LO: Sculpt a clay Antarctic animal and create a mixed media Antarctic piece of artwork

During their English lessons Year 6 students are currently reading Ice Trap! Shackleton's Incredible Expedition by Meredith Hooper. 

In August 1914, during the height of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, Sir Ernest Shackleton set off from England with a team of explorers to walk across the Antarctic and study the icy depths of this new and forbidding continent. 

For this weeks art lesson children learnt about the different types of animals that Ernest and his crew may have come in contact with on their Antarctic journey. 

Children focused on penguins and seals for their clay sculptures. Each were given a research sheet (below) for guidance, if needed.

Year 6 children were given more freedom for their mixed media piece of artwork. Landscapes, animals, portraits, a ship... the choice was theirs, as well as the materials.

Keep scrolling to see their incredible final pieces...!

Antarctica, the continent surrounding the South Pole, is the fifth largest continent in the world. It is the coldest, windiest, and driest continent on Earth. On this continent no people live. Groups of scientists come for periods of time to study this land. Many countries operate science stations in Antarctica, but no nation owns the land.

Air-dry clay was used with a little bit of water, plus a fork to sculpt.

Antarctica has a lot of animals in the sea; whales, fish, krill (small crustaceans like prawns), seals. The only land animals in Antarctica are penguins and seals (and people). 

                               
The Emperor Penguin, Aptenodytes forsteri, is the largest penguin. Penguins are birds that cannot fly, but penguins swim very well and spend most of their lives in the sea. 

                               

Penguins are carnivores (meat-eaters) who hunt in the sea. They eat fish and squid.

                       
The Weddell seal is a large marine mammal that lives in Antarctic waters and on fast ice (ice anchored to land). It is related to the walrus and sea lion and does not migrate. It can dive underwater for over an an hour!

Weddell seals are carnivores (meat-eaters); they eat fish, squid, octopus, krill, and other small crustaceans. Seals don't chew their food; they swallow it in large chunks. They eat their food underwater. 

Here are some of the painted final pieces!

...And such beautiful mixed media creations of Antarctic landscapes, animals, Ernest Shackleton and his crew!

LO: A collaborative Antarctic piece of artwork

Children were also given the opportunity in work in larger groups of their choices to create a larger piece of artwork with whatever materials they desire! 

It brought out great teamwork and leadership skills in most children! :)

Such beautiful painting skills

Great use of texture! I love the different materials used here.

The perfectly placed tissue paper shows excellent teamwork!

Amazing facial details on Shackleton and his crew!