Early Childhood

The Essential Question
What is a silhouette?

Objectives
Students will use shapes and lines to create a silhouette of a tall ship. Students will learn how to use one shape to make another shape.

Materials
12 x 18" (30 x 46 cm) blue or turquoise construction paper, black construction paper (square and rectangle shapes in various sizes), black construction paper (in strips of various thickness), glue, images of silhouettes

Procedures
1. Discuss tall ships and the life of a mariner. Show students illustrations of tall ships.
2. Move to a discussion about silhouettes. Show students examples of silhouettes and have them point out the shapes and lines they see.
3. Students cut the hull (body) of their ship using long rectangle black paper.
4. Students customize their ship. Shapes can be added to the hull for rooms and/or cargo. Black paper strips can be used for the masts (poles that hold the sails), riggings, and rope ladders.
5. Students can round out edges and cut different-sized triangles to create the sails. Multiple sails can be glued to the same mast.
6. Students can use black paper scraps to add other details such as clouds, waves, birds, and the sun.

Assessment
Did students use lines and shapes to make a silhouette of a tall ship?

Wendy Libby is an art teacher at Fruit Street School in Bangor, Maine.