Meld science, social studies, language arts, and art into one colorful, undersea-themed project using our downloadable Layered Coral Reef art lesson.
Coral reefs are an engaging way to bring learning to life. Hosting a plethora of colorful plants and animals in an unbelievably beautiful, Seuss-like habitat, coral reefs are always a student favorite. Once students have completed their unit on coral reefs and the plants and animals that live in them, it’s time to research and locate the largest reefs on a world map or globe. Writing projects are easily incorporated into this lesson via poetry or essays about the reefs and their unusual inhabitants. And finally…
Students create their own, 3-D, layered coral reef, featuring the plants and animals they’ve studied! Using a box, mirror-board, sheets of acrylic, and markers, students first sketch the various elements of the coral reef they’d like to include, then trace them onto the acrylic sheets and fill them with the vibrant colors of the reef. The sheets are spaced out inside the box, giving the reef the illusion of depth, while the mirrored back provides a rippled, underwater-like reflection. The outside of the box can be decorated with paints or markers or with student-created, reef-themed poetry and writing.
Download a complete lesson plan for this art lesson plan developed by our Sax Art Consultants, including images, step-by-step directions, and material list today.
For Grades 4-12.
Have you incorporated underwater sea life into your lessons? Tell us in the comments.
