Art In Antarctica
Learning Sequence 10
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Introduction with Gavin and Jordan
This week, guide the children to use real-life observations to create meaningful art. They will sketch an adult fur seal, focusing on its unique features, and craft a gentoo penguin sculpture using recycled materials.
These creations will become part of a stop-motion animation project where children bring their penguins to life through movement and storytelling. Once complete, their animations can be shared with the community during a film night, celebrating their creativity and promoting awareness of the importance of environmental stewardship.
Hi everyone, Gavin here with Jordan from Young Art USA. Today, we’re in Antarctica, surrounded by an incredible Adélie penguin colony, and we’ve got some exciting creative challenges for you!
First, you’ll sketch an adult fur seal. Look closely at its sleek body, powerful features, and the textures of its fur. Take your time to capture what makes it unique.
Next, you’ll get hands-on with recycled materials to create your own gentoo penguin sculpture. Once it’s ready, you’ll bring it to life with stop-motion animation, moving your penguin frame by frame to waddle, dive, or explore.
Before you start animating, we’ll share an inspiring quote from a famous animator about storytelling and creativity—something to spark your imagination as you build your penguin’s character.
Finally, when your animations are complete, we’ll celebrate your work at a film night, where you’ll show your penguins in action to your community. We can’t wait to see your fur seal sketches, penguin creations, and all the amazing stories you’ll bring to life!
Let’s get started!
Your Weekly Keywords
In this activity, guide your students to collaboratively define ten key vocabulary words related to caricatures and creative expression. Encourage them to explain these terms in their own words, using simple, clear language based on their understanding—without relying on dictionaries.
Facilitate group discussions where students explore the meanings together, fostering problem-solving and teamwork. Once they’ve developed their definitions, have them share and compare with other groups, refining their ideas through thoughtful discussion and feedback.
This activity promotes a deeper understanding of artistic concepts, strengthens vocabulary skills, and encourages active engagement with both art and collaboration
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This week, you’ll explore ten key words that connect to your projects, like creating penguin sculptures and animations.
You’ll work with a partner to figure out what each word means, using your own ideas—no dictionaries allowed! Once you’ve got your definitions, you’ll team up with another group to compare and talk about the differences. This is your chance to get creative, learn new ideas, and use these words in your storytelling. Let’s see what you come up with!
Quote of the Week – Walt Disney
This activity introduces students to thought-provoking quotes from influential figures like Walt Disney, encouraging them to explore the meaning and ideas behind the words.
As the teacher, guide discussions to help students uncover the creative philosophies behind the quote. For Disney’s “If you can dream it, you can do it,” encourage students to reflect on how imagination drives creativity and transforms ideas into reality. Discuss how their artistic choices—whether in sketching, animating, or storytelling—can bring their dreams and characters to life.
Connecting this quote to their own work fosters a deeper appreciation for the power of creativity and individuality. Collecting and displaying inspiring quotes in the classroom not only sparks discussion but also provides a constant reminder of art’s ability to turn dreams into tangible, meaningful creations.
This week’s quote comes from Walt Disney, the creator of Mickey Mouse and the founder of Disney Studios:
“If you can dream it, you can do it.”
Think about what Walt Disney might have meant. How does your imagination help you turn ideas into reality? How can you use your creativity to bring life and personality to your projects this week?
Let this quote inspire you as you work. Whether you’re sketching, building, or animating, remember that every great creation starts with a dream. You could even create a classroom space to display quotes like this and keep everyone inspired!
Sketch With Jordan – Drawing a Calling Elephant Seal
This week, your students will embark on an exciting artistic journey: drawing an adult fur seal. With a detailed task card and an instructional explainer video, they’ll be guided step-by-step to capture the seal’s unique features, including its sleek, streamlined body, textured fur, and powerful form.
This hands-on activity offers a wonderful opportunity for students to hone their artistic skills while sparking creativity and engagement. It’s also a meaningful way to connect the world of art with learning about this fascinating Antarctic animal.
This week, we’re diving into the wild world of elephant seals! Your challenge? To sketch a calling elephant seal in all its powerful glory.
Begin by grabbing your task card and watching the explainer video below. Jordan will guide you with expert tips to capture the essence of this remarkable creature.
Pay close attention to the seal’s impressive size, its unique proboscis, and the way its body shifts as it projects its thunderous call. Try to capture the drama and energy of this iconic moment in nature.
Once you’ve brought this incredible animal to life on paper, share your artwork—we can’t wait to see your creative take on the mighty calling elephant seal!
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Sketch With Jordan - Full Video
In this activity, students will watch a video where Jordan demonstrates how to draw a calling elephant seal, focusing on its impressive form, distinctive proboscis, and the dramatic energy of its call. Techniques such as shading, texture, and adding depth will be highlighted to help students bring this remarkable Antarctic creature to life on paper.
Teachers are encouraged to emphasise focus and active listening, guiding students to carefully observe and absorb the methods Jordan demonstrates. By applying these techniques to their own sketches, students will not only enhance their artistic skills but also deepen their understanding of this fascinating marine animal through observation and practice.
This week, Jordan will take you on an exciting journey to draw a calling elephant seal! Learn how to capture its impressive size, unique proboscis, and the dynamic energy of its powerful call. Jordan will demonstrate techniques to add depth, shading, and texture, bringing this fascinating Antarctic creature to life on paper.
After watching the full video, you’ll be ready to create your own sketch. Focus on the dramatic moment of the seal’s call, and let your creativity showcase the majesty of this incredible marine mammal. We can’t wait to see your masterpiece!
Sketch With Jordan - It’s Your Turn
This activity encourages students to independently apply the drawing techniques demonstrated by Jordan as they sketch a calling elephant seal. Step by step, students will focus on capturing the seal’s impressive size, distinctive proboscis, and the dynamic energy of its call.
They can further explore their creativity by adding paint or colour to reimagine their sketches. This flexible approach accommodates varying skill levels, gradually increasing complexity and inspiring students to push their artistic boundaries.
Finished pieces can be added to their portfolios, celebrating their progress and achievements throughout the course.
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 – Stop Motion Animation
This task invites students to draw inspiration from their lesson on Antarctic animals to design and build models of their chosen creatures using recycled materials. Guided by Jordan’s instructional video, students will focus on capturing the unique features of their animal—like the sleek body of a fur seal or the distinctive beak of a penguin—while incorporating creative details to make their models stand out.
This hands-on project enhances artistic and problem-solving skills while fostering creativity and environmental awareness. Once students have completed their models, they will use them to create stop-motion animations that tell powerful stories about the survival and challenges of Antarctic animals. The activity culminates in a school-wide film night, where students proudly showcase their animations, sharing important messages about conservation and the beauty of Antarctica with the community.
This week, we’re diving into the fun and creative world of stop-motion animation! Inspired by the incredible animals of Antarctica, you’ll choose one to focus on and use recycled materials to create a model of your chosen animal.
Watch as Jordan demonstrates how to design and build your model using simple techniques and materials. Pay close attention to how the shapes, textures, and details bring the animal to life. Once your model is complete, you’ll use it to create your very own stop-motion animation, telling a powerful story about the survival of animals in the Antarctic region.
To end the week, we’ll come together for a special film night, showcasing everyone’s animations to the school. This is your chance to share important messages about these incredible creatures and the challenges they face. Let your creativity shine and your voice be heard!
Let’s Create a Night to Remember!
This activity extends an invitation to students profoundly inspired by their artwork to embark on a significant project: creating a full picture book. Utilizing a template, they can transform their original book cover into an entire children’s book.
This not only allows for the application of their creative and artistic skills but also offers a platform to showcase their work on a larger scale. It’s an opportunity for students to delve deeper, enriching their learning experience by bringing their creative visions to life.
This week, you’ll work together as a school to organise a special film night where all your stop-motion animations will be shown to the community. This is your chance to share the amazing stories you’ve created about Antarctic animals and raise awareness about conservation.
Here’s the plan:
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Gather Your Animations: Collect everyone’s stop-motion videos and make sure they’re ready to be shown on the big screen.
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Set Up the Event: Use the checklist to organise the evening. Decide on roles—who will welcome guests, who will manage the popcorn and drinks, and who will help with the technical setup.
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Stop Motion Animation – Holding a Movie Night You might want to sell snacks like popcorn and drinks during the event. Think about how to price them and make signs to tell people about the cause you’re supporting.
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Spread the Word: Create posters or invitations to let families and friends know about your film night.
This is your night to shine! Not only will you showcase your creativity and hard work, but you’ll also help others learn about the importance of animal conservation. Let’s make this event as fun, meaningful, and impactful as possible!
