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V. Instruction and Management Plan

 

Sequence and Organization of the Unit:

 

Unit of Self Discovery Art

 

            In this unit, students will explore various means of self-discovery through multiple mediums of art. The first lesson revolves around brainstorming techniques in the drawing medium, and the student’s sketches will serve as a plan or map for the following lessons. The second lesson is based in a mixed media/ collage format. In this lesson students will explore unique objects and materials particular to them, while using these mediums to construct a personal narrative. The third and final lesson students will gather their ideas/ findings from both previous lessons to create a three-dimensional character of themselves using symbolism and mixed media (found objects). After completing their sculpture, in an exhibition, students will display their three-dimensional character with their mixed media narrative to create a complete scene.

 

Lesson One “Getting’ Sketchy!”

 

            Brainstorming, sketching, planning, Symbolism, Elements of Art are all key concepts/terms that we will be introducing in this first lesson.  Students will experiment and explore with the processes of sketching and planning an artwork.  They will further explore the term, SYMBOLISM by finding ways they can research symbolic imagery to represent themselves that will then be incorporated into their next projects, “Mix it up” and “Building Me.” This will be an exploration that involves using various art materials, especially drawing, and find things they will potentially incorporate in their future projects revolving around the unit of Unique “Self Portraits.”  Students will be exposed to the process of planning an artwork (Lesson 2/3) by referencing photographs from different referential resources (such as magazines, the internet, life around them, etc.) and find ways they can find symbolic imagery and translate what they have been referencing or found into drawings.  Towards the end of the lesson students will have collected a variety of drawings that will then formulate portions of "their stories" (personal narrative).  This will then connect to the remaining lessons and serve as a foundation for where they will be exploring their creativity more deeply.

 

Lesson Two “Mix It Up!”

 

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Lesson Three “Building Me!”

 

            Sculpture, mixed media, found art, self-characters, creating characters, three-dimensional form, personal narrative are all key concepts/terms that we will be introducing in this third (and final) lesson.  Students will create a three-dimensional character of themselves expanding on the concepts of mixed media, personal narrative, and symbolism as introduced in the preliminary lessons. This stage will incorporate their findings and creativity that was developed in their first two lessons by creating a 3D "character" using found objects that are symbolic and pertinent to their "stories."  Students will be challenged by assembling objects to create a three-dimensional form.  Some things to consider are how they would like their characters to be presented with the Mixed Media artwork as a backdrop environment for their character, the size and form of their character, and what objects to prominently stick out over others.

 

 

Methods for Integrating Literacy, Numeracy, and other Relevant Subjects:

 

Literacy:

            In our lessons we regularly incorporate literacy through both discussions and writing. Our students in every class practiced articulating their own artistic choices and decisions, as well as analyzing artistic choices made by others, and their own opinions on artwork. In pair-sharing students practice that articulation and development of ideas with a partner, and in sketching ad brainstorming they practice those things on their own. In brainstorming students had the opportunity to sketch, make webs, make lists, or write out their ideas. In multiple collages students incorporated poems or names.

 

Numeracy:

Students practiced sequence through planning and acting out the steps of each of their projects, particularly the mad scientist activity and of projects and steps of the found object sculpture.

 

Modern Artists:

Through PowerPoints, referential sources and discussion students were exposed to modern artists such as Ron Ulciny, Mary Engel, Anthony Heywood, Ann Tower, GREATeclectic, and Bridget Russ.

 

Technology:

Students used technology as a referential resource and learning about artists.

 

 

Strategies for Classroom Management Relevant to Lesson Plans Taught in the Unit:

 

Our main classroom management strategies were in the structure of “Centers.” For most of the lessons the classroom was set up with a drawing center, a painting center, and a mixed media (gluing) center. This allowed students to choose freely what medium they would work with as they worked. As well as cutting down on messes.

We also required students using hot glue guns to wear gloves for their safety. On a day when we only had one hot glue gun, the teacher used the hot glue gun and assisted students in the gluing.

Part of our daily routine was circle time, right when students come in they put their things away, and then sit on the ground in a circle. This is a routine established by the regular daily teacher, and keeping it helped students keep up their daily school routine. We would go around in a circle choosing an either-or (do you like painting or drawing better) and rating their enthusiasm and energy levels on a scale of 1-10. The art choice of either-or helped them to get into an “art thinking” mode, and the rating numbers gave us an idea of where everyone was physically and emotionally that day before we even begin, which prepared us better for interacting with the students each day.

Our cleanup routines with the centers were the same every day we used centers. We had students freeze at whatever station they used that day, and gave them a part of cleaning up the station. At painting, one student was in charge of paintbrushes and cups, 4-5 students were in charge of picking up trash off the floor, and one student would go and get a vacuum from the next door classroom. This enabled us to have a quick and effective cleanup, because every student knew they had a job.

 

 

Unit Lesson Plans

 

Lesson One Getting’ Sketchy

 

 

Planning Sketches:

These sketches and pieces are the brainstorming and plans created for their mixed media collages. They are also “mini artworks” created on the day of mixed media explorations.

 

This is a sketch created by Estela, she was brainstorming symbols that represent her love of horses, candy, and her “crazy” personality.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To the right is Elliot’s first sketch, he isn’t really a fan of “sketching,” so he worked around

telling a story to represent himself, and wrote out a humorous comic strip.

 

To the bottom Right, Chloe is representing herself in her sketch as a monkey.

 

Grace practiced sculpting in twisting and turning pipe cleaners to create a small cat.

 

 

 

Click the pink button to see the

full lesson plan.

 

Lesson Two Mix It Up!

 

 

Collages in Progress:

To the right, Silas sees himself as a happy person,

and he wanted to use a rainbow of colors to represent that.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                 To the left, Jacob uses plant forms to represent his love and connection to nature.

 

                                               To the Right, Cash is recreating a scene he first

                                               Sketched in our “Getting’ Sketchy” Lesson.

 

 

 

 

 

Below, Matt is working on the ground cutting pictures out of magazines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Final Collages:

 

Here are some views of the final collages set up as a gallery. From left to right, there is Madelena’s, Alyssa’s, Aidan’s, Silas’, Chloe’s, Shamia’s, Matt’s, and Shayna’s.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above to the Right are Cash’s, Madalena’s, Alyssa’s, Aidan’s, Silas’, Chloe’s, Shamia’s, and Matt’s.

 

This is Paul’s final collage, he chose to work more 3 dimensionally than his classmates, and created a house!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lesson Three Building Me

 

                                            Click the pink button for the full

                                             lesson plan!

In progress Sculptures:

 

Below, Cash is adding buttons                                                                In the next image, Aron (Pete)

on his sculptures as legs.                                                                        is using paint and buttons

                                                                                                                    to create a suit for his creature.                                           

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Below on the left, Chloe has used boxes and cans to create a robot, and then covered her found objects with fabric and paper. Next, Matt has found a comb, and is going to use its mustache shape a sa mustache! On the right, Elliot is mixing many colors to change the original design of a bowling pin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finished Sculptures:

 

From Left to Right, Elliot has now added pieces of aluminum cans that look like ears and a nose to give his pin a face.To the left, Dayton has created a robot using the same materials as his collage. Shamiah’s sculpture of a demon cat chasing a

mouse is in a little enclosure. Silas’ little robot has an antenna-like hat and buttons for eyes!