After a discussion about types of lines, have students search in old magazines for pictures of objects that have strong and distinctive lines. Instruct students to cut the pictures neatly from the magazine. Provide students with large paper or poster board on which to create a sampling of line pictures glued to create a collage. Students glue a large number of pictures on the poster. In the background, around and between pictures, have students draw black marker lines of different types to create a line design background.
Fine arts education can be supported with meaningful literature connections that reinforce art element education. Read a book such as "Lines That Wiggle" by Candace Whitman aloud to students. After reading, provide students with folded paper that makes a blank book of about eight to ten pages. Have students reflect on the book you read and the many types of lines about which the author wrote. Have students create an illustrated mini book by drawing a picture on each page of the book to illustrate the lines they see in the room and write a few sentences describing each type of line.
The ability to follow the outline, or contour line, of an object to carefully recreate its shape provides an artist with an important tool. The way an artist draws the outline or contour line of an object can help give clues about the object and can create tone or mood in the work of art. Have students choose an object and practice carefully drawing its contour or outline to create the right shape. Instruct students to then redraw the object, once with a heavy, dark outline and once with a thin, light outline. Ask students to describe the difference this creates in the two drawings. Students should note for example, that one appears heavier, more sturdy while the other appears lighter, more delicate.
Lines drawn in different patterns create the illusion of three-dimensional texture. Show students different examples of real, textured objects such as a leaf, hair, fur, brick wall, basket or screen. Illustrate how line creates the illusion of texture by filling a shape you daw with lines that mimic the texture of an object such as a leaf or brick wall. Ask students to guess what object's texture the lines mimic. Have students draw several different geometric shapes on a piece of paper. Inside each shape, have students draw lines to mimic the texture of different objects. After finishing the drawings, have each student quiz another student to see if he can guess what object the texture lines in the shape mimic.