Value Shelves

Prior to this lesson we did some value exercises.  We folded our paper into four squares.  We traced a smaller square of card board in the corner of each square and connected them with diagonal lines.  We mixed different shades of gray by adding little dabs of black to small cups of white paint.  We started with a light gray on the bottom of the shelf then added more black to mix a medium gray for the side and mixed a darker gray for the back of the shelf.  While the shelves were drying students drew and colored objects to cut and glue onto them.  Students were asked to think about the size or proportion of the object to the shelf.

**TIP- When I do color mixing or tinting in a lesson I like to give students a small cup (ketchup sized?) of white paint into which they mix the other color.

Value Drawings

5th grade students were given a selection of black and white animal photos to choose from. they folded the image in half and taped it onto a piece of drawing paper. Students then had to duplicate the image paying close attention to different values. Before starting this project we spent a class discussing value and practicing on a worksheet.

Value Castles

4th grade students were show how to draw a castle using basic shapes (squares, rectangles and triangles). We looked at photos of castles and brainstormed different architectural details we could include in our castles such as spires, bricks, flags, etc. Students used colored pencils to complete their drawing, creating a light source by shading their castle from light to dark.