4th Grade Haunted Houses

This lesson builds on a similar Halloween-themed lesson the 4th graders did as 3rd graders.  Rather than focus on positive and negative space like they did in that lesson, however, this lesson stresses the concept of balance.  Before beginning the artwork, we review the familiar concept of symmetrical balance before exploring how artists attempt to balance their works asymmetrically, and not just from side-to-side.  I ask the students to imagine these artworks with a line of symmetry from the upper left corner to the lower right corner (some actually lightly drew a pencil line before beginning) and to think about balancing their work across that line.  I also introduce the words foreground and background and talk (using online examples) about how artists often will also balance their works "front to back" as well.  Using some online haunted house silhouettes as a reference, the students then create these works using pencil, Sharpie, and the liquid watercolors we make from our dried out markers.  Some of their details were very creative (and creepy!).