Art Around the World World Art    

Lesson 27: Shearing the Rams

by Tom Roberts

Directions

Study the artwork for one week.

Over the week:

• Examine the artwork.
• Read the synopsis.
• Study the vocabulary words.
• Recite the artist and artwork names.
• Read about the art region or artist.
• Complete the enrichment activities.
• Discuss the review questions.

Synopsis

Tom Roberts' 'Shearing the Rams' shows sheep shearers shearing sheep in a shearing shed. To create this work, Roberts spent two years at a sheep station and used a real shearing shed as a model. Roberts made around 80 sketches before starting to paint on canvas. Roberts painted this work in an impressionistic style.

Vocabulary

Shear: Cut the wool off a sheep or other animal.
Sheep Shearer: A person who cuts the wool off a sheep or other animal.
Shearing Shed: A simple roofed structure, typically made of wood or metal, in which sheep shearers cut the wool off a sheep or other animal.
Sketch A rough or unfinished drawing or painting, often made to assist in making a more finished picture.
Canvas A strong, coarse unbleached cloth made from hemp, flax, cotton, or a similar yarn, used to make items such as sails and tents and as a surface for oil painting.
Impressionistic In the style of impressionism, depicting the visual impression of the moment, especially in terms of the shifting effect of light and color.

Concepts

1. Australian artist Tom Roberts was born in 1856 in Dorchester, Dorset, England. See his picture below.

2. Zoom in and find Roberts' country of birth (UK) on the map below.

3. Roberts migrated to from England to Australia with his family when he was a boy. Find Australia on the map below.

4. As an adult, Roberts worked as a photographer's assistant while perfecting his art at night. He moved back to England to study art for three years and visited Spain and France.
5. Roberts returned to Australia, married, and had a son. He both painted and made picture frames to earn a living.
6. Roberts died in Australia in 1931 at the age of 64.

Enrichment

Activity 1: Can You Find It?

Find the following in the artwork:

• Boy Carrying Wool
• Boy Wearing a Hat
• Men with Dark Beards
• Man with White Beard
• Man Drinking Water
• Wool
• Rams
• Sheep
• Curved Horns
• Shearing Shed
• Shears

Activity 2: Narrate the Artwork

• After studying the artwork, narrate the scene shown aloud using your own words.

Activity 3: Complete Vocabulary Activities

• While studying the new words, point out any you see in the painting.
• Define each of the vocabulary words in your own words.

Activity 4: Color the Artwork   

• Click the crayon above, and complete page 42 of 'Art History Coloring Pages for Second Grade.'

Review

Question 1

Who are the human characters in the painting?

1 / 4

Answer 1

The characters are men and boys working as sheep shearers.

1 / 4

Question 2

What is the setting of the artwork?

2 / 4

Answer 2

The setting is in a shearing shed in Australia.

2 / 4

Question 3

What are the characters doing?

3 / 4

Answer 3

The characters are cutting the wool off of sheep.

3 / 4

Question 4

What do the people use to cut wool off the sheep?

4 / 4

Answer 4

The people use shears to cut wool off the sheep.

4 / 4

❮ ❯

1. Who are the human characters in the painting? The characters are men and boys working as sheep shearers.
2. What is the setting of the artwork? The setting is in a shearing shed in Australia.
3. What are the characters doing? The characters are cutting the wool off of sheep.
4. What do the people use to cut wool off the sheep? The people use shears to cut wool off the sheep.

References

'Tom Roberts.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.

'Shearing the Rams.' Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org. n.p.