A Renaissance Man with Many Talents

Da Vinci is a many of many talents – some known some not as well known. He was brilliant and perhaps a little moody. There are a lot of books on him. He may be known for his painting and creations most, but he also studied life and embraced the art of humanity and God’s creation. That’s why after some research, I chose to have the kids do the bird wing study. There are many websites out there that are helpful. I borrowed their ideas to make it my own.

Not only was it a good art experiment that was simple but it allowed for some details and some math, dimension and learning more about the intricacies of the world around us.

Ideas for Da Vinci Projects:

Bird Wing Charcoal Activity:

Da Vinci was a man of many talents. He enjoyed studying the human body and the world around him. The complexity of his sketched wing shows just how beautiful his thoughts were. This led to his discovery of flight, mimicking the dynamics and physics of God’s intricate design.

1. Print out bird wing template from Google or use this template
2. Use flashlight to trace shadow on white paper (we tried newspaper for sake of messy charcoal but it did not go well so use white paper that is at least 8 1/2 x 11 or bigger)
3. Outline the wing after tracing it in dark marker
4. Use charcoals and colored pencils (charcoal was hard for younger kids)

Extra Websites:

1. Teaching Expertise – Activities for Children
2. Susan’s Homeschool Blog – Projects for Kids
3. Art Projects for Kids – Mona Lisa and Other Ideas

A Funny Video about Da Vinci for Young Kids

This is a unique activity for kids. All you need is several large white paper squares and lots of colors. Ask the kids to color each square and put them together for a very non-traditional, but beautiful result! This is perfect for a group activity, so bring friends over!

A Deeper Look into Da Vinci’s Genius:

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (15 April 1452 – 2 May 1519) was an Italian -painter, draughtsman, engineer, scientist, theorist, sculptor, and architect. 

Books/Resources Used:

1. I am Leonardo da Vinci by Brad Meltzer (Ordinary People Change the World series)
2. Leonardo da Vinci for Kids His life and Ideas by Janis Herbert
3. Leonardo da Vinci by Diane Stanley
4. Leonardo da Vinci the Genius Who Defined the Renaissance by John Phillips
5. A Child’s Introduction to Art -The World’s Greatest Painting and Sculptures by Heather Alexander