The Salamander Room
Slithery, slimy, and inspired by literature
Lesson Summary
During day one of this lesson, kindergarten students listened to a reading of the book, The Salamander Room, by Anne Mazer. They then created a thinking map as a class to brainstorm what salamanders need to survive, what things other animals might need, and the things kindergarteners need to survive. The terms habitat and survival were introduced.
Following a guided drawing lesson, students drew their own salamanders, and using the letter “s” to guide them, connected the sound of the letter “s” with the word “salamander”. After completing a practice drawing, students again followed a guided drawing lesson and created a final drawing, which was outlined in Sharpie marker. Students viewed images of real salamanders and identified some of the different patterns found on their bodies. Using this as a guide, students added patterns to their own salamanders with brightly-colored and sparkly oil pastels. Finally, students water colored over the top of their patterns.
On day two of the lesson, students created habitats for their salamanders to live in. As a class, we reviewed the thinking map created previously, and considered what colors we might use to represent dirt, grass, leaves, water, and rocks. Pre-ripped paper in a variety of colors and textures was provided to the students to create beautiful collage backgrounds, and using glue sticks, students adhered the papers to their artwork. Once they completed their collage, students salamanders were returned to them. These were cut out and then glued on top of the collage.


Grade Level
Art Standards
Interdisciplinary Standards
Objectives
Thinking Map
Guided Drawing
Patterns
Collage
Big Ideas
Nature
The Salamander Room by Anne Mazer depicts a natural environment recreated in a child’s room and allows children to imagine nature coming into their own bedrooms.
Needs/Survival
Students will discuss what a salamander needs to survive, using the world created for him by the little boy as a reference. This will translate into what the students need for their own survival.
Learning Standards
New York State Visual Art and Other Standards Met in this LessonVisual Art Standards Met in this Lesson
Standard 1(a)
Students will develop their own ideas and images through the exploration and creation of art works based on themes, symbols, and events.
Standard 1(b)
Students will develop their own ideas and images through the exploration and creation of art works based on themes, symbols, and events.
Standard 1(c)
Students will understand and use the elements and principles of art (line, color, texture, shape) in order to communicate their ideas.
Standard 3(a)
Students will explain their reflections about the meanings, purposes, and sources of works of art; describe their responses to the works and the reasons for those responses.
Standard 3(b)
Students will explain the visual and other sensory qualities (surfaces, colors, textures, shape, sizes, volumes) found in a wide variety of art works.
Standard 3(d)
Students will explain how ideas, themes, or concepts in the visual arts are expressed in other disciplines (e.g., mathematics, science, literature, social studies, etc.).
Standard 4(a)
Students will look at and discuss a variety of art works and artifacts from world cultures to discover some important ideas, issues, and events of those cultures
Standard 4(c)
Students will create art works that show the influence of a particular culture.