Picturing The Distant Past

Use creative paint techniques to create a scene of your neighborhood long ago.

• 1.

  Take a trip back in time to investigate what your neighborhood would have looked like, perhaps when dinosaurs roamed the Earth, in another geological era. Was it an ocean bed? Did giant ferns grow there? What animals roamed the area?

• 2.

  Cover the work space with recycled newspaper. Create colors of the era's landscape with Crayola® Washable Paint and Brushes. To make tints, mix a small amount of white into colored paint. Make shades by adding a drop or two of black to a color.

• 3.

  To make paint pans that eliminate drips when printing, cover the bottom of shallow pans with a flat sponge or a double layer of paper. Pour a shallow layer of paint on top.

• 4.

  Represent vegetation, water, and terrain with paint using these or other creative techniques: (Combine several techniques.)<br> <li>Dip the straight edge of a small piece of cardboard into a shallow paint layer. Press the dipped edge on paper to print a straight line. <li>Make notches in a small piece of cardboard with Crayola Scissors. Dip in paint. Drag the notched edge across the paper to create multiple lines. <li>Carve shapes into Crayola Modeling Clay with a plastic knife or other modeling tool, or use other found objects, to stamp prints. Dip the object in a shallow paint layer, then press onto paper. <li>Dab paint onto paper with a sponge. <li>Create a stipple (dotted) effect by using cotton swabs to apply paint. <li>Dip opposite sides of paint brush hair into different colors. Paint or dab on paper. <li>Experiment with brushes of various sizes and shapes.

• 5.

  Cut or tear painted patterned paper and arrange on another piece of paper to make a collaged scene. Attach pieces with Crayola School Glue.

Benefits

• Children research and record their region's characteristics during a selected geological time period.
• Students represent their neighborhood's ancient landscape (or seascape) with tempera painting techniques.

Adaptations

• Turn this landscape into a diorama background by folding it in half. Fold the outside edges back toward the center to increase stability. Add 3-D models of plants and animals from the era.
• Children try to identify each other's ancient neighborhoods. The young artists give clues such as topography, vegetation, or climate.