Aerial Perspective Snowmen

First Grade

    The ideas of perspective and sight lines are slippery to the youngest of our students. They struggle with placing characters’ feet on the ground while a horizon line falls behind them or with seeing that when a side of a face is drawn then only one eye can be seen. However, this struggle presents an opportunity to create a dramatic effect in composition to help draw attention to the idea of perspective.

These snowmen were created using multiple-step directions and some careful compass work. Yes, even first-graders can successfully use compasses in drawing. The layers of depth help students to see that distance is created with scale and proximity and that layers must be clearly delineated- in this case with the snowman arms and scarves between the snowballs.

The background designs were self-generated but fell within the guidelines of using a grid pattern to create a formal feel to a snowfall effect. Simply using the rulers to create the grid offered a way to discuss math concepts as we moved through the project.

Enjoy these fun and festive snowmen!