Teaching about Leonardo Da Vinci to fourth-graders presents the perfect opportunity to practice portraits (Mona Lisa?). However, since I am one of three teachers in my daughter’s fourth grade class, and between the three of us we have done a combined total of three portrait lessons so far this academic year, I figured I would forego another one in favor of a lesson on linear perspective.
Da Vinci’s Last Supper provides a perfect example of one-point perspective, so naturally we studied it as our guide. My only problem came in deciding on a project they could tackle (and be proud of) in just under an hour. Tall order.
This was my first drawing. I threw in the towel after realizing that there was no way a bunch of ten-year-olds could complete any semblance of what had taken me half an hour to create (and it was unfinished, not to mention).
My second. Slightly easier. But only slightly.
So I settled on the field of tulips. Easy in terms of drawing. Plus, they got to add color. Definite win.
We first read Mike Venezia’s book on Leonardo Da Vinci.
Here’s a Powerpoint explaining the lesson in detail: