Listening Tree

In this lesson students explore shape and line while drawing inspiration from the sounds of nature to create a drawing of a tree incorporating words. Students will take a nature walk and listen to the sounds of nature. Students will draw a simplified tree with fine liner and incorporate the words from nature into the design. They will then add colour to their drawing using fine liner.

Lesson 1

Explore the “Listen” Yarn Circles card. Discuss the word listen as a class and work through some of the YARN time prompts.

Lesson 2

Students go on a nature walk and listen carefully to all the things happening around them. As a class write down some of the sounds which they can hear.

Lesson 3

Students draw a simplified version of a tree using organic shapes in sections to build the trunk and branches using a fine liner.

Lesson 4

Students incorporate the words from nature into their drawing. They can have the words running along the branches, inside the tree or however they choose.

Lesson 5

Students use water colour paints to add colour to their work. They can add the leaves in the trees and incorporate different tones of browns into the trunk and branches.

Lesson 6

Students complete their work and create a display of their trees as a class.

Lesson 7

Reflection:
- What sounds did you notice in nature?
- If you close your eyes, does it help you to concentrate on the sounds?
- How have you incorporated words into your drawing?
- What water colour techniques did you use to add colour to your work?
- How did you feel when listening to nature and when you were drawing and painting your work?

Lesson 8

Extension and Differentiation:
- Students can create a group or individual word bank of words which they would like to use in their drawing.
- Students can explore a variety of different water colour techniques before adding colour to their tree drawing such as wet on wet, dry brushing, and dabbing with sponges.
- Students can work at a larger scale on A3 paper and explore different mediums such as chalk pastel or paint markers.