April Fools a Clown Fish

A fun drawing that introduces a brief history of the April Fools’ prank/hoax. Horizontally the drawing is of a fish, vertically the drawing is of a clown!Thinking in 2 different directions, students will be creative problem solvers with this drawing. The elements of design shape, line, and color will be essential to this drawing. A lesson plan with a brief discussion of the history and tradition of April Fools’ Day are provided. A sample of the finished drawing as well as a basic layout instruction is provided.

Students less experienced and more experienced will find success with this drawing, only the simplest of materials are needed.

Here is a brief history:

Some speculate that April Fool's Day dates back to late 1500's, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar. People who were slow to get the news or ignored that the start of the new year had moved to Jan. 1 and continued to celebrate the new year during the last week of March through April 1 were the receivers of jokes and pranks.

Poisson d' avril in french means April fish. April fish meaning an "easily hooked" fish and a gullible person. One of the pranks at this time in history would be to place a paper fish on the backs of those who did not know or ignored the change of the New Year date from April 1 to Jan 1 with the adoption of a new calendar. The fish would symbolize to all, " Poisson d' avril"! - gullible, easily hooked!