#1490. Somthing's Fishy

Art, level: Middle
Posted Sun Jan 2 22:51:26 PST 2000 by Cheryl Bobo (cbobo@aol.com).
Ft. Greely School, Delta Jct. Alaska USA
Materials Required: watercolors, internet access, 2 pieces 12x18 paper, white craqyon, bubble wrap, saran wrap, kleenix,
Activity Time: 8 classes @ 50 min
Concepts Taught: Internet Research,watercolor techniques, printing methods, scientific diagrams

This is an integrated unit that could be done in 4-8th grades. Art, science, technology and language arts were integrated to create a learning opportunity that allowed students to work on many content standards simultaneously. Weaving the content standards allows more in depth exploration of a subject as well as maximizes different learning styles.

1. Diagram and label a fish
A. Scan or draw a fish using a drawing software
B. Using drawing tools(or draw with pencil) label the fish to include;
1.caudal fin, dorsal fin, lateral line, gill, eye, opercle, nostril, anal fin,
pectoral fin, mandible, maxillla (adjust this list to your grade level)

2. Research and choose tropical fish for watercolor project(internet, books, cds, etc..)
A. Research information needs to include
1. Description of fish
2. Where this fish can be found
3. Dangers present and future for this fish
3. Techniques of watercolor
A . Demonstrate and practice several watercolor techniques(Divide 18X24 paper into 12 squares and have students practice techniques while you demonstrate and label each for future use.)
1. wet on wet
2.wet on dry
3. thick and thin strokes
4. salt in wet paint
5. bleach in watercolor
6. bubble wrap printing
7. bubble wrap in wet ( left to dry)
8, scrunched up Saran wrap
9. wax resist
10. wet on wet with a lift of the paper
11. masking out with tape
12. splattering wet on wet and dry
4.Projects
A . A watercolor painting with a school or shoal of tropical fish
1. each fish should touch or overlap another
2. some fish need to be off the page
3. use 6 techniques learned in the art class
B. Gyotaku-Japanese Fish Printing
1. Write a short summary of the history of Japanese Gyotaku
2. Go to fish stations and print fresh ocean specimens(halibut, rock fish,
salmon, and herring)
3. Go to fish replica stations to print fish of your choice

Standards:
Arts- Students should be able to create and perform in the arts.
Science- a student should understand the interdependence between living things and their environment.
Language Arts- A student should be able to speak and write well for a variety of purposes.
Technology- student should be able to use technology to locate, select, and manage information.

Resources: Jason XI Project- For example, one of the systems that we will study in depth is the coral reef, and the plants and animals that form this unique and diverse ecosystem.

http://www.jasonproject.org/jason11/index.html

Coral and Coral Reefs
http://www.seaworld.org/coral_reefs/ introcr.html

FishEye View Cam-Live cam site of coral reef
http://www.FisheyeView.com/

Marine Ecosystems- Excellent resource site
http://www.mobot.org./MBGnet/salt/coral/index.htm

The Sea
http://ms.mathscience.k12.va.us/lessons/oceans/thesea.html