Unit 2 5th Grade VAPA Lesson Explorer Galleon
Big Idea Early exploration created both conflict and cooperation among the Native Americans and the European explorers and early settlers.
Essential Question: What were the obstacles that ______(explorers, Natives, settlers) faced and how did they overcome these challenges?
VAPA Standards: Develop Visual Arts Vocabulary 1.1 Identify and describe the principles of design in visual compositions, emphasizing unity and harmony. 1.2 Identify and describe characteristics of representational, abstract, and nonrepresentational works of art. Communication and Expression Through Original Works of Art 2.5 Assemble a found object sculpture or a mixed media two-dimensional composition that reflects unity and harmony and communicates a theme. Role and Development of the Visual Arts 3.1 Describe how local and national art galleries and museums contribute to the conservation of art. Derive Meaning 4.1 Identify how selected principles of design are used in a work of art and how they affect personal responses to and evaluation of the work of art. Make Informed Judgments 4.4 Assess their own works of art, using specific criteria, and describe what changes they would make for improvement.
Visual Literacy 5.2 Identify and design icons, logos, and other graphic devices (ship flags) as symbols for ideas and information. Careers and Career-Related Skills 5.3 Research and Report on what various ty[es of artist (e.g. architects, “ship” designers, graphic artists, animators) produce and how their works play a role in our everyday environment.
Lesson Objective: By fashioning aluminum skin around a skeletal hull, ship designers will construct a functional iconic representation of an explorer’s galleon.
Building Background
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:French_galleon_model.jpg
Replica of Ferdinand Magellan’s Nao https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Museo_Nao_Victoria#/media/File:ReplicaNaoVictoriaMagallanes.jpg
Sir Francis Drake’s Golden Hind https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Hind#/media/File:Brixham.hind.750pix.jpg
From 1450, the expansion of European trade upon the horizon required the development of a new ship design. The galleon, with its three masts, spread the strain on the hull where they joined the keel more evenly. Rather than one large sail, multiple smaller sails were uses to catch the wind at different angles more efficiently. The balanced, maneuverable design allowed for sails to be reduced in size as necessary. The galleon’s design was a blend of Mediterranean and north European, and Spain, situated centrally, took full advantage of the best of both designs.
Portugues Carrack John Cabot’s Mathew
Materials: 14-16” tinfoil section (Use heavy foil) Cardstock for the template Copy paper for the sails Bamboo Skewers Scissors/Tape Colored Pencils or Permanent Markers
Procedure: 1. Cut out the template*. Do not cut the dotted lines.
Fold upward the sides of the hull.
2. Tape the prow of the ship together. Pinch flat, wrap the tape around, and release the pressure.
The upward curve the the hull is crucial to counterbalance the thrust of the wind against the sail. Tape the bottom of the hull to the sides last. Work from the middle to the prow. If it’s slightly off center, that will be compensated for by the aluminum siding later.
Fold upward the dotted line at the stern, and tape the back corners. 3. Wrap and fashion the aluminum siding to the hull.
Begin with 15-16” strip. Fold the strip in half, shiny side out. To form the keel, crease the center fold 1/2” along the enter length.
This is the keel that will run along the bottom of the galleon. Once formed, fold the keel back down temporarily to make it easier to wrap the first side of the hull.
Center the flattened. keel below the ship. You can see the keel’s crease just to the left of the red line. 4. Gently wrap the first side of the hull around the ship, forming over the side and into the deck surface. Be careful not to crush the cardstock. The crimped sides of the aluminum can be fashioned higher or lower as desired. Continue working along the edge to the prow and stern of the hull.
Easy! Can I just wrap the other side now? Do you remember the keel? Without it, the ship will float, spin helplessly, dip, and sink. That might be fine for Davey Jones, but not us.
5. Gently re-open and extend the keel along the entire length of the hull.
Notice how one side is wrapped tightly around the cardstock template, and the other simple curved under (topside). Straigten and arrange the keel from end to end, curving it upward slightly at the prow and stern, working and fashioning the foil until it bends upward without tearing.
As the keel bends upward, fold the other side around and join the aluminum to the prow and stern.
Left View Right View
It’s good to keep a high stern, as a galleon would appear from the captain’s quarters. Great! Umm…where’s the sail? No wind, no-where.
6. There are many varieties and countries to choose from. Encourage artists to design their own iconic image for a national exploration flag. A sheet of paper, folded twice, is about the right size.
There are many sizes and shapes students can choose from in designing their sails. If they wish, they can use three skewers to make a triple masted ship. However, it will sail fine with just one. For this example, a single masted ship with two sails was used.
A little black outlining adds detail. NOTE: This flag/sail is ¼ of a sheet of paper, so the images are smallish.
7. Attach the sail/flags to the skewer, and insert through the hull until they anchor in the keel. Be careful to center them, or they’ll punch a hole in the hull. If this happens (frequently) it’s easily patched with tape. The skewer can even be taped to the side of the keel and it will work fine, just sink faster than others, which is all a part of the fun and discussion later. However, a second sheet of aluminum can easily be wrapped around again, for major errors.
Time to poke it into the hull, carefully centered on the keel.
Almost perfectly centered inside both folds of the keel. However, finding center pricked a tiny hole, which can be covered with tape.
Do you know any catchy sea chanties? The Clancy Brothers might…
Option: Cut the skewer to a duller tip after it begins to poke through the hull, before trying to insert it down into the keel fully. It also helps to shorten a fore or mizzen mast. To attach a pennant, turn tape insight out over itself, and wrap it around the top.
Float it in a 24” tub, or larger. A hand-held fan propels the ship through a water tub or low-level pool. It doesn’t need to be fuller than 4” to sail. It’s fun to bring a leftover pop-up pool from the summer for the day, and barely fill it. Recycle the water into nearby landscaping. After their maiden voyage, students can add pennies as bullion and see how their galleons fare.
A single masted galleon is fine.
Then again… Closure/Discussion: Compare how each person shaped their aluminum hulls. Which architectural design had the greatest functional ability, the greatest aesthetic appeal? (high/low sides, pointed/blunt prow, raised back) Did any of the ships move backwards? How is this possible, given the curvature of the sails? How did your galleon’s integrity fare after being heavily laden with cargo (pennies)? Research the fate of the Nuestra Senora de Atocha, the rear vessel of the hurricane-fated Tierra Firme flota http://www.melfisher.org/1622.htm
Assessment: Score 4: Three masts, original iconic explorer flag designs. Functional hull with clean lines and a keel parallel to the hull. Score 3: Single mast, original iconic explorer flag. Functional hull, albeit a little off center or crooked in the keel. Score 2: Assembled with clumps of foil rather than smooth lines. Missing a keel. Sails poorly or undecorated Score 1: Tape patches wouldn’t cut it; more foil didn’t help. The cardstock framing was completely crushed during aluminum assembly into more of an empty banana peel shape. This one needs sailor’s pitch to plug the several holes. Perhaps Davey Jones will welcome it…at the bottom*.
*It’s the rare ship that survives lengthy floating. A score 1 actually reflects little or no attempt at craftsmanship.
Galleon Templates
Large hull template
Small hull template
Optional Craft:
Native American Shield
Crow Shield, 1870
Students have read a unique paradoxical book called A Boy Called Slow, who’s deeply reflective ways became widely respected as a strength of character. This project ties into the idea that the surface appearance is not always the internal state of being. Although originally defensive armor, as the musket ball improved in velocity, the protective power of war shields became increasingly spiritual. Designs were received through dreams most frequently, and transferred the qualities of the animal to the shield bearer. Stretched over a hoop and painted on rawhide with natural pigments, tanned buffalo hides contained many additional decorative elements such as feathers, hair, pouches, both, and cloth.
Materials
Paper plate (porous style is easier to puncture) Watercolors, brush, paper towel, cup, dish Crayon or craypas pastel Optional: raffia, beads, feathers
Procedure
1. View sample designs
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2b/Kiowa_shield_designs_collection.jpg
2. Cut a brown grocery bag into a circle that overhangs a paper plate by two inches. Crumple and uncrumple it three times to create a leather texture and appearance. 3. View drawings done by Native Americans of the Great Plains. Replicate with crayon or CrayPas over the leather circle.
4. Dilute watercolor on a dish to create a reddish-brown wash. Brush over the entire surface. Allow to dry. 5. Glue the circlular shield cover onto the paper plate “hoop” with white glue. Spread through the ends.
6. Optional: Weave raffia around the entire circumference, and finish with a bead/feather pattern.