Level II-Art Lesson 13: The Polish Szopka
Use complementary colors to create an exciting palette for a holiday greeting card
The lesson is suitable for students in grade 3 through adult.
Art Lesson Description:
Every December, the city of Krakow, Poland, holds a contest. Contestants create incredibly intricate model buildings and cover them with foil. Many of the models include lights and moving figures. Polish people call such models a szopka (pronounced shawpka). On the day of the contest, the models are brought to the city square to be judged and displayed in a hall near the square. The display draws huge crowds from around the world.
The lesson comes in two versions. In Version A:
- Students will use liquid acrylic paint to paint the szopka,
- Outline the drawing with a silver metallic marker, and
- To add a little extra holiday sparkle, paint the picture with acrylic glitter glaze!
In Version B, a simpler version of the lesson:
- Students will use washable markers to color the szopka.
- To add interest to the background, they will draw with a paint pen (easier to use) or an oil pastel.
- To add a little extra holiday sparkle, paint the picture with acrylic glitter glaze!
Make it a greeting card! Why keep the project to yourself when you have finished it? The lesson includes instructions so you can put your szopka “on display” by turning it into a greeting card. With this lesson you can mail your art to your friends!
This lesson includes two POWERPOINT and one VIDEO version of the lesson plus 2 downloadable printouts: a warmup and a drawing of the szopka.
List of Supplies for Version A List of Supplies for Version B
1 copy of the szopka warm-up (this comes with the lesson) | 1 copy of the szopka warm-up (this comes with the lesson) |
Drawing board (#ad) (18" x 24" masonite) | Washable colored markers (#ad) |
1 silver marker pen (#ad) | Optional: Acrylic paint pens (#ad)- your choice of color |
1 sheet of 11" x 15" watercolor paper (#ad) | 11" x 14" drawing paper (#ad) |
Tempera paints or acrylic paints (#ad) | Optional: oil pastel - your choice of color |
Set of brushes (#ad) | |
Masking tape (#ad) | |
Glitter glaze (#ad) | |
Suggestions for Cross-Curricular Connections:
Social Studies:
- The szopka tradition began in the Middle Ages. Learn its history.
- Krakow was once the capitol of Poland. Read about its history.
- See a map of Krakow.
- See a map of the whole country of Poland and learn some Polish history
- Watch an English language video produced in Poland about Polish history to learn why Poles are proud of their country.
Literature:
- Find 20 books about Poland that are suitable for a wide range of ages.
Polish Culture:
- Learn about how Polish people celebrate Christmas at these three sites.
- Tour Krakow by watching this video.
- Visit a Christmas market in Krakow.
- Listen to a Polish Christmas carol.
- Learn about more Polish holidays.
- Dance: Watch the Krakowiak, a fast, colorful Polish folk dance.
Approximate Time to Complete the Art Class:
- Drawing the szopka: 25 minutes
- Painting the szopka: 50 minutes
- Adding the silver outline and the glitter paint: 15 minutes
- Total time: 90 minutes