If you were to survey fourth-grade teachers to determine what single topic they most enjoy teaching the results would show a strong love of teaching about California history and the Missions. These iconic California structures have remarkable resonance with kids as they are both aesthetically interesting and culturally fascinating. Students learn about the differing perspectives of the Native Peoples, Spanish Missionaries, and political and military interests as they research the Missions.
For fourth-grade students in art class, there is an opportunity to use art ideas such as layered depth, contrast, color relationship, and medium technique as they create interpreted renderings of a chosen Mission.
We begin by researching and taking on the perspective of various participants in the Mission stories. Then we take a look at the architectural elements and design characteristics of the buildings themselves. Students are then required to make a series of sketches of missions, determining a favorite from which to draw their final piece. Finally, chalk pastel is used to create the high-contrast, high-interest pieces with bold black outlines to set off the color zones. The results are quite stunning. I think these will likely be hanging in our art show in the spring.
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