Imaginary Animals
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!
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?
Adult supervision is required for any arts & crafts project. Observe children closely and intervene as necessary to prevent potential safety problems and ensure appropriate use of arts and crafts materials. Some craft items, particularly beads and buttons, are potential choking hazards for young children. Avoid use of such small parts with children younger than 3 years. Craft items such as scissors, push pins and chenille sticks may have sharp points or edges. Avoid use of materials with sharp points by children younger than 4 years. Read all manufacturers' safety warnings before using arts and craft supplies.
- 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.
Feathery Parrot
Iridescent Insects
English Hillside Horse
