Hidden in Plain Sight: The Art of Camouflage

Hidden in Plain Sight: Ecosystem Dioramas

Elementary Level

 Objectives
Students will:

• respond to works of art that depict ecosystems with beliefs about their meaning and value                  supported with persuasive reasoning.
• create an effective paper sculpture diorama that represents a particular ecosystem.
• appropriately include a camouflaged animal that would be found in the ecosystem depicted.

Vocabulary
ecosystem, adaptation, camouflage, diorama

Examples are from 3rd grade students.

Resources and Materials

• reproductions of artworks that depict ecosystems (Crystal Take 5 Art Prints, Interdisciplinary Connections: Art and Science, Natural Environments, available from Crystal Productions, www.crystalproductions.com); Beverly Dolittle is an artist you may want to include.
• pencils or crayons
• 9” x 9” or 12” x 12” squares of construction paper in assorted natural colors (green, white,  brown, etc.)
• assorted sizes and colors of construction paper for details
• scissors and glue
• optional: clay or self-hardening clay, glazes or paint

Procedures

Display reproductions of artworks that depict ecosystems, drawing from various times and cultures, and discuss with students. Discuss the characteristics of ecosystems and how camouflage is an adaptation to help survival in ecosystems. Brainstorm a list of ecosystems and camouflaged animals found in them. Demonstrate procedures for making a three-dimensional diorama.

A sticky note activity may serve as the opening activity. Give each table a study print that features natural elements and a small stack of sticky notes. Ask them to work together to brainstorm vocabulary about the work and write the words on the sticky notes and place them around the image. Then ask students to write a narrative paragraph about the artwork they examined and the ecosystem they portrayed.      

To Make a Diorama

Choose a habitat for the diorama and camouflaged animals that would be found there. Begin with a 9” or 12” square piece of colored construction paper. Fold it in half and then in half again (it will now have 4 sections). Open the paper and cut on one fold only to the center of the square. After making the cut, carefully overlap the two cut edges and fold the paper into a “box” (actually a corner of a box). Glue together the overlapping edges.

Use construction paper to construct two- and three-dimensional figures and objects and glue them in the “box.” Fill in the area formed by the box with paper sculpture techniques (folding tabs so objects can stand, curling paper, going beyond the space of the box, overlapping shapes). If you want to include a clay animal, have students make the animals before they begin on their dioramas. That gives time for the clay to dry and to be fired. Students work on their paper dioramas in the meantime.

Assessment/Evaluation

To what extent did students:

• respond to works of art that depict ecosystems with beliefs about their meaning and value supported with persuasive reasoning?
• create an effective paper sculpture diorama that represents a particular ecosystem?
• include a camouflaged animal that would appropriately be found in the ecosystem depicted?   

Discussion of Artworks that Depict Ecosystems	Student responds to works of art with insightful comments supported with persuasive reasoning.	Student responds to works of art with some  comments supported with reasoning.	Student does not participate in discussion or makes few or no comments.
Ecosystem  Paper Sculpture  Diorama	Student follows instructions well and works well on project, adding imaginative details.	Student follows instructions and works towards finishing project with some detail.	Student does not follow instructions and makes little or no effort on diorama.
Inclusion of Appropriate Camouflaged Animal	Student includes appropriate detailed, camouflaged animal within diorama.	Student includes appropriate camouflaged animal within diorama.	Student makes little effort to include appropriate detailed, camouflaged animal within diorama.

 Assessment Rubric

Note: The concepts in this lesson could be applied to collage as well as assemblage. Animal patterned paper is engaging to use if you want to include it.

For display, 4 dioramas can be arranged together back to back.

This unfinished work was made during a teacher inservice. It shows that the project can be made more sophisticated for older students.