Ted Harrison Art Canada

Ted Harrison Art (Canada)

Multicultural Art Lesson Plans

Lesson plan developed by Aurora Tollestrup, BS Ed

Activity:

Ted Harrison Art (Canada)

Age Group:

Preschool

* Lesson plan objectives and assessments can be adapted to use this activity with school-age children

Ted Harrison Art (Canada)

Objectives:

Children will create art inspired by a famous Canadian artist, Ted Harrison.

CDA Competency Standard:

II.9.4a

Candidate helps children experience sympathy/empathy and respect for others.
a) Helps children understand their feelings and the feelings of others

Materials:

Black paper
Oil pastels or chalk
The book A Northern Alphabet (ABC Our Country) by Ted Harrison

Procedure:

Include the book A Northern Alphabet (ABC Our Country) by Ted Harrison in the reading area of your classroom. After children have had the opportunity to look through it at their leisure, read a couple pages to the class. Discuss with children who the author is (Ted Harrison) and where he’s from (Canada). Explain that he uses a specific art method to depict scenes from where he lives which is the Yukon region of Canada.
Invite children to create their own landscapes using the provided materials. First, children should use the black oil pastels to create the lines that will border the elements of their picture. Next they should use warm toned colors for the sky or background and cool toned colors for the foreground or landscape.
During this activity it is imperative to talk with children about the value that Ted Harrison has in his heritage and culture. Explain that this is the reason that he creates these pieces of art.
Ask questions such as:
- “How does Ted Harrison feel about the area that he’s from? Do you feel similarly?”
- “What does the artwork tell us about the artist?”
- “How does your art make you feel?”

Assessment:

Observe and record children’s empathy and respect for the artist as well as their own expressive art.

Note: Please provide appropriate supervision to the children in your care when completing all activities. You will need to decide what types of activities are safe for the children in your care. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when providing art and sensory experiences for children. Infants and toddlers require special precaution, only use non-toxic materials, and do not allow young children to put things in their mouths that are a choking hazard.