Educational Activities (Lesson Plans) The Winnipeg School Division No. 1
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Art - Postive and Negative Shape

Art
Yes

Description
This activity allows children to experiment with positive (figure) and negative (ground) shapes while learning basic Paintbrush tools and functions.

LessonPlan
Yes

Tech Skills
Use of box tool, paint roller, scissors, pick, flip, drag, paste

Software
Windows 3.11 - Paintbrush, Windows 95 - Paint

MiddleYears
Yes

SubmittedBy
Marcia Evoy

Acknowledgments
Refer to K-6 Art Guide P. 187

E-mail
mevoy@wsd1.org

Details

Examples and Directions for this activity are contained in one Paintbrush file "POSNEGEX". To download this file (image shown below), click on this link POSNEGEX.BMP.

Launch Paintbrush, maximize the screen and select the BOX tool. Draw a rectangle starting in the top left corner approximately half of the visible drawing area. COPY the rectangle and PASTE so that you have two equal areas joined by a common center line. Use the PAINT ROLLER to fill the right rectangle with black. [The remainder of this activity can be done using the PICK tool for rectangular shapes (the easiest for young children) or the PICK tool for organic shapes.]

Working in the black area use the PICK tool to select a large rectangle (leaving only a small frame). From the OPTIONS menu, select FLIP HORIZONTAL and drag the cutout to line up with the center on the white area. Working with the flipped black shape, use the PICK tool to select another rectangle again leaving a small frame. From the OPTIONS menu, select FLIP HORIZONTAL and drag the cutout to line up with the center on the opposite area. Continue to PICK shapes, FLIP HORIZONTAL and drag to center to build up the design.

Using the SCISSORS tool to cut organic shapes is much more challenging.

Students can experiment using complementary colors rather than black and white.

To Print 8.5 x 11(Setting may vary according to your printer)
FILE - PAGE SETUP set all margins to zero.
FILE - PRINT SETUP choose Landscape
FILE - PRINT select PARTIAL, and SCALE to 180% Use the cursor to frame the drawing.