Dragons!

I really like looking at mythical creatures with young art students (artist of all ages really). Through the mythical creatures lesson, I like to look at storytelling across diverse cultures and histories. I like to relate the roles of storytellers and artists, and look at illustrators and comic artists who create contemporary mythic creatures. (This also relates well to the printmaking lesson and manga.) Through this lesson, I introduce the idea of the rule of 3 in art and writing.

When I was student teaching, the Museum of Science had a Mythic Creatures exhibit October 2008 to March 2009 which I still use as a resource in teaching this art lesson: http://www.mos.ord/exhibits_show/exhibit_archive&d=2674
There is also a link to additional resource through the American Natural History Museum.

I think understanding anatomy is important, and it is easy to give a rudimentary knowledge of skeletal systems. Also, understanding the inside of the subject as well as the surface is a key element to being a good artist.

Students can choose to create their own dragon or draw one from mythology around the world.

Lessons
Draw the skull of your dragon.

Draw the skeleton of the dragon.

Design the dragon's environment using foreground, middle ground, background. Place your dragon in this environment performing an action. Show beginning, middle, and end, in other words, introduction, climax/conflict, conclusion.

Additional Media Techniques the can be considered:
Water color resist
Printmaking
3D papier mache
Clay