Materials:

Mourning Dove by Marian Mendez

6x6 Oak Tag Paper
Pencils
Colored Pencils
Extra fine permanent marker (Black)
Scissors
Books with pictures of birds
Thin dowel
Fish line

 

Students will:

Observe birds in their environment; draw three or more birds from observation using reference material, focusing in on the shapes, marking and color of the bird; make a simple mobile with movable wings.

 

Steps:

1. After observing birds in nature and viewing bird pictures, students will lightly sketch the bird’s shapes, beginning with the head, then the body and the tail.  The wings will be made separately and attached later.

2. Students will zoom in and note special markings and other characteristics of their bird and draw them clearly.

3.  Next, colored pencils will be used to add color and texture, blending colors to match the bird on both sides

4.  A thin black marker may be used to highlight the eye shapes and patterns of the feathers

5.  To make the wings, fold a piece of oak tag in half, on the fold draw wing shape to cut out and pattern and color.

6. Make a slit for the wings in the bird’s body and add

7.  Attach fish line to the bird and attach to a dowel.  The mobile is balanced with a bird in the middle and two on the ends.   

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