Ocean Scale Drawing
Art - Grades (all)
Teachers: This activity will help students to understand how to make
pictures larger using a grid system by transferring scales images from 1/2 -1
inch to 6 inches - 1 foot.
Objective: Students will be able to create life-size scale drawings
of ocean life studied in class using a grid system.
Materials:
- ocean life pictures and/or books
- butcher or newsprint paper
- pencils, crayons, markers
- rulers
Teacher Background: It is important that students not rush the grid
process, since it will be the foundation for the object they are making larger.
If they rush, the picture will look different, because the proportions will be
skewed if the grid is done incorrectly. Also, they are to work one square at a
time, making it the same but larger than the corresponding original image. It
will be easier for students to select simple pictures. This activity can take 3
days to two weeks depending on classroom differences and teacher preferences.
Activity:
- Obtain pictures or books depicting various ocean life scenes.
- Break the class into groups and pass out pictures to each group, or have
each group research ocean life and choose their own picture.
- Once each group has chosen a picture, pass out or have groups bring in
necessary materials to create a life-size picture.
- Students need to create a grid on the original picture in order to recreate
it at a life-size scale. Copies may be made in order to preserve the original
picture.
- Grids are made by choosing a scale, usually 1 inch or 1/2 inch squares.
Using the ruler, students are to mark off the scale every inch or half inch on
all four sides of the original picture. Then lines are drawn connecting the
dots on parallel sides of the picture.
- On butcher paper or newsprint paper, students are to make a larger scale
grid, usually 6 inches or 1 foot squares, marking off dots on all four sides
and then connecting dots on parallel sides of paper. Assigning two students per
group to work on two parts of the grid will speed up the activity process.
- Be sure that there are the same number of squares on the larger scale
picture as on the smaller scale original.
- Students choose one square from the original picture, paying attention to
detail, and transfer it to its corresponding square on larger paper at the
larger scale. Repeat for each square on the smaller original picture until all
of the information has been transferred to the larger grid.
- Once the larger grid is done, add color using colored pencils or markers.
- Display in classroom, school wall, or bulletin board. Place original
picture next to the students larger scale picture for observers to compare the
original picture to the finished art work.
