Art In Antarctica
Learning Sequence 8
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Introduction With Gavin
In this lesson, your students will unleash their creativity while learning about the fascinating lives of penguins. They’ll begin by sketching a macaroni penguin, focusing on its unique features and form. Next, they’ll use the pointillism technique to add vibrant layers of texture and colour, painting their penguins and snowy environments with dots.
To extend the experience, students will teach others how to create similar artwork, fostering collaboration and leadership skills. Their work will culminate in a community art event, transforming the classroom into a gallery and sparking discussions about the connection between art, nature, and making a difference.
Gavin here, joined by Jordan from Young Art USA. Today, we’re near an amazing Adélie penguin colony, and we’ve got a creative challenge for you!
This week, you’ll start by sketching a macaroni penguin, focusing on its bold shape and features. Once your sketch is ready, you’ll bring it to life with pointillism—using tiny dots of paint to add colour, texture, and depth.
Here’s the exciting part: you’ll teach other children how to create their own penguin-inspired art, just like yours! Once everyone’s finished, you’ll organise a community art event to display your incredible creations and share the beauty of penguins and art with others.
We can’t wait to see your artwork and hear about your event. Let’s get started!
Your Weekly Keywords
In this activity, students will collaboratively define ten key vocabulary words related to pointillism and patterns in art. As the teacher, you will guide them to explain these terms in their own words, encouraging the use of clear and simple language.
To begin, students will avoid using dictionaries, fostering discussion and collaborative problem-solving as they explore the meanings together. Once they have created their definitions, they will share and compare them with a partner, refining their explanations through meaningful 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 focus on ten key vocabulary words related to pointillism and patterns in art. These words will tie into their project, where they’ll use dots to create vibrant and textured penguin-inspired artwork.
Working in pairs, students will define the words based on their understanding, without using a dictionary. Afterwards, they’ll compare their definitions with another pair to discuss any differences or new insights.
This activity will help students build their vocabulary, deepen their understanding of pointillism, and connect art concepts to their creative work.
Quote of the Week – Georges Seurat
This activity introduces students to thought-provoking quotes from influential artists like Georges Seurat, encouraging them to explore the meaning and ideas behind the words.
As the teacher, you’ll guide discussions to help students uncover the artistic concepts and philosophies that shaped these quotes. For Seurat, for example, students can reflect on how art blends creativity and precision, and how small actions—like individual dots in pointillism—can create something extraordinary.
Encouraging students to connect these quotes to their own work fosters a deeper appreciation for how art reflects the world around us. Collecting and displaying these quotes in the classroom can serve as an ongoing source of inspiration and a reminder of the profound connection between art, nature, and emotions.
This week’s quote is from Georges Seurat, a famous artist and one of the pioneers of pointillism:
“Some say they see poetry in my paintings; I see only science.”
Take a moment to think about what he might have meant. How does art combine creativity with precision? How can small dots of colour come together to create something extraordinary?
If his words inspire you, try bringing this idea into your own art. Think about how the dots you paint can create rhythm, texture, and emotion in your work. You could even create a space in your classroom to display quotes like this and keep the inspiration alive!
Sketch With Jordan – Drawing a Macaroni Penguin
This week, your students will take on the exciting challenge of drawing a macaroni penguin. With the support of a detailed task card and an instructional explainer video, this activity will guide them through capturing the penguin’s unique features, such as its bold crest and distinctive shape.
This hands-on activity is a fantastic opportunity for students to develop their artistic skills while fostering creativity and engagement. It also provides a meaningful way to connect art with learning about these fascinating creatures.
This week, we’re taking on a fun and creative challenge: drawing a macaroni penguin! Check out the task card I’ve made for you, and make sure to watch the explainer video below for all the tips and techniques.
Once you’re ready, it’s your turn to bring this amazing penguin to life on paper. Focus on its bold crest, unique shape, and playful personality as you sketch.
Let your creativity shine and capture the spirit of the macaroni penguin in your drawing. We can’t wait to see what you create!
Sketch With Jordan - Full Video
In this activity, students will watch a video where Jordan demonstrates how to draw a macaroni penguin, focusing on its distinctive crest, sleek feathers, and playful characteristics. Techniques like shading, texture, and movement will be showcased to help students bring the penguin to life 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 macaroni penguin, showing you how to capture its unique features like its bold crest, sleek feathers, and playful personality. Watch closely as Jordan demonstrates techniques for adding shading, texture, and movement to bring this amazing penguin 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 showcase the charm and energy of the macaroni penguin!
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 course.
After watching the full video, it’s time to grab your pencils and start sketching the charming macaroni penguin, just like Jordan demonstrated. Use the task card to guide you as you capture the penguin’s bold crest and unique features.
If you’re happy with your sketch, you can take it a step further by adding paint or other colours on a separate sheet of paper. Remember, every piece of art you create is part of your artistic journey—add it to your portfolio to show your progress and growth throughout the course!
Watch – Painting With Dots
This task invites students to draw inspiration from their lesson on Adélie penguin colonies to create vibrant artwork using the pointillism technique. Guided by Jordan’s instructional video, students will use tiny dots of paint to capture the energy, texture, and movement of a bustling penguin crèche.
This hands-on project enhances artistic skills while encouraging creativity and personal expression. Once students have completed their artwork, they will teach other children how to use pointillism to create their own masterpieces. The activity culminates in a gallery exhibition where students can proudly present their work, explaining how pointillism brings their penguin-inspired art to life and sharing the joy of this unique artistic style with the wider school community.
This week, we’re diving into the fascinating world of pointillism! Inspired by the lively Adélie penguin crèche, you’ll use this technique to create a stunning piece of art filled with texture and movement.
Watch as Jordan demonstrates how to paint the penguin crèche using tiny dots to bring out the energy and patterns of the colony. Pay close attention to how colours and spacing create depth and rhythm in the artwork.
Once you’ve mastered the technique, it’s your turn! Create your own pointillism masterpiece and then take it further by teaching other children how to use this creative style. To wrap up the week, you’ll organise a gallery exhibition to display everyone’s work and share the beauty of pointillism with your community. Get ready to make your art—and your teaching—shine!
Create a Schoolwide Pointillism Gallery
This week’s activity focuses on showcasing students’ pointillism artwork in a schoolwide gallery event—a celebration of creativity and community. This project is more than an art display; it’s an opportunity for students to share their learning, teach others, and engage with their community in a meaningful way.
As teachers, guide your students in curating their penguin-inspired artwork, transforming your classroom or school into a vibrant gallery. Encourage them to consider how to arrange the pieces to tell a story about their journey with pointillism and penguins. Help them create signage and written explanations about the technique, adding an educational element for visitors.
To involve the wider community, have students design invitations or posters to promote the gallery night, encouraging families, friends, and school staff to attend. By combining their artistic skills with community engagement, students will learn how art can inspire, connect, and make a lasting impact. This activity not only celebrates their creativity but also fosters a sense of pride and collaboration within the school community.
This week, we’re taking your pointillism skills to the next level with a very special project! You’ll be teaching other children the creative techniques you’ve learned, helping them create their own penguin-inspired pointillism art.
Together, we’ll fill the school with stunning artwork that celebrates this unique style.
Using the skills and ideas from your lessons, you’ll guide your peers step by step, showing them how to use dots to add colour, texture, and movement to their art.
As everyone’s pieces come together, we’ll transform the school into a gallery bursting with creativity and energy.
To finish the project, we’ll hold a gallery night to showcase the incredible work to your friends, family, and community. You can explain how pointillism works, share what inspired you, and celebrate the power of art to connect and inspire. We can’t wait to see your teaching and artistic skills in action—let’s get started!
