Monster Transformation Portrait

Submitted by: Ken Rohrer
Decatur Middle School
Grade Level: Middle School

Summary

Students will discuss monsters in literature and film. The anticipatory set might be like this:

We see monsters all the time on TV and in the movies. What are your favorites? Why? Why do you think people like being scared? Do you know about old monsters like Frankenstein, Dracula, Creature from the Black Lagoon, or Wolfman? Most people felt sorry for the old monsters of black and white movies. Frequently they were the victims. There are only certain ways you can kill make-believe monsters. What is the only way you can kill a vampire or Dracula? [Stake through the heart or sunlight] What about the Wolfman? [Silver bullet] What about Freddy or Jason? If you could turn into a monster, what would it be?

Today we will become monsters. We will create a half-face monster and half-face portrait of ourselves. We start with black construction paper and then use Pastels to create our picture. Half their face is drawn by looking at a photograph of themselves or looking in a mirror. The other half is a monster. The background will be a very important element in the design. Will it have a castle? Will it have a thunderstorm with lightning? Will it be divided into simple design elements?

Materials

• Black Construction Paper

• Pastels

• Mirrors and/or student photos

• White Drawing Pencils [They may use this to sketch the outline before they add color]

Books

Frankenstein - Grade 9 Up-Full-color drawings, photographs, and reproductions with extended captions have been added to the unedited text of Shelley's novel, thus placing the work in the context of the era in which it was written.

Dracula by Brams Stoker - This Townsend Library classic has been carefully edited to be more accessible to today's students. It includes a background note about the book, an author's biography, and a lively afterward. Acclaimed by educators nationwide, the Townsend Library is helping millions of young adults discover the pleasure and power of reading.

Curse of the Wolfman - 'Curse of the Wolfman' was originally published in 1919 as 'The Door of the Unreal,' by Gerald Biss. The novel is one of the first true werewolf classics, and helped to pave the way for the 'golden age' of the genre, which flourished in the two decades following the publication of this novel.

NOTE: This lesson was submitted in the early days of IAD when teachers had no scanners or digital cameras to take pictures of student work.