The Big Orange Splot

by Elizabeth Van Allen for 
scribblesbyartteachervanallen.blogspot.com
* for grade 1 e-learning 

I love this wonderful children's book!  This lesson is designed for elementary students, but I have even seen the book used with high schoolers as a very accessible way to teach about conforming and individualism.

The Big Orange Splot

book by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

OBJECTIVES:

 I will create an original house and yard that reflect me and my dreams, a place that I would love to live.

So that I can explore my likes and dislikes, experiment with drawing objects by starting with shapes, and play with drawing different types of plants and environments.

I will know I have it right when I have created a finished, creatively imagined house that includes a wonderful and imaginative yard that fills my whole drawing surface!

REQUIREMENTS:

 Students will:

1. Listen to / watch the story “the big orange splot” by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

2. Brainstorm­­­­­­

3. Draw a creative house that you love

4. Include an imaginative yard or environment that makes you happy

5. Complete the project in a timely manner

6. Share a picture with the teacher through EDSBY

MATERIALS:

 ·  paper

·  pencil or pen

·  any other art supplies you may have access to – if you have nothing else, get creative!

Collage together (clean) food wrappers in different colors to create images.  Use the back of cardboard packaging (cereal boxes etc.) as paper if you have none.

*If you don’t want to draw and you have the materials, you can build your house and yard!  You could use, cardboard, legos, construction paper, cereal boxes, anything you have permission to use!

DIRECTIONS

1. Listen to / watch / read the story “The Big Orange Splot” by Daniel Manus Pinkwater either through the link provided or on youtube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YoYiyEo07tM

2. Questions to think about after reading the book:

a)    Why do you think that Mr. Plumbean changed his house the way that he did?

b)    Why do you think Mr. Plumbean’s neighbors didn’t like the changes he made to his house?

c)    What do you think Mr. Plumbean said to his neighbors that made them change their minds?

d)    If you lived in Mr. Plumbean’s neighborhood, what would you do to your house to make it show who you are?

3. Brainstorm­­­­­­ ideas you could use to design your house, and get creative.  Do you like fashion? Include a runway!  Do you enjoy animals?  Consider using animal prints or making the house into the shape of your favorite animal!  The possibilities are endless!

4. Draw a creative house that you love.  It doesn’t have to me in color if you don’t have it available, you can draw it in just pencil or pen, or whatever you have available.  If you want you can even build a model of it using cardboard, legos, or anything else you have permission to use!

5. Include an imaginative yard or environment that makes you happy.
6. Clean up your working area

7. Take a picture or scan it

8. Share the picture with your art teacher through EDSBY!

TIME BUDGET:

  1-2 classes

SUNSHINE STATE STANDARDS

VA.1.S.1 : The arts are inherently experiential and actively engage learners in the processes of creating, interpreting, and responding to art.

VA.1.O.2 : The structural rules and conventions of an art form (in this case an illustrated story) serve as both a foundation and departure point for creativity.

VA.1.H.1 : Through study in the arts, we learn about and honor others and the worlds in which they live(d).

VA.1.H.3.1: Identify connections between visual art and other content areas.

VA.1.F.1 : Creating, interpreting, and responding in the arts stimulate the imagination and encourage innovation and creative risk-taking.