Optical illusions in Year 5 Arts and Crafts lessons.

Two years ago I taught about optical illusions to both my year 5 and year 6 groups. The kids loved it so much back then that I decided to try this lesson again with my new Year 5A and Year 5B groups.

- On the first lesson we created the 3D dragon craft found on Grand Illusions website. 

First we revised the vocabulary on the worksheet (mountain fold, valley fold, cut out, colour...), then we cut out the model and finally we folded and glued following the instructions on the sheet.

Download your PDF copy here

 - On the second lesson students designed their own 3D model from the template I provided to them. 

- Finally, on the third and last lesson we crafted Skully, the 3D Skeleton, being Halloween so close. I found him on eChalk website, where you can download its full colour template in PDF format.

Download Skully in PDF format here

You can find many more 3D designs to download and craft at home on NowhereElse Optical Illusions website. There are some other optical illusions you will enjoy:

Optical Illusions: 3D Dragon

Do you always believe what you see? Do you believe in dragons? If your answer for the second question is "yes", you are right! Dragons still exist! Or perhaps your eyes are playing a trick on you...

In Arts & Crafts we have talked about optical illusions. To prove our eyes wrong we worked on a 3D dragon craft found on Grand Illusions website. 
First we revised the vocabulary on the worksheet (fold, cut out...), then we cut out the model and finally we folded and glued following the instructions. It was a bit tricky but we made it!

You can click on the image to download and print the 3D Dragon (PDF here) or use the blank design to create your own model:

 

Here you are a video with some T-Rex dinosaurs looking at you!

Finally, you can have a lot of fun with your family and friends by having a look at the optical illusions in Optical Illusions website (illusions.org)

Is this man's face opposite you or he's facing right?

 If you know more websites with optical illusions please leave a comment. Thanks!

Enlargement: we learn to make pictures bigger

In Arts and Crafts we have learnt to enlarge pictures. This technique is called enlargement. It is a very simple technique but may be difficult for younger kids.

The pictures we have worked with are those of endangered animal species of the rainforest.

In years 5A & 5B we have enlarged a tapir and an emerald tree boa meanwhile year 6 kids have enlarged a tree frog and a parrot. 

Before tackling with the process itself we watched some videos and pictures of these animals and answered some questions orally to connect this activity to Natural Sciences (CLIL):

- What's this?
- Is it a pet or a wild animal?
- Can you describe it, please?
- Is it a mammal, a fish, a bird, an amphibian or a reptile?
- Is it oviparous or viviparous, vertebrate or invertebrate?

- ...

You may download a full PDF picture by clicking on its name:

• Tapir: here
• Emeral tree boa: here
• Tree frog: here
• Parrot: here

(Source: Free for Kids website)