Objective

By the end of this lesson, the student will be able to explore and create artwork inspired by water.

Materials and Prep

• White drawing paper
• Watercolor paints
• Paintbrushes
• A container of water
• Old newspapers or a plastic tablecloth to protect the workspace

No prior knowledge or preparation is required for this lesson.

Activities

• Activity 1: Watercolor Exploration

Have the student experiment with watercolor paints by creating different water-related shapes and patterns on the drawing paper. Encourage them to use different amounts of water to see how it affects the paint's transparency and blending.

• Activity 2: Watercolor Resist

Show the student how to use a white crayon or a white oil pastel to draw a water-themed picture on the drawing paper. Then, have them paint over the entire paper with watercolors. The wax from the crayon or pastel will resist the paint, creating interesting textures and effects.

• Activity 3: Watercolor Splatter

Show the student how to dip a paintbrush into the watercolor paint and then flick it over the paper to create splatter effects. Encourage them to experiment with different colors and techniques to create a water-like splatter pattern.

Talking Points

• "Water is a very important part of our world."
• "Water can be found in many places, like lakes, rivers, and even in the ocean."
• "Water can have different colors, like blue or green, depending on where it is."
• "When we use watercolors, we can create paintings that look like water."
• "Using more water can make the paint look lighter, while using less water can make it look darker."
• "Splattering paint can make it look like water is moving or splashing."