Lesson Plan: 7 Elements of Design/ 4 Basic Principles of Art

60 minute lesson

Features of the lesson:

·         Conducted in the classroom

·         Provides the theoretical foundation for the follow-up lesson in the computer lab

·         Materials required prior to the lesson:

o   Access to a computer with internet access, a printer, and photocopier in order to create the worksheet using resources found on LEARN (http://www.learnquebec.ca/)

o   An account with LEARN

·         Materials required during the lesson: Access to a computer and projector

·         Materials students require for homework: Computer with internet access

Break-Down:

30 minutes of lecture, analysis, and class discussion:

PowerPoint presentation

Objectives of the Presentation:

·         Review of the vocabulary (mainly essential principles in design and composition)  used in art appreciation and critique

·         Apply the vocabulary in a class discussion/analysis of Photography from  National Geographic’s online web galleries, specifically:

§   “Pictures: 10 Larger-Than-Life Earth Art Installations” (http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/photos/land-earth-art-gallery/)

§   “Life in Color”  (http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/life-in-color/)

§   “Photo Gallery: How to Take Landscape Photos” (http://photography.nationalgeographic.com/photography/photo-tips/landscape-photos/)

10 minutes of group activity

·         A painting is presented in the PowerPoint Presentation relating to the specific art movement being studied , i.e. Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night for Impressionism

·      In groups of four or five the students will analyze and critique the work of art by discussing the artistic elements of the painting

§  Fill out a worksheet (modeled after resources found on LEARN) to organize their critique—sample worksheets:

·          (http://www.learnquebec.ca/en/content/les/visual_arts/les1_journal/documents/VA_1_1_art_critique.pdf)

·          (http://www.learnquebec.ca/en/content/les/visual_arts/les1_journal/documents/VA_1_1_art_crit_analyz.pdf)

·          (http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/~/media/ArtsEdge/LessonPrintables/grade-6-8/art_show_questions.ashx)

·          (http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/~/media/ArtsEdge/LessonPrintables/grade-6-8/media1_media_awareness.ashx)

20 minutes of sharing the group work and wrap-up:

·         The groups will then share their findings to the class and compare their analyses