Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will create a beautiful sunset drawing using crayons, while learning about colors, blending techniques, and the natural beauty of sunsets.

Materials and Prep

• Crayons (various colors)
• White drawing paper
• A flat surface to work on
• Paper towel (for blending)

Before starting, make sure the student knows how to hold and use crayons properly. It’s also helpful to have a reference image of a sunset to look at for inspiration.

Activities

• Color Exploration:

  Begin by discussing the colors of a sunset. Have the student pick out crayons that they think represent a sunset. Encourage them to think of colors like orange, pink, purple, and yellow.

• Background Creation:

  Guide the student to start coloring the background of their sunset. They can use horizontal strokes to create a smooth gradient effect. Encourage them to blend colors together using their fingers or a paper towel.

• Foreground Elements:

  Once the background is complete, invite the student to add foreground elements like silhouettes of trees, mountains, or birds. This will help create depth in their artwork.

• Reflection and Sharing:

  After completing the artwork, have the student reflect on their creation. They can share what they enjoyed most about the process and what they learned about sunsets.

Talking Points

• "What colors do you see in a sunset? Can you name some?"
• "Did you know that sunsets can look different depending on where you are? What do you think makes them special?"
• "How can we mix colors to make a beautiful gradient? Let’s try blending them together!"
• "What shapes can we add to our picture to make it more interesting? How about some trees or birds?"
• "How does your sunset make you feel? Does it remind you of a special place?"
• "What was your favorite part of creating this sunset? Was it picking colors or drawing shapes?"
• "Can you tell me about the different times of day? How do they change the colors we see?"
• "What do you think would happen if we drew a sunset on a rainy day? Would it look different?"