seal, just as Jordan demonstrated. Use the task card as a guide to capture its impressive size, distinctive proboscis, and the dramatic energy of its call.
If you’re happy with your sketch, take it further by adding paint or colour on a separate sheet of paper. Remember, every piece of art you create is a step in your artistic journey—be sure to add it to your portfolio to celebrate your progress and growth throughout the course!
Watch – Creating a Penguin Caricature
This task invites students to draw inspiration from their lesson on penguins to design vibrant caricatures that exaggerate their unique features. Guided by Jordan’s instructional video, students will use sharp lines and bold colours to bring out the playful characteristics of their chosen penguin, highlighting traits like their waddle, beak, or flippers in a fun and exaggerated style.
This hands-on project enhances artistic skills while fostering creativity and self-expression. Once students have completed their caricatures, they will teach other children how to create their own exaggerated penguin characters. The activity culminates in a gallery exhibition where students can proudly present their work, explaining how caricature art brings their penguin-inspired creations to life and sharing the joy of this creative style with the wider school community.
This week, we’re exploring the fun and creative world of caricature art! Inspired by the unique features of penguins, you’ll learn how to exaggerate their characteristics using sharp lines and bold colours to make their traits stand out.
Watch as Jordan demonstrates how to create a caricature of a penguin, focusing on playful exaggeration and creative expression. Pay close attention to how bold shapes and striking details bring personality and humour to the artwork.
Once you’ve mastered the technique, it’s your turn! Create your own caricature and share your unique penguin character with others. To finish the week, you’ll organise a gallery display to showcase everyone’s work, spreading the joy of caricature and creativity with your community. Get ready to let your art and imagination shine!
From Caricature to Storybook - The Penguin That Didn’t Fit In
This week, students will take their newly created caricature and use it as inspiration to develop an entirely new character. They will then create an imaginative story around this character, using your example as a guide and your provided template to structure their ideas.
Students will explore your example to see how art and storytelling come together, using the template to organise their narrative and design illustrations that bring their story to life.
Once their books are completed, students will upload them to the Upschool library, sharing their creations with a global audience. This process not only consolidates their learning but also demonstrates the transformative power of using creativity to inspire and engage others.
Hi everyone! This week, you’re going to take the caricature you created and use it as inspiration to develop an exciting new character. Once you’ve imagined who your character is and what their story might be, you’ll turn it into your very own book!
To help you get started, I’ve created an example and a template you can follow. My example of ‘The Penguin That Didn’t Fit In’ will show you how to bring your character to life through storytelling and illustrations, and the template will guide you step by step as you organise your ideas and create your story.
When your book is finished, you’ll upload it to the Upschool library by clicking the button below so children around the world can read and enjoy it.
This is your chance to share your creativity and show how your art and storytelling can make a difference. I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Let’s get started!