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Collaborative Mural: Animals in Habitats

Overview

In this unit, students will collaborate to create large-scale habitat murals. They will draw and collage animals, add color to backgrounds, and include plants and other features to build a habitat.

The unit can connect to studies of Earth’s different habitats, with each class choosing a habitat (desert, ocean, rainforest, savanna, Arctic) to research, write about, and discuss.

Grade Level

1-5

Media

Drawing, Collage, Painting

Lessons In Unit

10

  • Teaching Guide
  • Teaching Tools

Lessons


Materials and Tools

  • Ebony drawing pencils
  • White drawing paper – 9 x 12”
  • Construction or fadeless paper – 9 x 12” or 12 x 18”
  • Black paper – 9 x 12”
  • Large paper for mural background
  • Tempera paint
  • 1” and ½” paint brushes
  • Water containers
  • Sponges
  • Combs and tools to create texture
  • Scissors 
  • Glue 
  • Oil pastels

Resources

Photos of habitats

Photos of animals

Photos of plants

Henri Rousseau,The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope, 1905, oil on canvas
Paintings from John James Audubon, The Birds of America, 1827-28

BOOKS:

Zoo-Ology by Joelle Jolivet

Credits

Written By:
Vicki Behm, Artist Instructor

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