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Dancing Gooney Birds
by: Christy Hartman
Grade Level: 2 - 4

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Instructional Objective:  The students will understand and apply media, techniques, and processes.  Curricular Integration: During the course of the school year students study ecology and natural species including animals that are either endangered or extinct, an animal that fits into this category is the Dodo Bird. It lived on the island of Mauritius and was discovered in 1598; by 1681 the last Dodo had died out thanks largely to the influence of man.  This project takes the knowledge learned from scientific study to a more fantasy based application, it would be fun to write descriptive paragraphs about the habitat and life of the Gooney Bird as an extension of this project including why this bird is a candidate for being added to the endangered species list.        Materials and Equipment:  18” X 24” white cardstock or watercolor paper Assorted colored construction paper permanent markers oil pastels watercolor paints glitter glue scissors glue color wheel Resource Materials: Baby Beebee Bird by Diane Redfield Massie and illustrated by Steven Kellogg Edward the Emu by Sheena Knowles and Rod Klement Edwina the Emu by Sheena Knowles and Rod Klement Olga the Brolga by Rod Klement I Wonder Why the Dodo is Dead by Andy Chapman   Dynasty/FM Brush - Eye of the Tiger Brushes:  Oval: #4, #6 Flats:  #10, #12 Flat Glaze:  ¾”, 1”   Project Requirements: This project allows the student to draw a bird utilizing basic shapes and based on their scientific knowledge.  Multi media approach.    Develop a 3 dimensional look to the bird through the use of paper cutting collage techniques. Using color families the student will learn to paint using watercolor wash techniques to achieve a pleasing result.    Project Introduction: Discuss endangered and extinct animals and brainstorm a list of characteristics that are particular to animals on that list.  Discuss the characteristics of birds such as the location of their eyes, purpose of the types of feathers, general physiology, and food source.  Brainstorm a list of characteristics of the Gooney Bird and discuss how these specific characteristics will impact the endangered animal designation.   Art Production: Fold the 18”X 24” piece of white paper in half so that one side of your paper is 18”X 12”.  The bird will be drawn on one side of the paper and reproduced through tracing on the other side so that both sides are the same.  The birds are drawn using basic shapes and teacher led instructions drawing the birds head, beak, eye and body with a slightly exaggerated form.  Cut the bird out before reproducing it on the opposite side of the paper.  Depending on the thickness of your paper, the students may find that it is easier to outline with a black permanent marker on one side of the bird prior to tracing the bird on the other side.  After the bird is cut out and reproduced on both sides outline with black permanent marker.   Using brightly colored oil pastels color in the beak and eye on both sides of the bird.  You may want to add some glitter glue to the pupil of the eye.       Using watercolor wash techniques paint the head and neck of the bird with watercolors, remind students to be careful with the colors that they use so that their colors bleed together and do not form mud.  This is a great opportunity to discuss color families and how color mixing.    Each feather is cut individually and snipped at the ends to form a feathered look on the body of the bird.  This does tend be tedious and I stress cutting out multiple feathers at the same time from assorted bright colored pieces of construction paper to speed up the process.  It is important to try to use similar colored feathers on both sides of the bird to achieve the mirror image.    Once the feathers are complete cut ½” X 18” strips of colored construction paper that is accordion folded to form the legs and glued to the inside of the bird.  Design the feet and cut them out of construction paper and glue onto the legs.  To keep the bird holding that 3 dimensional pose we cut 3”X6” pieces of construction paper and folded each end of the paper up and glued those tabs inside the bird.  We also added a piece of yarn to the head to hang it easily in the hallway.    Evaluation:  Teacher observation, record keeping and a continued conversation about the color wheel.   Dancing Gooney Birds © Christy Hartman 2007 www.chartmandesigns.com