The first and second graders recently studied and learned about insects and arachnids. We discussed the difference between the two and why they are both important. We looked at the artwork of Steven Kutcher and Joyce Fritz. Kutcher is an entomologist that uses live insects to create art, you can learn about him and his process in the video below. Joyce Fritz makes insects out of polymer clay. The students looked at images of many different kinds of insects and studied their coloring and patterns. We defined what detail is and how we can find lots of detail in the insects that we draw. Students compared and contrasted the difference between a drawing and a sketch. They then learned various watercolor and pastel techniques, and used these techniques to create a chosen insects or arachnid. Afterwards they created a background to put their insect on. We talked about habitat and where we usually find insects, and they used those ideas to create a place for the insect to be. Below are some of the pictures from this project.