Neon Northern Lights

Lesson Plan, Grades 3-6, Language Arts, Science, Social Studies, Crayola, Drawing, Mixed Media

Description

Lesson Plan and Artwork by Mandy Howard

Ribbons of green, blue, and violet light, better known as the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis, have captivated humans since the dawn of time. In many northern cultures, stories or folklore have been created to help understand this amazing natural phenomenon. Students will use Crayola® Neon Crayons, permanent markers, and Premier Tempera paint on Crayola Construction Paper to create their own version of the Neon Northern Lights.

Objectives

Explain how art can help us better understand the world around us.

Read and discuss the Finnish folk story of the Northern Lights and the Firefox, and use this story as inspiration when creating unique mixed-media artwork.

Use Crayola Neon Crayons to create the phenomenon of the Northern Lights.

Use permanent markers and white Crayola Premier Tempera to add details including foliage, land features, stars, or even a firefox.

Supplies Needed

Crayola® Neon Crayons, 24 Count
Crayola® Premier Tempera Paint - white
Crayola® Construction Paper Pad, 9" x 12", 240 Sheets
Permanent Markers, Fine Point, Black, Set of 12
*Here are the supplies needed for this lesson plan for reference. Find a convenient carousel of shoppable products for this lesson below.

Standards

Standard #2: Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Standard #6: Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work.
Standard #11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural and historical context to deepen understanding.

Instructions

1

Introduce key concepts, including the Northern Lights, folklore, landscapes, the Element of Art–Space, and silhouettes, to students as you begin this assignment. In Finland, the Northern Lights are called Revontulet, or firefox. According to folk stories, the Firefox is black during the day to help it hide, but at night it shimmers as if covered in neon sparkles of light. The glowing Northern Lights are said to be created when the firefox’s glittering tail strikes low-hanging branches as it runs across the snow-covered land. We now know that the Northern Lights are caused by solar storms that occur on the sun and create ripples in our atmosphere, known as Alfven Waves. As these waves move away from the sun and closer to us, the earth’s magnetic pull causes the waves to collide with elements in our atmosphere to create the Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis.

2

After learning about the Northern Lights and discussing the Finnish folk story of Revontulet the firefox, students will begin creating their own Neon Northern Lights mixed-media work of art.

3

Students will rip a piece of scrap paper, creating a jagged edge.

4

On a piece of blue Crayola Construction Paper, students will place the jagged edge of the scrap paper horizontally in the upper two-thirds of the page.

5

Using the Crayola Neon Crayons, students will color along the jagged edge in an upward motion using one color.

6

These lines, created by the ripped paper, should not be in a straight line across the page and they do not need to go completely from edge to edge. Many images of the Northern Lights are available online and can be used for inspiration.

7

Students will move the scrap paper down just a little from the previous marks made and repeat another line using a second color. Make sure to continue adding those lines in an upward motion. The colors can overlap a little and blend into one another.

8

Students can repeat this step three or four times.

9

Once the Northern Lights have been added, students can use a black permanent marker to draw silhouettes of trees, mountains, or even a firefox in the bottom third of the page. Take time to explain what a silhouette is and encourage students not to add details that you might see in a typical drawing (such as individual leaves, facial features on the fox, etc.).

10

Finally, students can add stars or even a moon using white Crayola Premier Tempera applied with a toothpick or the end of a paintbrush. They can make some dots or “stars” smaller and some larger to make them appear farther or closer.