Third Grade Endangered Animals

Third graders are learning about endangered animals in their classrooms. They have been doing research and writing for several weeks. I was excited when I heard about this unit because there is a long history of artistry in nature illustration. Working from a photograph, I demonstrated how to break an image down into manageable chunks by imagining it as different shapes and lines. Then, I handed out color photographs of their animals. They created their drawings on large 18"x18" paper. Then, they used colored pencil to create the animal's habitat. Finally, they learned how to create a fold-out effect, where each time they opened a flap of the drawing, it exposed a new fact they had written. When all of the folds are opened, their animal is revealed.