Lines, Lines, Lines: from Improvisation to Topography

Esperanza, 4th Grade | Science & Visual Art

Ms. Andrea

Ms. Hatcher's 4th-grade science students have been working to integrate landforms into the creation of contour line drawings. Before that, though, students used lines to make improvisational drawings. Rather than begin to draw with an outcome in mind, students moved their hands across the page in response to music. After drawing to two songs, students selected their favorite to color; they filled in shapes solidly or with various patterns and hues.

In contrast to the improvisational approach of our first lesson, our next exercise had a predetermined outcome. Combining science and visual art, students traced the outlines of their hands and wrists. They then added lines both within and without the central (and, being October, somewhat spooky) shape. The resulting contour line drawings resemble topographical maps. Once again, in response to a challenge — here of representing our 3D world on 2D paper — art comes to the rescue!