03/06-03/03/13 - Mix-It-Up Abstract

Mix-It-Up Abstract

Lesson Objective: SWBAT work in pairs to create an abstract tiled watercolor painting.

Skill to be Mastered: To collaborate with each other in using watercolor techniques to create two paintings to be cut into tiles and rearranged to produce an abstract tiled painting.

I Can Statement: I can work with a partner to design and produce a watercolor tiled abstract piece of art.

Teaching Strategy: I start this project by showing students different examples of abstract paintings in a PowerPoint Presentation, like Picasso and Braque. After the presentation I will put them in pairs and have them paint an abstract painting using watercolor and sharpie (to make certain areas more defined or just for looks). I will not tell them at first that they will be cutting up their paintings to ensure that they give their best effort. I will model how to measure 1-2 inch squares on their paintings before they cut them out. I will use guided practice to make sure they are following all instructions and to make sure they are working with their partners and not doing it all on their own. I will also explain how they will be graded on the project and that if one student does all the work on the project it will affect the other students grade in a negative way. I explain that the work is to be done equally.

Materials:

12x18 drawing paper
12x18 black construction paper
Pencil
Watercolor paint
Paintbrush
Water cup
Paper towels
Sharpie markers
Scissors
Glue

Instructions: 
1. Decide as a pair what colors you want your end piece to be.
2. Paint an abstract painting on 12x18 paper.
3. Use sharpie after painting dries to enhance look.
4. Measure out 2 inch even squares on paper and cut out.
5. Mix up the squares with your partner and rearrange onto black construction paper.
6. Use Glitter glue in between each piece to look like glitter frames.

02/11-02/20 - Clay Fish

Clay Fish

Lesson Objectives: SWBAT manipulate clay using their hands and clay tools in order to create a clay fish sculpture.

Skill to be Mastered: Successfully working with clay, clay tools, and paint to create a painted ceramic sculpture of a fish.

I Can Statement: I can use clay and paint to create a sculpture of a fish.

Teaching Strategy: Introduce project by showing a presentation about fish and the many different species and the different ways that fish have been sculpted by artists. I also show a video showing how to make a pinch pot at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UL5fQtO6qk. The presentation also has step by step pictured instructions to building a pinch pot fish.I will also model how to make the pinch pot myself so they can see first hand how to do it and ask questions at the same time. I use guided practice as the students progress through the project to ensure they are using the proper clay connecting process. I write the instructions on the board as a guideline if they have questions and I am helping someone else. At the end of the project I instruct the students to write a reflection about their fish.

Vocabulary:

Pinch pot

Slurry

Materials:

Clay

Clay tools

Slurry

Tempera Paint

Paintbrush

Paper towels

Water cup

Instructions:

1. Roll up clay to form 2 balls that fit just into the palm of your hand. 

2. Using your thumb press into center of ball about 3/4 of the way through. 

3. Begin to pinch and pull the ball of clay in a circular pattern until the ball forms a round cup or bowl shape.

4. Repeat for second ball of clay.

5. Cut a small hole into the bottom of one of the bowls.

6. Score the rim of each bowl using a scoring tool and apply slip.

7. Connect the bowls and smooth out the seams were they were connected. Set aside.

8. Form the features, (eyes, mouth, lips, fins, teeth, etc.).

9. Score and slip each piece before connecting.

10. Make sure too smooth edges as you go.

11. After fish has been fired, paint with tempera paint.

Modifications: Give extra help building the fish, and extended time to finish. Do not take point away if the fish does not have very many features.

01/30-02/06 - Clay Cups

Clay Cups

Lesson Objective: SWBAT use the clay molding technique of coil and slab to create a cup with a handle.

Essential Skill to be Mastered: To use hands and tools in order to manipulate clay using a slab technique in order to make a cup.

I Can Statement: I can use the slab technique to make a clay cup.

Teaching Strategy: Day 1: I first had the students watch a video of how to make a clay cup using the slab technique http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTkM6HvisCE. We then had a discussion about clay rules and procedures. I showed them all the clay tools and how to use and clean them daily. We also discussed the video and I answered all questions the students had. After the students did two different design sketches they might use on their cups. Day 2: I start by modeling how to cup their clay from a block, how to roll it out and how to attach two pieces of clay together. After which I have them get their tables ready and start their own cup. Day 3-5: I use guided practice throughout the process to help with any and all questions that arise and to ensure students are following procedures. Directions are written on the front board as guide to follow.

Vocabulary:
Slab Technique
Score, Slip, Squish, Smooth
Clay Tools

Materials:
Drawing paper
Pencil
Clay
Clay tools
Water
Slip
Sponges
Table cover

Instructions:
1. Draw two different designs that will go on the cup (choose between the two)
2. After getting clay use a rolling pin to roll out the slab to about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.
3. Cut out a rectangle about 12x5 inches.
4. Roll into a cylinder shape (should be about 5 inches tall) keeping the inside open.
5. Score and slip the ends together and smooth out the seam using clay tools or fingers.
6. Roll out scrap clay to same thickness and set the cylinder. Set the cylinder on the slab and cut out the bottom by tracing the cylinder.
7. Score, slip, squish, and smooth bottom onto cylinder.
8. Cut out shapes (that will match drawn design) and attach to cylinder using the score and slip method.
9. Rub cup with water occasionally to help prevent it from drying.
10. Smooth out all uneven areas.
11. If using a handle cut out and attach (do this process when the cup is almost leather hard).
12. When finished let the cup dry out to the bone dry stage
13. Fire

02/05-02/12 - Painted Shapes

Painted Shapes

Lesson Objective: SWBAT to understand geometric and organic shapes, and use that understanding to create an abstract piece of original artwork.

Essential Skill to be Mastered: To create an abstract piece of art using painted cut out shapes that shows the illusion of a light source.

I Can Statement:  I can use painted cutout geometric and organic shapes that show the illusion of a light source to create an abstract work of art.

Teaching Strategy: Day 1 - Begin by questioning the students to make sure they remember from previous lessons the difference between geometric and organic shapes. Have them identify different geometric and organic shapes in the classroom. Show a circle template and draw a circle on the board without using the template and ask why the drawn circle is not actually a geometric shape. Explain, if students do not know that the circles on the template are perfect circles whereas when someone draws one it is usually not perfect. Have students try to draw a perfect circle on paper without the aid of measuring devices or templates to provide an understanding about perfect geometric circles. Then show an example of the finished project they are to create. Have them look at the other geometric shapes and ask what they notice about it (that all the edges are straight and each shape was measured before cutting out. Refer back to previous projects they did on value. Question them about how value can create on a 2 dimensional surface the illusion of 3 dimensional forms and the direction a light is shining. Have someone hand out poster board to start drawing their backgrounds to cut out. Day 2 - Model how to create darker or more intense shades of color to give the illusion of depth  Day 3-5 - Use guided practice to ensure students are using rulers or templates to create more authentic geometric shapes. When students are finished with project have them write a reflective essay on another students work. Have them pick students another students work to write about but only allowing one student to write about any one work. Give them guidelines on what they are to look for and write about in each others work. Give students a critique guide handout to use when writing their own critique.

Vocabulary Terms:
Organic Shapes
Geometric Shapes
Light Source
Color Intensity
Shade
Critique

Materials:
14x22 Poster board
Tempera paint
Paintbrush
Ruler
Circle template
Scissors
Water
Paper towels

Instructions:
1. Draw a random organic shape big enough to fill the poster board or at least close, to use as the background.
2. Cut out background.
3. Paint background two different colors using any pattern or design of choice.
4. Using a ruler to make straight edges or a circle temple to make circles, draw at least 8 geometric shapes.
5. Cut out shapes.
6. Paint shapes colors of choice but not the same as the background and indicate with paint the impression of a light source on the shapes.
7. When gluing shapes to background try to arrange so the eye has somewhat of a line to follow.
8. Have students draw names to write a critique about another student's project.

01/11-01/23 - Candy Bar Wrappers

Candy Bar Wrapper

Lesson Objective: SWBAT measure and draw a grid in order to enlarge a picture three times it's original size.

Essential Skill to be Mastered: To use math skills to measure and draw a grid. To enlarge and paint a picture 3 times it's original size.

I Can Statement: I can correctly measure a grid and enlarge a picture.

Teaching Strategy: Day 1 - I show students examples of the project and ask them how they think that other students were able to draw something that looked really close to the orignal picture but much larger. We discuss measuring and how we use it in our lives. I then have students pick a black and white copy of a candy bar wrapper of their choosing. I have them follow along with me when making the grid on the original picture. I then model how to create the grid on the larger paper and show them how to transfer the picture. I use guided practice throughout the project and check for grid accuracy. I write the instructions on the front board to ensure the instructions are always there when needed. I have students write a reflection at the end of the project telling about their thoughts on the project and I have them grade their own work giving an explanation for that grade.

Materials:

Candy bar wrapper copies

Pencil

Ruler

Poster paper roll

Tempera paint

Paint brush

Water

Paper towels

Instructions:

1. Draw a grid on the candy bar copy by making an "X" going from top left corner to the bottom right corner and so on. 

2. Then measure the width and the height and divide both in half. Use those measures to make a centered "t" in the middle of the picture over the "X" that is already there.

3. Make a line halfway between the edge of the picture and the vertical line of the "t" on both sides.

4. Do the same with the horizontal line.

5. Multiply the width and the height both by 3.

6. Using those numbers draw a larger box on the poster paper (after a piece has been cut off the roll).

7. Insert the same grid on the larger box.

8. Transfer one section at a time to the large paper, meaning, do not try to draw one whole letter at a time, only draw in each section what is in the corresponding section on the small copy.

9. Paint the picture to correspond with the original.

01/02/13-01/08/13 - Relief Sculpture

Relief Sculpture

Lesson Objective: SWBAT understand the relief process of building up or carving out to form a three dimensional image. Students will be able to use design concepts to create an original relief sculpture.

Essential Skill to be Mastered: To understand how to create a relief sculpture.

I Can Statement: I can use the relief process of building up on a flat surface to create a relief sculpture.

Teaching Strategy: To begin this project I lay out on an empty table about 10 different examples of this project. I ask the students to gather around them and examine to come up with common factors about all of them. When they realize that all of the  examples have different layers built up on each other I then start talking about the relief process of creating sculpture. I then show them the material they are to use and we discuss the different types of designs and how they can use any design they want to. They are then given a blank sheet of paper to draw two colored sketches of what they might want their sculpture to look like. The directions are written on the board and I show them these directions so they always know what is expected of them. I use guided practice during all stages of the project to ensure they are following the guidelines and give help when needed to build the sculpture.

Materials:

6x9 mat board

mat board scraps

Pencil

9x12 drawing paper

Scissors

Glue

Aluminum foil

Sharpie markers

Instructions:

1. Fold drawing paper in half and on each half draw a design to possibly use.

2. Pick the design you like the best or different parts of each.

3. Draw your design onto the mat board.

4. Using scrap pieces of mat board cut out the different shapes that will be used in your design.

5. Glue shapes onto the mat board making sure that some part of the sculpture has at least two layers.

6. After shapes are all glue use glue on aluminum foil. Make sure to start on one side gluing the mat board and pieces completely so the foil sticks to everything.

7. As you are gluing use something to carefully push the foil into the creases of all pieces. This will help give more shape to the mat pieces once they are covered with foil.

8. After project is covered with foil and the glue has completely dried use colored sharpies (regular markers will wipe right off the foil) to color. 

9. You can press slightly harder with the sharpies to create designs "pushed into" the foil and mat board.

01/02/13-01/11/13 - Rotation Design

Rotation Design

Lesson Objective: SWBAT use media tools to measure and create an original piece of artwork using contrasting colors.

Essential Skill to be Mastered: To be able to accurately measure 24 2" boxes and fill will two different repeated designs by rotating the paper before each box is filled.

I Can Statement: I can accurately measure 24 2" boxes and fill with a rotating design using contrasting colors.

Teaching Strategy: Day 1 - I will begin the lesson by asking students things that they have ever measured and how they measure them. I will also discuss with them contrasting colors and how well they go together (light and dark colors). After showing them examples of student work I will model how to correctly measure the squares and draw them and how to rotate the paper when they are making their designs. They will first need to draw two different designs that will be used to fill all of the 24 boxes. Days 2 - I will use guided instruction throughout the project and independent instruction if needed. Directions will be written on the front board.

Materials:
8x12 drawing paper
Pencil
Eraser
Colored pencils
Ruler

Instructions:
1. Measure and draw 24 two inch squares paper.
2. On other side of paper draw two 2 inch boxes and fill with two different designs making sure to use contrasting colors.
3. Draw the first design in the top left corner of paper.
4. Draw the next design in a box directly next to the first design using the second design that was drawn on the back of the paper.
5. Rotate the paper one turn and then draw the previous design in another box.
6. Continue this process until all the boxes are filled.