Build STEAM Skills Draw an Arctic Fox
Drawing an Arctic Fox or other Arctic animals is a great way to enhance your curriculum of habitat and hibernation.
Young children are generally most comfortable drawing from memory or imagination. Introducing them to drawing from observation or to “draw what they see,” will not only increase artistic skills and techniques, it will also build other important skills such as communication, understanding, and documentation.
Following is a lesson to Draw an Arctic Fox through observation:
To begin, show students a short video of an Arctic Fox in action.
Next, display a few photos of Arctic Foxes and then discuss the features. (draw on top of the photo while discussing if possible.)
Do you see the shape of a fox’s face? (Draw an oval on top of the face).
Do you see the triangle ears?
What shape is the body, legs, tail, etc.
Do you see how one leg is behind the body and the other is on the side, etc….. calling out all details of the fox that are needed for a successful observational drawing.
Be sure to ask students what they see in addition…. What shape are the eyes, nose, etc.
Additional discussions would include the claws, the whiskers, the fur, and so forth.
After the observational discussions with one or more photos, draw an example.
In front of the students draw an Arctic Fox as you “think aloud’ observations.
Pass each student a blue paper and a white pencil or crayon. (Remove your sample from student view).
Task students to use their observation skills to draw the Arctic Fox.
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