6th Grade - The Totem Project/Mathematics of Drawing

Grade Level

Sixth

Summary

Students explore the human traits that will help them make good critical choices in their transition from childhood to adulthood.  They represent their growing self-awareness in the permanent Totem Site adjacent to JHMS.  Students also learn geometry and measurement through the process of drawing self-portraits.

Standards

Language Arts and Mathematics

Process

Mathematics of Drawing
This project includes the identification and drawing of geometric shapes, proportions, measurements, fractions and angles during the process of creating accurate self-portraits. A pARTners artist leads students during five, one-hour lessons. Students learn to identify geometric shapes intrinsic in the human face, how to proportion geometric shapes using a measuring device, about angles within geometric shapes, about fractions and the positioning of body parts. They label angles and fractions, and learn about contours, negative space angles, and make final measurements before completing their drawings. Finally, they add color for a finished product.

The Totem Project
Six years ago students at Jackson Hole Middle school created the four 12-foot totems erected adjacent to the community gardens and pathway across from the school. The all-class read of the book Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikelsen inspires the project. The totems represent the human traits of honesty, strength, gentleness and patience. Over the years of the project, students have worked with architect KJ Morris to develop the totem site. This year, students in art class worked with artist Wendell Field to update and redesign the honesty totem. In honor of an osprey that was displaced from its nest near the middle school, the students incorporate a willow nest into the sculpture. In Native American legend, the bee is the symbol of honesty. Students burn this symbol into wooden pillars that support the nest.

Products

Construction and maintenance of the Totem Site, a public art garden along the Pathway adjacent to JHMS.  The Totem Site may be enjoyed by students as it serves as a reminder of their personal responsibilities to their community.

Two completed self-portrait drawings.  The first identifies the geometric shapes, measurements and angles used to create the drawing.  The second is a finished, color self-portrait.  Photographs of each student are taken to demonstrate that geometric accuracy helps complete a realistic image.

The Mathematics of Drawing

Overview

This project will include the identification and drawing of geometric shapes, proportions, measurements, fractions and angles during the process of creating accurate drawings of birds and mammals.  The project may incorporate a visit to the National Museum of Wildlife Art to view works from their exhibits.

Artist/scientist Meredith Campbell will teach students drawing techniques utilizing geometric shapes, proportions, scale, measurements, angles and fractions.

Product: Personalized folder containing all steps and drawings completed throughout the unit

One-hour lessons will be taught twice a week over a two-week period, culminating with a visit to the museum on the last day of the project.  Two hours should be reserved for the last day.

Class one:

• Focus drawing exercise
• Depicting geometric shapes intrinsic in birds, mammals and people
• Proportioning of geometric shapes using a measuring device
• Labeling of geometric shapes

Class two:

• Focus drawing exercise
• Angles and geometric shapes
• Fractions and positioning of body parts
• Labeling of angles and fractions

Class Three:

• Focus drawing exercise
• Contours, negative space angles, final measurements
• Completed drawing
• Addition of color

Class Four - National Museum of Wildlife Art:

• Viewing of the museum's collections and finding mathematical elements in the paintings.
• Drawing of live animal using the skills learned during the past three classes.

Materials provided by pARTners

Folder with labels

Materials needed from the classroom

Pencils
Colored pencils
Magic markers
Paper 81/2 x 11
Clip boards

Museum details

When scheduling visits to the National Museum of Wildlife Art, please plan to be away from school for two hours.