Summary:

Students will learn that exercise changes how they feel, and how they feel can change what they are able to do.While learning about muscles and strength training, students will create large scale drawings using their whole body in the style of artist Heather Hansen.

Essential Questions:

How can exercise change the way we feel? When might we need to be strong? What can we do to make our bodies stronger? How can we use our muscles to make art?

Art Standards:

VA:Cr1.1.Pk - Engage in self-directed play with materials. 

VA:Cn10.1.Pk -  Explore the world using descriptive and expressive words and art-making.

Day One:

Materials: Playdoh, trays

Show children playdoh. How do I use this? Don't mix the colors. Keep it on the tray or in your hands. Close the container when finished. Never take any playdoh with you.  Squeeze a ball of playdoh in your hands. Have children feel your bicept, notice the difference in my arm. These are my muscles. At tables, have children use playdoh. Encourage children to squeeze playdoh and feel their arms.

Day Two:

Materials: Playdoh, trays

 Watch film "Weightlifting at the Zoo." Participate in See, Think, Wonder thinking routine. Direct the conversation to why animals might need to be strong and what they are doing to make sure that they are strong. At tables, have children use playdoh. Encourage children to squeeze playdoh and feel their arms.

Day Three:

Materials: chalk, black paper

Ask children when does someone use their strength? Why might someone want to become stronger? Document their answers. Show children chalk. How would you use this? Make sure that you are careful because it can break easily. If you drop it on the floor, pick it up right away. Use one piece of chalk at a time. Draw only on your own paper. Send children to tables to draw on paper with chalk.

Day Four:

Materials: Large paper taped to the floor, chalk, playdoh, trays

Watch video of Heather Hansen working. Participate in See, Think, Wonder thinking routine. How would we do this kind of work? Demonstrate how to draw like Heather Hansen. In small groups have children try drawing in the style of Heather Hansen. Children who are not drawing can use playdoh.

(This lesson make take more than one day)

Day Five:

Materials: Large paper taped to the floor, chalk taped to weights, playdoh, trays

Show students chalk taped to weights. Today we will continue working like Heather Hansen, but using these instead. Demonstrate using the weights on large paper. How do you think this will be different? Will it be easier or harder? In small groups have children try drawing in the style of Heather Hansen. Children who are not drawing can use play doh.  What would happen if we didn't have strong muscles for this work? What can we do to make our muscles stronger. 

(This lesson make take more than one day)

Key Words: muscle, strength, weight, lift, Heather Hansen, body, exercise, Two Rivers

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