Puzzle Piece Project

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Puzzle Piece Project using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use shape variation (geometric, organic), space (positive, negative), and value (lightness, darkness) inspired by Autism Speaks Movement
• Use sculpture techniques (installation, collaboration, public art) and design principles (movement, composition, unity) based on Public Art
• Define Jigsaw (a puzzle consisting of a picture on cardboard or wood into various pieces of different shapes fitted together)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. The Puzzle Piece Project (2021) Autism Speaks

2. Read It's Okay To Be Different by Todd Parr

3. Discussion Questions "Why is the Puzzle Piece Project important? What do we have in common? What is autism? What is nonverbal communication? What worked? What did not work? How did it feel to not be able to talk to each other? Which one is your favorite? Who is the narrator? What is the narrator's relationship to the character with autism? How do personalities and relationships affect stories? How might this story be different from a different character's perspective? What do you find most significant or interesting about this site?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 5" X 5" White Cardstock

2. Separate the puzzle template using a line (diagonal, horizontal, vertical) into four parts for the jigsaw composition

3. Draw three preliminary sketches of the puzzle design for the Puzzle Piece Project

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Puzzle Piece Project for Assigned Table

2. Puzzle Piece Project (2021) Autism Speaks 

3. Discussion Questions "A Mural is a larger painting or artwork on a wall. How large do you think our mural will be? What are some ways we can make our collaborative puzzle piece look like an original work of art? What do you like and dislike about these designs? What would help make this puzzle piece designs look better? Have you ever heard of Autism? Do know what that term means? What first stands out when you look at this object? How are murals used today?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose best puzzle design for the three preliminary sketches for the jigsaw composition 

2. Use pencil to lightly transfer puzzle design onto a cardboard puzzle piece for the jigsaw composition

3. Outline final pencil drawing three times before using painting techniques (layering, cropping, overlapping) for Puzzle Piece Project

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Puzzle Piece Project for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (paint brushes, water bucket, tempera paint)

Lesson Activities

1. Use complementary colors (blue orange; red green; blue purple) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the jigsaw compositions

2. Use complementary colors (blue orange, red green blue purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the jigsaw compositions

3. Add value (lightness, darkness) to the positive space (foreground) and negative space (background) of the Puzzle Piece Project 

Artist Examples

Student Examples

 Joseph Amedokpo Line Designs

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Joseph Amedokpo Line Design using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use warm/cool colors (red orange yellow; green blue purple), geometric shapes (triangle, square, circle), and value (lightness, darkness) inspired by West African Artist (1946-Present) Joseph Amedokpo
• Use art element line (contour, outline, continuous) and design principles (composition, repetition, unity) based on Contemporary Art
• Define Unity (how different elements of an artwork or design work come together and create a sense of wholeness)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1.  The Goddess of the Tree (2012) Joseph Amedokpo

2. Read The Day The Lines Changed: An Inspirational Story about a line, a pandemic, and how change shapes us all by Kelley Donner

3. Discussion Questions "Is there a distinct mood? Does it make you think about anything? Does anything jump out at you? How does it make you feel? What did the artist say about the piece? What types of lines are being used in this artwork? What story is being told, if any? How did the artist use line, shape, and color to contribute to the mood or meaning? What symbols do you notice in the artwork? How do you personally relate to or connect with this picture? How can you connect this artwork to your own life? How might you feel different about the world after viewing this artwork?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" by 15" Drawing Paper

2. Add three line types (horizontal, diagonal, vertical) to the positive space (foreground) of the line designs

3. Use black sharpie marker to outline three line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) to the positive space (foreground) of the Joseph Amedokpo Line Designs

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Joseph Amedokpo Line Designs for Assigned Table

2.Birds Of Life (2017) Joseph Amedokpo

3. Discussion Questions "If art could talk, what would it say? If this artwork had eyes, what would it see? If you could ask this artwork a question, what would you ask it? How has this changed your understanding of the artwork? How does this artwork teach us about the future? Was this intended to be a work of art or not? Why do you think tat? How does that impact your understanding of the artwork?If you could change this artwork, how would you change it? What do you like about this artwork? What do you dislike about this artwork?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use warm colors (red orange yellow) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the line designs

2. Use cool colors (blue green purple) to fill in the negative space (background) of the line designs

3. Use patterns (dots, swirls, stripes) to fill in the positive space (foreground) and negative space (background) of the Joseph Amedokpo Line Designs

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Joseph Amedokpo Line Designs for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (paint brushes, water bucket, paper towel)

Lesson Activities

1. Use highlights (reflective light, light source) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the line designs

2. Use shadows (cast shadow, reflective shadow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the line designs

3. Use texture tools (combs, plates, stamps) to add details (patterns, decorations) to the Joseph Amedokpo Line Designs

Artist Examples

Student Examples

The Hexagon Project

Learning Targets: 

• Create a collaborative installation using assemblage techniques learning class
• Use value (hue, tint), space (positive, negative), and shape (geometric, organic) to make a hexagon design
• Use design principles (composition, contrast, variety) and mathematical connections (equilateral triangle, euclidean geometry, congruent angles) relating to 2019 Special Theme Transforming Conflict Hexagon Project 
• Define Installation (act of art being installed in a space open to all people in the community)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

Lesson Activities:

Lesson Activities:

Day Three, Art Start

Lesson Activities: 

Artist Examples

Student Examples