Paul Klee's Castle

Objectives:
Students will learn about the artist Paul Klee. Students will also learn about symmetry and use this to build a castle

Language:
Symmetry, shapes, foundation

Skills:
Building a foundation and developing a vertical castle with symmetrical cuts only.

Literature/Photos:
Image of Paul Klee’s “Castle and Sun” (shown below)



Materials:
Black construction paper (12x18 or larger if class time allows)
2”x 2” construction paper squares in many different colors
Orange or yellow construction paper circles – 2”or 3” diameter
Gluestick
Oil Pastels in Gold or Silver

Introduction:
Spend as little or as much time as allows on Paul Klee’s history and artistic influences.
Review Paul Klee’s painting “Castle and Sun”:
What shapes do you see?
What colors?
What time of day is it?
Where is the door? Is there a door? Drawbridge?

Demonstration:
1) Write name on back of 12 x 18 black construction paper.
2) Start with the foundation of your castle. Glue a row of 2”x 2”squares across the bottom, choose any colors you like and leave a small space between each square.
3) Beginning with the second row, you can create many new shapes by making SYMMETRICAL cuts in the 2”x 2” squares.
4) Take a moment to see how many shapes you can make:
a. Try cutting the square in half – you get two rectangles, now cut those in half, you get four small squares and so on.
b. Try cutting diagonal, you get two right angle triangles.
5) Continue to build up you castle with all your new shapes, be sure to lay out your castle towers before you glue it down.
6) Once the castle is complete, glue your sun in the sky.
7) Now outline your castle and the sun in either silver or gold oil pastel, your castle will glow and shimmer just like Paul Klee’s.

After demonstration, review steps and allow students to begin creating. Some students forget to begin with foundation of castle, be sure they glue this down so they have something to build their castle towers on.

Wrap Up:
Share work as much as time allows, gallery walk around tables. Ask the group to share their experience building a castle.