2nd Grade – Northern Lights Landscape emphasizing Texture

2nd Grade – Northern Lights Landscape emphasizing Texture

Description of the Unit – Students learned all about the element of texture in art, both two- and three dimensional. They created textured mountains out of ripped paper and rubbing stencils, and then added the soft, wispy texture of the aurora borealis and the lake below using chalk pastels and brushes.

Nine 2nd grade student examples of the Northern Lights landscape, emphasizing texture, with chalk, and stenciled, roughly torn paper
2nd Grade – Nine student examples of the Northern Lights landscape, emphasizing texture

Activity statement – In 2nd grade students solidify their understanding of the element of texture in art. We explore three-dimensional texture by sampling different surfaces around the art room, such as sand paper and felt, as well as various rubbing templates. We then observe and discuss examples of two-dimensional texture in art, emphasizing that texture is something we can “see” and not just feel.

To coalesce students’ understanding of texture, they create a mountainous landscape that features the northern lights above, and a smooth, glassy lake below. The northern lights and lake highlight smooth textures, while the mountains highlight rough textures, as they are colored in with rubbing templates and the paper torn into coarse edges.

Goals – Students should…

Understand:

  • How texture can be both physical and visual

Know:

  • The meaning of the word texture 

Be able to:

  • Identify textures in works of art?
  • Express texture in their artwork?

Resources and materials – 

  • Examples of three-dimensional texture (felt, sand paper, corrugated cardboard, etc)
  • Examples of texture in art, especially two-dimensional art, like a photograph or painting
  • Black construction paper
  • Multi colored construction paper
  • Rubbing stencils in a variety of abstract patterns
  • Oil pastels or crayons
  • Glue sticks
  • Chalk pastels
  • Paint brushes or paper towels

Questions – 

While taking turns feeling different surfaces of objects:

  • What does (X) feel like? How would you describe the feeling?

While observing texture:

  • Do you think texture is something we can see? Explain.
  • Do you notice texture in (X) painting? Describe.
  • What ways might you be able to create texture in art?

Evaluation – 

  • Understand the meaning of texture?
  • Effectively express a variety of textures in their landscapes?
  • Identify the textures in their landscape?

Informal:

  • Student questions
  • Group discussions
  • Oral responses to essential questions
  • One finished landscape 
An example of a northern lights landscape by a second grade student. This example has deliberately torn paper in pink, magenta, lilac and purple, with texture plates used to rub different textures in oil pastel to give the illusion of textured hills and mountains. The lights above are swirled in blue, purple and pink, with those same colors more softly expressed in the reflection of the lake below.
One of the aspects that really took me by surprise with this project is the way these landscapes look so three-dimensional!
An example of a northern lights landscape by a second grade student. This example has deliberately torn paper in red, green, turquoise and blue, with texture plates used to rub different textures in oil pastel to give the illusion of textured hills and mountains. The lights above are swirled in blue and green, with those same colors more softly expressed in the reflection of the lake below.
My 2nd grade students really had a blast using the rubbing plates to create the mountains’ textures.
An example of a northern lights landscape by a second grade student. This example has deliberately torn paper in red, gray and blue, with texture plates used to rub different textures in oil pastel to give the illusion of textured hills and mountains. The lights above are swirled in blue and red, with those same colors more softly expressed in the reflection of the lake below.
Many students were at first nervous about ripping the paper, but they practiced a bit, and eventually enjoyed playing with the shapes they created out of the rips, from very jagged, pointy shapes to rounder shapes like rolling hills.
An example of a northern lights landscape by a second grade student. This example has deliberately torn paper in violet, magenta and lilac colors, with texture plates used to rub different textures in oil pastel to give the illusion of textured hills and mountains. The lights above are swirled in purple, orange and green, with those same colors more softly expressed in the reflection of the lake below.
For some of my students, their favorite part was creating the Northern Lights, and their reflection in the water. They relished rubbing the chalk with paper towels to create a soft, glowing effect, like in this example.
An example of a northern lights landscape by a second grade student. This example has deliberately torn paper in turquoise, green, gray and brown colors, with texture plates used to rub different textures in oil pastel to give the illusion of textured hills and mountains. The lights above are swirled in blue and green, with those same colors more softly expressed in the reflection of the lake below.
After looking a photographs of the Northern lights and talking about what colors they noticed, it was neat to see what colors students eventually chose for not only the lights, but for the mountains, too.
An example of a northern lights landscape by a second grade student. This example has deliberately torn paper in turquoise, green and red colors, with texture plates used to rub different textures in oil pastel to give the illusion of textured hills and mountains. The lights above are swirled in blue and green, with those same colors more softly expressed in the reflection of the lake below.
This student remembered that the lights reflected on the water had a different texture than the lights themselves.
An example of a northern lights landscape by a second grade student. This example has deliberately torn paper in turquoise, brown and pink colors, with texture plates used to rub different textures in oil pastel to give the illusion of textured hills and mountains. The lights above are swirled in pink and green, with those same colors more softly expressed in the reflection of the lake below.
These are wonderful edges that the student was able to rip along the construction paper.
An example of a northern lights landscape by a second grade student. This example has deliberately torn paper in turquoise, red and purple colors, with texture plates used to rub different textures in oil pastel to give the illusion of textured hills and mountains. The lights above are swirled in pink and green, with those same colors more softly expressed in the reflection of the lake below.
This student did a beautiful job expressing the wavy look of the lights.
An example of a northern lights landscape by a second grade student. This example has deliberately torn paper in turquoise, red and blue colors, with texture plates used to rub textures in oil pastel to give the illusion of hills and mountains. The lights above are swirled in blue and green, with those colors more softly expressed in the reflection of the lake below.
…and that’s it for all of the second grade Northern Lights landscapes!

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