EARLY CHILDHOOD

Julian, age six, “I like summer because I like to throw the football with my brother when it is sunny outside.”

Julia L. Hovanec

After I read aloud the book What’s the Weather? by Shelley Rotner (Penguin Random House, 2021), I introduce students to the work of artist Tokujin Yoshioka, who creates installation art about weather and the forces of nature. Students then create a crayon-resist watercolor painting of themselves outside doing their favorite activity in their favorite kind of weather. The lesson ends with students sharing their work and completing a prompt about their favorite season and weather.

Lesson Benefits
This lesson teaches students about weather, personal preferences, and human interaction with nature. These are important concepts for young learners. Allowing them to share what they prefer with others helps them to develop a sense of control over their environment. Learning about the weather can help students understand that some events in nature have a repeating pattern. Considering human interaction with nature teaches learners about environmental stewardship. The book even touches on what can be done to take better care of our planet so everyone can have clean air and water and healthy food to eat.

Allowing learners to share what they prefer with others helps them to develop a sense of control over their environment.

Procedures
Ask students: What do you know about weather? What is your favorite kind of weather? What do you like to do in that weather? Did you know that some artists make art about the weather? Then tell them, “Today we’re going to read a book about weather and learn about an artist who creates unusual art about the weather. After that, we’ll create a crayon-resist watercolor painting that shows us doing our favorite things in our favorite kind of weather.”

Hazel, age four, “I like winter because I like to build snowmen with my dad when it snows.”

Objectives

• Students will create a crayon-resist watercolor painting of themselves doing their favorite activity in their favorite weather.
• Students will identify the work of contemporary artist Tokujin Yoshioka by engaging in a brief discussion and looking at his work.
• Students will participate in a discussion about how humans can have good and bad interactions with nature.

Different Kinds of Weather
Before reading the book, encourage learners to take note of the kinds of weather they see pictured. Read the book, then guide learners in a discussion about what they learned. Ask: What did you learn about weather? What did you learn about nature and how we interact with it? Did you notice your favorite kind of weather?
Next, introduce students to the work of artist Tokujin Yoshioka. Watch a video about his art and discuss what students see. Ask: Why do you think he makes this type of work? What do you think of his work? Lead students in a brief discussion of how Yoshioka wants those who view his art to think about how they interact with nature. Ask: Do you think you can create art about you interacting with nature in your favorite kind of weather?

Anya, age four, “I like summer the best because I like to play outside in the nice weather.”

Painting the Weather
Give each student a sheet of watercolor paper, crayons, watercolors, water cups, brushes, and paper towels. Lead students in a demonstration of how they might draw themselves, pressing hard with the crayon. Then show how they can paint their crayon drawing with water first and add watercolor to show their favorite weather. After the demonstration, invite students to use what they learned to create their own weather art inspired by the book and the artist.

When their paintings are dry, have students share their wonderful weather watercolor paintings with their classmates and complete the following prompt: I like because I like to when . (For example, I like winter because I like to sled when it snows.) Afterwards, have students assist with cleanup as directed.

Julia L. Hovanec is an associate professor of art education at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania.