Figures In Motion

This can easily be tied to science, with the concepts of force and motion, and anatomy. The cultural exemplar is Keith Haring and his book Dance.Students can practice drawing proportion and motion in the basic way that Haring did. First students make a "skeleton" in motion using macaroni and pasta, then render a color figure.

Materials:

Michael Jackson clip: YouTube

Pasta lima beans and macaroni, including elbow, straight, shells, penne, fusilli.

Colored paper 9X12

Black paper 9X12

Black marker

Skelton diagrams

Another exemplar I used was Michael Jackson, and his distinctive dance skills. You could also show other examples of dancers, gymnasts and atheletic abilities to emphasize how our bodies can work. If you really want to take some time with it, you can coordinate with the PE teacher some dance moves for the kids to learn.

1. Show the Haring image above and have some of the students come forward and mimic one of the moves in a pose. This enhances their observational skills.

2. Give students a black sheet of paper. You can have them paint the pasta pieces white, or leave it natural. Pass out skeleton papers. Set out bowls of macaroni and have them construct their skeleton in a pose or "stop motion" of some kind. Remind them to start close to the top or bottom, so there is enough room.

Part II

1. Ifyou wish, they can render the same pose as their skeleton, or they can choose a different one for their Haring type figure. Give some guided practice on drawing the figure in the stick figure/bubble method. Again, encourage them to make it big enough.

a, Start with a round head

b.Draw the rest of the body as a stick figure

c. Draw a bubble around the stick  figure. (They always want to draw it too skinny, so allow them to practice a few times.)

2.Once they have it down, they will draw it on their colored piece of paper and cut it out.

3. They will choose a different color of paper for the floor, cut to 4"X9" They will glue this on the bottom of the other paper.

4. They will glue the figure onto the paper, in the placement they wish. (upside down, in the air, etc.)

5. Outline the figure in black marker and draw a line across the top of the floor. Add large polka dots to the floor. Draw some motion lines around the figure.