* Please note that the the lesson plans and unit plans listed here are of various forms and templates.
Notan Color Theory
Description:
Students will be able to use color schemes and the Notan method to create arrangements of colors that are appealing to the eye. This will be taught during a project in which students need to arrange colors, such as a painting or printmaking project.
Overarching Understandings:
Polynomial Multiplication with Paint
Description:
This project teaches students to see areas that are “like terms” visually with respect to space, but also color, as it incorporates techniques for using paint and mixing colors. Students can achieve the lesson goal by mixing both watercolors and acrylic paints, and as they experiment, they see how media affects the feeling of the piece, and also affects the way in which colors can mix.
This project teaches students to see areas that are “like terms” visually with respect to space, but also color, as it incorporates techniques for using paint and mixing colors. Students can achieve the lesson goal by mixing both watercolors and acrylic paints, and as they experiment, they see how media affects the feeling of the piece, and also affects the way in which colors can mix.
Art And Literature
Description:
This unit exposes students to new artists and media. It gives students choice to express their ideas both in imagery and with language. Students learn the importance of creating imagery and descriptive writing as a way to communicate effectively. Students improve their collaboration skills and understand subjectivity in art and literature.
Overarching Understandings:
This unit exposes students to new artists and media. It gives students choice to express their ideas both in imagery and with language. Students learn the importance of creating imagery and descriptive writing as a way to communicate effectively. Students improve their collaboration skills and understand subjectivity in art and literature.
Overarching Understandings:
- The mode of communication affects the message being sent.
- Descriptive language lends itself to clearer communication and greater understanding.
Scratchboards with Observational Drawings
Description:
In this unit students will learn about the importance of value in artwork. Students will participate in a series of exercises that will build upon their previous drawing skills and introduce them to the media of scratchboards. Many students will be new to using reductive drawing techniques, which will introduce them to many new tools and skills to further study value. Throughout the unit students will look at various artworks and analyze the benefits of using different media to convey a message.
In this unit students will learn about the importance of value in artwork. Students will participate in a series of exercises that will build upon their previous drawing skills and introduce them to the media of scratchboards. Many students will be new to using reductive drawing techniques, which will introduce them to many new tools and skills to further study value. Throughout the unit students will look at various artworks and analyze the benefits of using different media to convey a message.
Safety Posters
Description:Students will learn elements of design that relate to composition by making posters. They will learn specifically about shape, balance, and space. They will then use shapes and the arrangement to create posters that will be entered into the Metra safety contest.
Enduring Understandings:
Enduring Understandings:
- Shape, balance, and space are elements of design that contribute to a successful composition.
- Both geometric and organic shapes can be overlapped to create more complex symbols.
- Positive and negative space complement each other and create visual stimulation.
- Shape, balance and shape can be used to convey an idea.
Chuck Close Portraits
Students studied the work of Chuck Close and made portraits using the grid method. They also studied elements of color theory for this unit.
Art as Communication (Art Link)
This was middle school students' first art project, never having taken an art class before. We talked about how art helps them communicate values and culture. Students brainstormed through the Art Link curriculum about how they could show their own culture, customs, and values using symbolism and pictures. We also learned about space in this unit, and how to create space on a two dimensional paper using perspective, overlapping, and size.
Mandalas
Students learned how various forms and variations of mandalas are used around the world and watched a video of a mandala being created by Tibetan monks. After studying patters, and using how to use a protractor and compass, students made their own mandalas. Some students also learned about printmaking and did small prints of their mandalas.