What are the DREAMER Steps?
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DISCUSSION

Look at a collection of photographs of dragonflies found throughout Australia. Ask the students to describe the characteristics of their shape and colours. Do they all look the same? In order for them to create a dragonfly out of art materials what information will they need to find out about these insects? What would they like to know more about these creatures?

De Bono's Six Hats

White Hat

 Where are we most likely to find dragonflies?

Have you ever sighted one in your backyard? What time of day are you most likely to see a dragonfly?

How would you describe their eyes?

Red Hat

How would you feel if you were a dragonfly? What would you like most about being able to fly?

Extension Ideas/Links to other subject areas

Science

Look at the life cycle of a dragonfly. Where do the female dragonflies lay their eggs? Illustrate the life cycle with drawings and label each stage.

English

Write a short poem about a dragonfly that will describe how it looks.

RESEARCH

Tell students about the hands-on art activity of creating a 3 dimensional dragonfly that will be able to hang from the ceiling. Discuss what information (both written and visual) they are to research. How will this information help them in their artwork? 

 Ask students to describe and display the outcomes of their research.

White Hat

How big do dragonflies get? How fast do they fly? Do they all have the same markings and colour? Do they look different when they are in flight as to when they are at rest?

Black Hat

What are the natural predators of dragonflies? How do they protect themselves?

Information and Communications Technology

Research on the Internet

Science

Investigate different species of dragonflies and do a comparative chart on their features?

Geography

On a map of Australia visually display where dragonflies might be found? Why wouldn't they be found so much in inland Australia?

 Art

Draw coloured images of two different species of dragonflies.

EXPERIMENT

 Provide a variety of materials for the students to explore in the construction of their dragonfly. Explore different joining methods using the variety of media. 

Green Hat

If the dragonfly is to hang from the ceiling, how will you make the undercarriage of the insect look appealing? How will you make the wings look transparent?

Blue Hat

What materials will you need to create a dragonfly?  What media will best represent the pattern of their wings? How long will you make its body in comparison to the wings?

How can you create the colour of the insect if you are only using wire? 

What materials will you need to create the large eyes of a dragonfly?

Art

Try using different materials for the body of the dragonfly.

ART MAKING

 Based on their research and experimentation provide the media they require to make a 3 dimensional dragonfly that is capable of becoming a hanging classroom artwork installation.

Blue Hat

You must make some decisions about: 

-the size of the wings

-the size and shape of the dragonfly body

-what colour wings

-what materials you will need to complete the task

Yellow Hat

What would be fabulous about each student using a different media to create his or her dragonfly?

Art

* Make a 3D model of the life cycle of a dragonfly

* Design an information leaflet that will help protect the dragonfly from extinction

* Paint a picture of a prehistoric dragonfly that reportedly had a wingspan of 70 cm

EXHIBIT

Students make decisions about the installation of their dragonflies. 

Blue Hat

Who do you want to see the work?

Where in the school will they get the most exposure to an audience? What information do you need to add to the display? How can we make the display look interesting?

 Music

Create a sound recording to be played with the display of dragonflies.

RESPONSE

Encourage students to respond to their own artwork and those of others in pairs, small groups or in a whole class discussion.  

Self-assessment

Yellow Hat

What were the benefits of doing the research and experimentation of media before commencing the artwork? How do you feel you captured the flight of the dragonfly? What worked for you?

Black Hat

 What didn't work for you?  What problems did you encounter in making the dragonfly look good from underneath as well as above?

Note: We have used De Bono's Six Thinking Hats as our questioning technique but try other strategies such as Blooms Taxonomy or Ryan's Thinking Keys to enhance the student's thinking.