Minds On
Nature look!
Explore this piece of art. What items from nature do you notice? Record your answer on paper, on the computer, or in a recording.
How do you think art or pictures of things from nature help scientists?
Action
Art and science
When people are trying to learn more about the world around them, they make observations. Scientists are one group of people who make observations to help them understand the world.
Artists are like scientists. They both make careful observations about the world around them.
Artists use their observations to help them in their artwork. Scientists use their observations in their research and their experiments.
What are two different ways that you use your observations in your life?
How are artists and scientists the same?
Record your answer in a method of your choice.
Maria Sibylla Merian
Maria Sibylla Merian was an artist who used her observations of plants, worms, caterpillars, butterflies, and moths to make her artwork. Merian painted these living things at each stage and cycle of their life.
Her observations of life cycles were noticed by scientists and used in their work. What a great example of art and science coming together!
Let’s explore the drawing from the Minds On again.
What was Maria trying to share with the audience?
Press ‘Sample Answer’ to learn what Maria was trying to share.
Maria added a lot of details and different colours in her drawing. She is trying to tell the story of insects and plants as clearly as possible.
Research time!
This learning activity highlights people, places, or innovations that relate directly to the province of Ontario. Enjoy the exploration!
Let’s use art and science together to learn more two living things: a plant and an animal.
When you observe the information and images, you will use the scientific research skills.
The first skill is learn.
Time to learn! We can learn things from different places and people.
The second skill is record. This is when you record the important information on the computer, on paper, or in a recording.
It’s time to record what you have learned. You could write it down or make an audio or video recording.
As you observe this information and images, record:
- what they eat
- the important parts of their bodies
- how they change in different times of the year
Press the following tabs to access information about maple trees and moths.
All trees need water and sunlight to live. They need soil which gives them food to grow big and strong. Maple trees, which are found in Ontario, have sap in their trunk which people use to make maple syrup. Their trunk and branches are brown, and their leaves are green or red in the summer but red, orange, or yellow in the fall. Maple trees have seeds which fall to the ground to grow into new trees the next spring.
Moths are a flying insect that are found in Ontario. They are like butterflies but their antennae and wings are different. Moths drink the nectar from plants, like bees and butterflies. They are active in the night. They can hide from predators using camouflage. Camouflage is when you hide or disguise something, either by covering it up or changing how it looks.
Moths are caterpillars in the winter and are hidden where it is warm in the ground. They become adult moths in the summer and lay eggs in the fall.
Think about it!
Check your research and your recording. Click on the box for the information you found.
For the maple tree and the moth, I have learned and recorded:
Consolidation
Time to create!
Imagine you are an artist asked to create a drawing or description of the maple tree or the moth. What kind of information would you include in your drawing or description?
Explore the following images for some ideas.
A carousel of 3 images. Image 1: Black and white sketch of a maple tree and a moth. Image 2: Colour sketch of a maple tree in the summer and a moth Image 3: A drawing of a tree and a moth. The tree has labels for the leaves, trunk, roots, and branches. The moth has labels for antennae, eyes, feet, and wings.
Now it’s time to create your own drawing or description.
Step 1: Decide the size and shape of your animal or plant.
Step 2: Create an outline.
Step 3: Add colour (optional) and/or words.
Pause and reflect
Pause and reflect
Record your answers to these questions in a method of your choice.
- How do art and science work together?
- What part of the research and record skills did you enjoy the most? Why?
- What is one fact you learned about maple trees you would like to share with someone else? Why?
- What is one fact you learned about moths you would like to share with someone else? Why?
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel…
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.
Learning goals
We are learning to…
- connect our science skills with skills we use in art and share our learning from our observations
- identify characteristics of living things and explain how they help to meet their needs
Success criteria
I am able to…
- explain what makes artists and scientists the same
- use research and record skills to learn information about the characteristics of a maple tree and a moth and how they meet their needs
- create an artwork of a maple tree and a moth