Drawing - Line, Pattern and Symmetry

Level One: Prep

Discussion
Explore the language of Line: straight, bent, zig-zag, curved, spiral, bumpy, long short, etc. Identify different lines in pictures, outside in the school yard, within the classroom etc. Ask the students to describe the lines they find. Draw different lines in the sand with a stick.
Introduce the concept of pattern by showing the students a variety of patterns and ask them to describe what a pattern is. Show them man made patterns and patterns found in nature. How do we create a pattern?
Explain what symmetry is with simple shapes. What does “mirror image” mean? Can you find something that has one line of symmetry?

Materials
Cover Paper A4, Kinder Squares Metallic, Drawing Blocks, Patty Pans, Mini Patty Pans, Chenille Stems, Wooden Beads 12 mm, Clear Adhesive Tape, Zart Glue Stick
How to make a symmetrical creature

1. On a scrap piece of paper explore the different marks that can be made by using a Drawing Block on its side or by using different edges of the block. Hold a block on its side and twist, walk or hop the crayon to make a series of marks. Use different colours and overlay colour on colour and watch what happens.
2. Choose one of the marks you made and cover a sheet of A4 Cover Paper with a pattern of marks made with the Drawing Blocks.
3. Fold the paper in half length ways with the pattern inside the fold.
4. Start at the top of the page at the fold and tear the outer edges holding the two halves together as you tear. Create an interesting shape as you tear.
5. Open out the shape to form the shape of your creature.
6. Tear Metallic Kinder Squares into strips and glue these strips across the creature’s body.
7. Fringe around two small Patty Pans down to the bottom crease and glue these to the inside of two larger Patty Pans. Tear some metallic Kinder Square circles to glue inside the Patty Pans for pupils. What else might you use for eyes?
8. Glue the two eyes on to the creature’s body.
9. Thread some Wooden Beads on to Chenille Stems and tape the legs on to the body. Twist the Chenille Stems to make them look like legs.
10. Add two torn strips of Metallic Kinder Squares to the creature for its antennae.

 

Pattern and Symmetry

Level Two: Grades One and Two

Discussion
Show the class a series of images of patterns found in nature e.g. animals, insects, plants, birds, shells etc. Describe the patterns, what is the repeating element; is it a colour, or shape or line?
Collect a variety of leaves and look at and discuss the patterns found on them.

Materials
Scratch-Art Paper Multicolor Black, Scraper Paper Wooden Tool, Cover Paper A4, Metallic Marker Fine, Gum Leaves, Pre-Cut Mount A5, PVA

How to make a symmetrical creature:

1. On a scrap piece of paper or in their visual diary, ask the students to draw an insect or creature that is symmetrical and highly patterned.
2. Give each student half a sheet of Scratch-Art Paper for them to recreate their drawn creature by scratching the line and patterns into the paper to reveal the colours underneath.
3. Remember to make the shape and pattern symmetrical.
4. Cut out the creature and add patterned wings or other details.
5. Decorate some real leaves with a pattern of lines or shapes using a gold marker.
6. Cut a sheet of Cover Paper in half to create an A5 sheet and glue on a Pre-Cut Mount  to mount this sheet.
7. Glue the leaves on to the background, some coming over the frame and overlapping themselves.
8. Glue the patterned creature on to a small strip of Cover Paper folded in half and then glue that on to the background in order for the creature to hover above the scattered leaves.

 

Drawing with Paper Strips

Level Three: Grades Three and Four

Discussion
Changing Line
Talk about a line’s potential to change by manipulation to create an infinite number of different lines. What happens when both ends of a line join, what does it create? Make up a list of words to describe different line e.g. wobbly, straight, curved etc. Make up a list of ways we can change a strip of paper to create a different line, e.g. fold, tear, concertina etc.
Experiment with strips of paper and see how many you come up with.
Discuss lines of symmetry and rotational symmetry. Try folding shapes of paper to find out if they are symmetrical.

Materials
Paper Stripping 25mm, Hand Plier Stapler and staples

1. Draw a creature that if split down the middle would have a mirror image.  Use shapes to create the creature, start with a body shape and add on wings, tails, eyes and antennae.
2. Start with a small strip of Paper Stripping and form a circle, use a longer strip of Paper Stripping to surround that first shape, join the two shapes using a stapler. Continue adding to this construction to create a body of your creature.
3. Use the same method to create wings, eyes, feelers etc. using different colours of Paper Stripping and joining the shapes together with a stapler.
4. Make sure that if the creature was split down the middle you would have a mirror image in shapes and colours.

 

Symmetry and Pattern

Level Four: Grades Five and Six

Discussion
Objects display symmetry when both sides are the same shape and size.
Find a group of objects that are symmetrical and describe why you chose them. What is another word for symmetry? What is the opposite of symmetry?
Pattern: Pattern is repetition: repeating a line, shape or mark
What do you know about pattern? Bring your favourite pattern to share with your classmates.
Make up a chart of patterns that each student contributes to. This chart can be an ongoing chart of favourite patterns and used as a reference for drawing activities.

Materials
Cartridge Paper A3, Black Cover Paper A3, Posca Pen White, Uni-Ball Signo Broad Gel Ink Pen White, Paper Stripping 25 mm Black, Artline 70 Marker Black
How to make a symmetrical creature

1. Fold a sheet of A3 Cartridge in half to create a long rectangle.
2. Cut out an interesting shape on the fold.
3. Open out the sheet with the symmetrical shape now a negative shape in your paper.
4. Place the Cartridge sheet down on to a sheet of black A3 Cover Paper and with a pencil trace inside the negative symmetrical shape you have created.
5. Take the top sheet off and fold the black sheet down the middle longways.
6. Break this shape into a jigsaw of shapes making sure the size and shape are identical either side of the fold line. Use a pencil first and then go over the lines with a white Posca Pen when you are happy with the design.
7. Use a white fine pen to fill in each shape with a pattern, remember to make the same pattern either side of the fold line. You are creating a mirror image.
8. When the patterns are completed, place the Cartridge Paper with the negative shape cut out over the black paper and glue the two sheets together.
9. Add eyes, legs, feet and tail with collaged papers and markers.
10. Give your creature a name.