Name

Class/Grade Level

CREATING CONNECTING RESPONDING - PRESENTING

Title: Zoo Hand Animals!

Unit Duration/# of Sessions: 1-2 sessions
Enduring Ideas: This lesson emphasizes the idea of
using ones body to physically engage in and make
art. Students will create another creature using their
unique handprint. Students will also engage in
discussion about animals and their importance and
uniqueness.

Artists/Art/Artifacts and Art Techniques: We

will read the book If I Ran The Zoo by Dr. Seuss
and use painting and drawing techniques as
well as cutting out shapes to add detail.
Daily Lesson Vignette:

8:00-8:15: I will start class by reading students the book
If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss. We will have a discussion
about how Dr. Seuss used his imagination to create a
story about different zoo animals and their adventures.
We will talk about going to the zoo and w hy it is
important to appreciate all of the wonderful animals from
around the world (some animals are unique to certain
places, interesting characteristics of certain animals, why
being kind to animals is important, each animal has a role,
etc.).
8:15-8:25: I will introduce the students to the handprint
animal project by doing a demonstration.
8:25-8:45: Students will w ork on their handprint animals.
Each student will pick a zoo animal and make its body
using their hand. They will then add detail using
construction paper cutouts and colored pencils. The
animal will be surrounded by a zoo setting.
8:45-8:50: Clean up.

Lesson Overview: During this lesson, students

will create zoo animals by using their
handprints as the body and further adding
details with colored pencils and construction
paper. I will introduce the class to the topic of
zoo animals by reading them the book If I Ran
the Zoo by Dr. Seuss, followed by a discussion
about the importance of being kind to and
appreciating animals.
Key Concepts:
Students will dive a little deeper into their existing
perceptions of zoo animals and their handprints. They will
find a connection between the two by stretching the
imagination to create a zoo animal out of the shape of their
handprint. Students will also engage in a discussion that
highlights the importance and uniqueness of animals from
around the world.

Materials:
- paint
- brushes
- colored
pencils
- scissors
- colored
construction
paper
- regular paper

Estimated Cost:

$30

Links
and Attached Files:

Accommodations: If students finish early, I

will plan on having them write a story on
the back of their paper about the life of their
zoo animal. If the class is too young to write,
I will have students draw in their
sketchbooks.

Vocabulary: zoo, animals, shapes, handprint

Name
Class/Grade Level

CREATING CONNECTING RESPONDING - PRESENTING

Day 2:
8:00-8:10: Review concepts covered in
discussion.
8:10-8:50: Continued work time.

GLE:
Identify and use form
Discuss a response (feeling or idea) to an artwork based upon the students life
experience
NCAS:
Use observation and investigation in preparation for making a work of art.
Explore uses of materials and tools to create works of art or design.
Compare images that represent the same subject.
Classify artwork based on different reasons for preferences.

(Kid F riendly Objectives connected to standards)

Process Objectives:
Students will engage themselves physically to create the base of their animals, creating a highly
aesthetic, hands-on experience.
Students w ill gain an understanding of zoo animals and animals in general.
Students will participate in and/or listen to discussion about the importance of animals and the
variety of animals across the world.

Product Objectives:
Students will use their perception of shapes to transform handprints into animals.
Students will create a fully detailed zoo animal of their choosing by using their handprint as a
base and color pencil/paper cutouts to add detail.

Presenting Objectives:
Students will explain the process with which they created their animals to classmates.
Students will discuss the work of the peers.


Process Assessments:
Student made a zoo animal by using his/her own handprint.
Student gained an understanding and appreciation of zoo animals through participating in
and/or listening to a class discussion about the importance of animals.

Product Assessments:
Student used his/her perception of shapes to transform a handprint into a zoo animal.
Student created a fully detailed zoo animal of his/her choosing by using a handprint as the base
and adding details.

Presenting Assessments:
Student will present his/her artwork to peers and listen/observe the artwork of his/her peers.

Name
Class/Grade Level
Assessment Notes: Since part of the
assessment is based upon discussion, it
may be hard to record or remember.

Supporting Documents Attached:

CREATING CONNECTING RESPONDING - PRESENTING

Teacher Reflection: I will know that this lesson is successful if I

see that my students are actively engaged in discussion about zoo
animals and the creation of their own zoo animal. I hope that
students find it exciting, exhilarating, and memorable to use their
own handprints to create a completely different create. Hopefully,
my students minds will be stretched as they see the power
different shapes (even shapes made from their own body) have to
create other objects. I hope my students become more
appreciative and fascinated by the different animals that exist
around the world.