Panda, Panda
Objective
Students will learn about the things pandas need in their habitat to survive. They will then apply these learnings to a two stanza poem with rhyming words. Students will also use combination of templates and their own creativity to create artwork of a panda.
Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.1.6
Produce complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RF.K.2
Demonstrate understanding of spoken words, syllables, and sounds (phonemes).
NGSS: K-ESS3.A
Living things need water, air, and resources from the land, and they live in places that have the things they need. Humans use natural resources for everything they do.
VA:Cr2.1.1a
Explore uses of materials and tools to create works of art or design.
Engagement
- Ask students to share what they already know about panda bears. Explain that they will be creating artwork featuring a panda, and write a short poem to go along with their art.
- 2. Read a non-fiction book about pandas (such as Baby Panda Chews Bamboo, by Ben Richmond) to the class so students have an understanding of what pandas look like, their habitat, and what they eat.
- After reading the book, review important facts about pandas that students might use in their poetry.
- Review words that students might use in their poems, and make a list of rhyming words. For example, students might want to use the word "tree" in their poem. As a class, brainstorm a list of words that rhyme with tree. Leave these lists up for students to reference during their poetry writing.
Activity
Step 01
Model writing a two stanza poem about pandas for students by picking a pair of rhyming words. Then, start the poem with “Panda, panda...” and write a simple question or declarative sentence using one of the rhyming words at the end. Repeat the process for the second stanza, using the second rhyming word at the end of that sentence.
Example: Panda, panda what can you do?
Panda, panda you can eat bamboo!
Step 02
Have students pick a pair of rhyming words for their
own poem, and have them write their poem on the
template provided. (Optional: mount this poem to a piece of
colored construction paper to make it pop on the final piece
of artwork.)
Step 03
Using the panda head template (available on our website: LearnItByArt.com), trace and cut out a large circle. Set aside.
Step 04
Use the templates to cut eight eye shapes (two outer eyes, two irises, two pupils and two highlights). Use black construction paper for the outer eyes and pupils, whatever color you’d like for the iris (or use painted colored construction paper to add interest), and white construction paper for the highlight.
Step 05
Trim the eye pieces into the size and shape you want. Arrange the iris and highlight around until they look right to you. Glue them down. Repeat for the second eye.
Note: The white highlight comes from the direction of the light, so it should stay on the same side of the eye for both eyes.
Step 06
Using the template, trace and cut out the nose shape. Cut the square in half on the diagonal to make a triangle. Use one of these triangles for the nose. Trim the nose shape to your desired size and look.
Step 07
Trace and cut the ear template twice to make two ears.
Step 08
Decide on what kind of hat to create for your panda. To make sure your hat is big enough for the panda’s head, draw a shape that reaches completely across the square on the hat template provided. Cut out the shape and trace it onto the colored construction paper you chose for your hat.
Step 09
Assemble the panda bears’ features to your liking. Ears can be placed in front or behind the hat, or one of each!
Step 10
Share some tips with students while they arrange their artwork. Encourage them to keep the ears symmetrical. That means equally placed on either side of the hat. Consider how placing the nose and eyes low on the head circle makes the panda look like he is gazing downwards. Tilting the eyes and nose can add interest and make the panda look curious. Encourage students to experiment with placement before they glue it down.
Step 11
If you didn’t use painted construction paper to add interest to the Panda’s features, such as the irises or the hat, now is a great time to add optional detail in other ways. In this example, we used tempera sticks to draw in lines for the mouth, and add texture to the hat.
Step 12
Next, create the bamboo stalks by cutting strips of construction paper in half, and then half again to make fourths. (Using painted construction paper here can also give the artwork great texture and interest.)
Step 13
Trace and cut out ovals to make bamboo leaves. Draw a line down the center and cut in half. Make some smaller bamboo leaves by dividing and cutting the oval into fourths.
Step 14
Using a 12 x18 inch piece of construction paper, have students arrange their bamboo, panda, and poem however they’d like. Encourage students to layout all the pieces before gluing anything. Once the arrangement has been established, have students glue bamboo down first, then their poem and then the panda. For an extra pop of color, also mount the poem to a colorful piece of construction paper before gluing down to the finished artwork.
Note:
Downloadable templates available below.
Assessment
Assess students' poems for an accurate rhyming pattern and
complete sentences.