Book of Kells Bird, Ages 4-6 Learning Target

Cycle 2, Week 3 –Book of Kells Bird, ages 4-6

Learning target: To think about the object only as a series of lines and shapes. Do not think about what the object “should” look like as we we draw. Element of art: line Materials: 8.5x11 paper, 9”x12” envelope, pencils, colored pencils (or markers)

Draw one rectangle on the whiteboard, the same dimensions as the student’s drawing paper. Have the print-out of the animal from the Book of Kells inside an envelope (make sure the envelope is completely opaque!).

1. Show various drawings upside down and talk about the shapes. Also talk about the what the lines do, as in the OiLs lesson. Explain why we are going to practice an upside- down image. (5 minutes) 2. Have your envelope with the image inside taped up in the whiteboard. Explain that the dotted lines on their paper correlate to the dotted lines they will see on the image. These will show them what part of the paper they should be drawing in. 3. Pull out the image to the first dotted line. Use tape or putty to hold the image in place. 4. Begin to draw the image on your whiteboard slowly. Talk about the lines and shapes you see and how you know where to place them on your own drawing. Have students follow along on their own paper as you talk. 5. Continue to pull up sections and repeat step 4 until the drawing is complete. It can be fun to have students guess what the drawing is as each section is completed. (Drawing portion: 15 minutes) 6. Show images from the Book of Kells and explain the imagery that they drew today. Students begin coloring image. (10 minutes)

History

The Book of Kells is a famous medieval illuminated manuscript and acclaimed to be one of the most beautiful books ever written. It takes its name from the village of Kells, in northwest Ireland. It is thought to have been produced around 800 AD. The Book of Kells contains the four Gospels in Latin based on the Vulgate text which St Jerome completed in 384 AD. The book is written on vellum (prepared calfskin) and includes lavish decoration and ornamentation. Abstract decoration and images of plants, animals, and humans aim to glorify Jesus’ life and message, and keep his attributes and symbols constantly in the eye of the reader.

Resources: (http://www.wclibrary.info/kells) (https://www.tcd.ie/Library/manuscripts/book-of-kells.php)

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