This is a lesson from my amazing friend Mary Ann whom I student taught with at Evergreen Community Charter School. I observed her teaching this to her third graders last year and fell in love with the project.
As my 3rd grade students this year were learning about astronomy, I decided that there would be no better time to teach this super fun project. I love this project because the end result is amazing. Also, there is glitter. And I love glitter.
Step 1. Students cut out large black circle.
Step 2. Students look at images of the six basic human emotions, moonscapes, and fun moon face art found online.
Step 3. Students use white oil and chalk pastels, black oil and chalk pastels and a few extra colors thrown in for the mix (browns, blues, etc) to draw a large face on their moon. They must select on the the six emotions to try to capture.
Step 4. We talk about highlights and shadows. They use the white and light colors to create highlights, dark for shadows. A few students understood this concept right away, other really struggled to understand.
Step 5. Add moon characteristics such as craters and clouds. Using the long side of chalk pastel to rub over surface creates nice shadows and clouds.
Step 6. Cut out large white circle to glue behind moon face.
***Step 7. Write a poem about the moon beginning with the words "I am the moon" (this was my favorite part)
Step 8. Copy poem on white circular paper.
Step 9. Use glue to add glitter to white circle or around moon eyes.
Step 10. Be super excited about how adorable or funny moon is!
As my 3rd grade students this year were learning about astronomy, I decided that there would be no better time to teach this super fun project. I love this project because the end result is amazing. Also, there is glitter. And I love glitter.
Step 1. Students cut out large black circle.
Step 2. Students look at images of the six basic human emotions, moonscapes, and fun moon face art found online.
Step 3. Students use white oil and chalk pastels, black oil and chalk pastels and a few extra colors thrown in for the mix (browns, blues, etc) to draw a large face on their moon. They must select on the the six emotions to try to capture.
Step 4. We talk about highlights and shadows. They use the white and light colors to create highlights, dark for shadows. A few students understood this concept right away, other really struggled to understand.
Step 5. Add moon characteristics such as craters and clouds. Using the long side of chalk pastel to rub over surface creates nice shadows and clouds.
Step 6. Cut out large white circle to glue behind moon face.
***Step 7. Write a poem about the moon beginning with the words "I am the moon" (this was my favorite part)
Step 8. Copy poem on white circular paper.
Step 9. Use glue to add glitter to white circle or around moon eyes.
Step 10. Be super excited about how adorable or funny moon is!
"I am the moon. I am high in the sky. You might see me at night because I shine bright. My designs are a sight."
"I am the moon up in the sky I shine bright light. You can see me every night. I stay up when you are asleep."
"I am the moon glowing bright, your comfort in the night. Way up high in the sky, I am the moon."
"I am the moon I'm high in the sky, I am sometimes shy. I am very happy in the sky, I am the night, I shine bright."
"I am the moon I hover over planets and when it is dark I light the night so bright. I am the moon"
::EDIT::
When I taught this lesson again, I switched it up a bit. The students each did both a moon and a sun! Each had a different facial expression/emotion. They posted the faces onto a background paper and each student wrote a poem to go along with the moon and sun.
Some of these finished pieces were selected to be on display at 67 Biltmore Cafe in downtown Asheville.
RSS Feed
