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Above and Below the Ground

Students apply their knowledge of living things above and below the ground in artwork that shows an ecosystem.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

  • Paper

Steps

  • Step 1

    Take the class on a nature walk or explore a garden or park. Ask students to sketch observation notes or photograph what they see in the ecosystem.

  • Step 2

    Discuss how ecosystems are impacted by human behavior, other creatures, natural change, pollution, atmosphere, water cycles, etc.

  • Step 3

    Each student will create an image by establishing a horizon line and then depicting what would be found above and below the ground.

  • Step 4

    Ask students to recall details observed in the ecosystem using their sketches or photographs as evidence of their comments. Encourage them to represent the vibrancy of blooming plants, roots, small creatures, stones, and water in their scenes.

  • Step 5

    Remind students to incorporate evidence of human behavior that impacts the ecosystem they are drawing. Perhaps they observed trash, damaged root structures, polluted water, or other evidence of human interference with the natural order.

  • Step 6

    An art technique that works well with natural scenes is the crayon-watercolor resist. Ask students to press firmly with a crayon as they outline major objects in the scene. Then spread watercolor over the the drawing. The wax resists the wet color and results in a textured image.

Standards

SS: People, Places, and Environments: Use data to anaylze human behavior in relation to its physical and cultural environment.

SS: People, Places, and Environments: Understand various perspectives and examine changes in relation between peoples, places, and environments.

SCI: Construct an argument supported by evidence for how plants and animals (including humans) can change the environment to meet their needs.

Adaptations

Challenge students to explore nature from the points of view of different creatures. How would the scene look different from a "worm's view" versus a "bird's-eye view"?

Explore Georgia O'Keeffe's nature scenes. How does she represent the desert ecosystem? What is her intent in showing lush floral blooms as the central image in many of her paintings?