Imaginary Animals

crayola supplies

Overwriters® Markers
Giant Floor Pad

household supplies

none

Why?

How do animals blend in with their surroundings? Their coats and feathers help them survive. Use your imagination to imitate Mother Nature’s handiwork. Draw an Imaginary Animal!

Steps

1. Most creatures can be identified by their distinctive patterns, markings, or colors. There is no mistaking a zebra for a horse. Find out why snakes, birds, animals, fish, and insects have distinct markings. Share information with your classmates. Then use your imagination to create a uniquely patterned animal of your own.
2. Using Crayola® Overwriters, create the most colorful creature you can dream up. Place your animal in a pretend setting, too.
3. Start with the Overwriters Under Color markers to make the background and larger shapes of your picture. Use these dark colors to show your animal’s habitat, too.
4. Apply the bright Over Colors on top to create interesting patterns and details. Experiment with overlapping colors and different combinations for dramatic effects. How well is your creature hidden among its surroundings?

adaptations

Students with special needs may benefit from looking at photographs and drawings of animals with unusual markings to help them imagine details for their creature.

Students could write a short story or play about their imaginary creatures. What adventures do they have? Are they predator or prey?

Some patterns, such as the concentric circles found inside a tree, contain useful information for scientists. Find out what scientists can learn from these rings. Draw a picture to illustrate the findings.

Look for patterns in flowers, shells, pumpkins, spider webs, and other natural phenomena. Draw pictures to show these findings in an artistic way.

Find out how patterns in math are used to create games and game boards such as checkers.

benefits

Students research the various patterns, markings, designs, and colors found in animals (protective coloration).

Children explain to each other the varied reasons why animals, fish, reptiles and insects have these markings.

Students create an original animal, bird, insect, reptile, or fish that have unique designs, patterns, or markings.

grades

Grades 1 to 3
Grades 4 to 6
Special Needs

subjects

Science
Visual Arts

time

30 to 60 minutes

curriculum standards links

US: Research U.S. Standards
UK: Research UK Standards
Canada: Research Canada Standards