Giraffes Can't Dance

 I've had my eye on this lesson for a while now.  I've spotted it a few times on the internet and the pictures look fun to do.

Its based on the book, Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae with illustrations by Guy Parker - Rees (who was our artist of the week - click here for further information)



I used the lesson plan by Patty at Deep Space Sparkle as inspiration (her lessons are always so good!) with a few changes here and there.

What you need:

• A3 cartridge paper - two per student
• blue, green, yellow and white paint
• bamboo sticks
• glue sticks
• scissors
• silver paint or pens
• yellow and orange / brown liquid watercolors
• Black permanent markers
• Pencils
• scrap paper to practice on
• Silver glitter (optional)
• Giraffe photos (optional)

How to:
Week One

• Read the book
• Do a guided drawing of a giraffe on the whiteboard
• Get the children to follow along and then on a practice piece of paper get them to draw giraffes in different dancing positions
• When they are happy with one get them to copy this onto the A3 cartridge paper, first in pencil then go over lines with black permanent marker
• Colour in using yellow liquid watercolour with orange / brown as spots
• Leave to dry
• For the background - ask them to draw a moon and a line across the bottom for the grass in pencil
• Paint the grass area yellow
• Paint the sky blue, ensuring they leave out the moon
• Paint the moon with white paint (new brush) then go around it in circles to create the lighter blue area around the moon
• Paint over the yellow grass with green paint
• Scratch in grass and flowers with bamboo skewers
• Leave to dry

Week Two

• Cut out dancing giraffe and glue onto background
• Add stars with silver paint or pen
• Add glitter to stars (optional)

The Results:
These make me smile ...... Didn't they do a good job!  Giraffes are pretty hard to draw for 5-9 year olds yet they took on the challenge and I love what they did.  Yes a few boys drew the giraffe landing on his head (that's boys for you) and some of the girls added pink tutus (that's girls for you).

Cheers
Fiona