Rainbow Four Letter Words

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Rainbow Four Letter Words using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), and space (positive, negative) inspired by Conceptual Artist (1928-2007) Sol LeWitt
• Use color sequence (arrangement, patterns, sequential) and design principles (repetition, composition, variation) based on American Art
• Define Typography (the art, craft, and technique of arranging type (letters, numbers, symbols) to make written language legible, readable, and visually appealing when displayed)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Arcs And Bands (1999) Sol LeWitt

2. Read The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds 

3.  Discussion Questions "How can we use color, shape, and lettering to turn our names into unique works of art? What happens when we put different colors next to each other? Which colors capture your attention in this artwork? Can letters become shapes, patterns, and designs? What colors would you choose to represent your personality? How can artists use color and lettering to communicate a positive message? Why would an artist choose to make certain letters larger than others? How can our individual artwork contribute to positive classroom community? How do colors influence the feelings and emotions we experience when viewing artwork? How can we use art to express positive thoughts and encourage others? Why is it important to share encouraging messages with our community?" 

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Painting Paper 

2. Use protractors, rulers, and letter stencils to fill in the positive space (foreground, middle ground, letters) of the Rainbow Four Letter Words 

3.  Use size differentiation (small, medium, large) to add a focal point in the positive space (foreground, middle ground, letters) of the Rainbow Four Letter Words 

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Rainbow Four Letter Words for Assigned Tables 

2. Arcs And Bands In Colors A-F (1999) Sol LeWitt 

3. Discussion Questions "What happens when you overlap things in your own artwork? What similarities do you notice in these artworks? What differences do you notice in these artworks? How can you ouse a stencil to create letters in your own artwork? What are some ways you can make an object, person ,or place look like a print? What is a foot in a letter? What is uppercase? What is lowercase? Does the typography communicate visually? What is going on in this artwork? What was your first reaction to this artwork? Why do you think you had this reaction? Does your opinion about the artwork change the longer you look at it? What types of lines are being used in this artwork? What types of colors are being used in this artwork? Which area of the artwork is emphasized by the artist? Which area of the artwork is most important?" 

Lesson Activities

1. Use protractor, rulers, and letter stencils to fill in the negative space (background) of the Rainbow Four Letter Words  

2. Use size differentiation (small, medium, large) to add a focal point in the negative space (background) of the Rainbow Four Letter Words

3. Use highlights (reflective light, light source, cast light) to fill in the positive space (foreground, middle ground, letters) of the Rainbow Four Letter Words 

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Rainbow Four Letter Words for Assigned Tables 

2. Set Up Studio Area (washable markers, pencils, erasers, crayons) 

Lesson Activities

1. Use shadows (reflective shadow, cast shadow, shadow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Rainbow Four Letter Words

2. Use neutral colors (black, grey, white, brown) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Rainbow Four Letter Words

3. Add relief pieces (styrofoam pieces, cardboard, poster board) to fill in the positive space (foreground, middle ground, letters) of the Rainbow Four Letter Words 

Artist Examples

Student Examples 

Clay Model Cars

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Clay Model Car using ceramic techniques learned in class
• Use shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), form (two dimensional, three dimensional) and texture (actual, implied, visual) inspired by American Designer (1893-1969) Harley Earl
• Use sculpture techniques (carving, assemblage, modeling, casting) and design principles (proportion, repetition, emphasis) based on American Art
• Define Concept Car (a car made to showcase new styling and technology)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Lesson

1. Chevrolet Corvette (Robert Tate Collection) (1953) Harley Earl

2. Read Harley Earl And The Dream Machine by Stephen Bayley

3. Discussion Questions "Did you know Harley Earl was the first person in the automotive industry to create better paying jobs for women? What concerns existed with automobile styling? What other contributions did Harley Earl make? According to Yanek Mieczkowski, what concept did Harley Earl introduce? Which vehicle was used as the template for Batman's Batmobile? What was Harley Earl's role at General Motors? How can you design a model of a car from a block of clay? What are the practical uses (pottery, bricks, tiles) for clay? What are the artistic uses (sculpture, instruments, animation) for clay? What type of vehicle did you create? Where would you take this vehicle? What did you learn from carving? If you could make one change to your car, what would it be?"

Lesson Activities

1. Add line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal) for the proportions (front, back, sides) within the positive space (foreground) of the clay cars

2. Mold clay into basic shapes (wheels, windows, doors) for the positive space (car) of the clay cars

3. Use needle tools to draw details (rims, engine, wheels) for the positive space (car) of the Clay Model Cars

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Clay Model Cars for Assigned Tables

2. Buick Y-Job Concept (1920) Harley Earl

3. Discussion Questions "What can we make with these materials? How do artists make something look three dimensional when the material is flat? Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Why do artists need to understand how to represent form in art? What is the history of form in art? what is considered geometric or organic in art? How do artists help to change the world in a positive way? How does the understanding of this artist change our understanding of the artwork? What special features do these cars have? What is the hidden meaning behind these car models? What are the unique characteristics of these model cars? What is different about these model car examples?"

Lesson Activities

1.  Use compass, protractor, and texture plates to add symmetrical shapes and expressive lines to the clay cars

2. Use form (two dimensional, three dimensional) to fill in the positive space (foreground) of the clay cars

3. Use form (two dimensional, three dimensional) to fill in the negative space (background) of the Clay Model Cars

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Clay Model Cars for Assigned Tables 

2. Set Up Studio Area (roller, modeling clay, clay tools)

Lesson Activities

1. Add color combinations (analogous, secondary, complementary) to the positive space (foreground) of the Clay Model Cars

2. Add color combinations (analogous, secondary, complementary) to the negative space (background) of the Clay Model Cars

3. Apply Gloss Finish to the proportions (front, back, side, wheels), positive space (car), and negative space (background) of the Clay Model Cars 

Artist Examples

Student Examples

 Grumpy Monkey Collages

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Grumpy Monkey Collage using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use line types (contour, outline, continuous), shape variation (geometric, organic, free form), and texture (implied, actual, visual) inspired by American Author (2018-Present) Suzanne Lang
• Use collage techniques (layering, cropping, overlapping) and design principles (composition, variation, emphasis) based on American Art
• Define Expression (describe ideas, facts, or feelings through an arrangement of forms, sounds, or words)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. America Goth Monkey (2018) Susan Clyne

2. Read Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang

3. Discussion Questions "What can we do to help manage our anger? What does anger or irritability look like? When you are angry can you understand another person? Are we reasonable or realistic when we are angry? How can we change those situations? If anger was a color, what color would it be? If anger was a sound, what sound would it be? How have you calmed yourself down when you were feeling angry? How can you express concerns without getting angry? What are some solutions you have when you feel angry?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 12" X 15" Drawing Paper

2. Add line types (contour, outline, perspective) to the positive space (animal) of the monkey collages

3. Outline line types (contour, outline, perspective) with the neutral colors (black, brown, grey) for the Grumpy Monkey Collages

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Grumpy Monkey Collages for Assigned Tables

2. The Monkey With The Pearl Earring (2017) Susan Clyne

3. Discussion Questions "How many species of monkeys are there? Did the artist paint in long brush strokes? Are the lines curved, straight, or thin? Does the artist use a variety of shapes? What types of shapes do you see? What are the colors that the artist uses? What do you think the artwork is about? What are the similarities in the story behind this artwork? Have you heard these stories before? Why are monkeys angry? Why are monkeys considered angry creatures?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use analogous colors (blue purple red) to fill in the positive space (monkey) of the monkey collages

2. Use analogous colors (blue purple red) to fill in the negative space (background) of the monkey collages

3. Use embellishments (plastic eyes, bubble wrap, brown paper) to fill in the positive space (monkey) of the Grumpy Monkey Collages

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Grumpy Monkey Collages for Assigned Tables

2. Set Up Studio Area (scissors, glue sticks, oil pastels)

Lesson Activities

1. Add highlights (reflective light, light source) to fill in the positive space (monkey) of the monkey collages

2. Add shadows (cast shadow, reflective shadow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the monkey collages 

3. Add details (eyelashes, fur, claws) to the positive space (monkey) of the Grumpy Monkey Collages

Artist Examples

Student Examples

 Mixed Media Sloths

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Mixed Media Sloth using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use shape variation (geometric, organic), analogous colors (blue purple red) and line types (horizontal vertical diagonal) inspired by American Illustrator (2013-Present) Victoria Borges
• Use collage techniques (readymade, clippings, composing) and design principles (composition, balance, variation) based on American Art
• Define Balance (the distribution of the visual weight of objects, colors, texture, and space)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Sloth Sayings III (2020) Victoria Borges

2. Read Slowly, Slowly, Slowly, Said the Sloth by Eric Carle 

3. Discussion Questions "How many species of sloths are there? Why are sloths so slow? How far can a sloth travel in a day? Why do sloths leave the sheltered canopy and go to the ground? What do sloths eat? How much food do sloths consume? How long do sloths sleep? What is the biggest threat to a sloth? What are sloths considered lazy creatures? What does a sloth's scientific name mean in Greek? How much faster are sloths swimming than walking? What is an arboreal habitat made up of? How long can it take for a sloth to digest a single meal? Are sloths the world's slowest mammals?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 8" X 12" Drawing Paper

2. Add line types (contour, outline, perspective) to the positive space (animal) of the sloth drawings

3. Outline line types (contour, outline, perspective) with the neutral colors (black, brown, grey) for the Mixed Media Sloths

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Mixed Media Sloths for Assigned Table

2. Sloth Sayings IV (2020)Victoria Borges 

3. Discussion Questions "How many species of sloths are there? Did the artist paint in long brush strokes? Are the lines curved, straight, or thin? Does the artist use a variety of shapes? What types of shapes do you see? What are the colors that the artist uses? What do you think the artwork is about? What are the similarities in the story behind this artwork? Have you heard these stories before?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use analogous colors (blue purple red) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the sloth drawings

2. Use analogous colors (blue purple red) to fill in the negative space (background) of the sloth drawings

3. Use embellishments (plastic eyes, bubble wrap, brown paper) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the Mixed Media Sloths

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Mixed Media Sloths for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (scissors, glue sticks, construction paper)

Lesson Activities

1. Add highlights (reflective light, light source) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the sloth drawings

2. Add shadow (cast shadow, reflective shadow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the sloth drawings

3. Add details (eyelashes, fur, claws) to the positive space (animal) of the Mixed Media Sloths

Artist Examples

Student Examples

 Australian Aboriginals

Learning Targets

I can...

• Create an original Australian Aboriginal using drawing techniques learned in class
• Use line types (horizontal, vertical, diagonal), shape variation (geometric, organic), and value (tints, shades) inspired by Australian Artist (1926-1998) Rover Thomas
• Use painting techniques (pigment, pointillism, layering) and design principles (gradation, proportion, composition) based on Indigenous Art
• Define Dot Painting (produced by repeated imprints of paint covered brushes, dotting sticks, or instruments onto a surface)

Lesson One
Day One, Art Start

1. Dumbun Owls (1987) Rover Thomas

2. Read Roads Cross: The Paintings of Rover Thomas by National Gallery of Australia

3. Discussion Questions "Who are Australian Aborigines? What styles of storytelling do Australian Aborigines practice? What is the Rainbow Serpent? Do Indigenous people own their own land? Have Indigenous people always owned their own land? Have Indigenous children always been brought up by their families? What kinds of food are available to Indigenous people? What is life-like for Indigenous people today? What is a Monotreme animal? Which two animals are Monotremes? What is a Marsupial mammal? Which three animals are Marsupials? What is a Placental mammal? Which of the following is a Placental mammal? Which Australian bird has a bird head and kills snakes? Which Australian bird is the second largest bird in the world?"

Lesson Activities

1. Choose 8 X 12 Drawing Paper

2. Add line types (contour, outline, perspective) to positive space (animal) of animal drawings 

3. Outline line types (contour, outline, perspective) with neutral colors (black, brown, grey) for the Australian Aboriginals

Day Two, Art Start

1. Retrieve Australian Aboriginals for Assigned Table

2. Marlu- Kangaroo Dreaming (1995) Rover Thomas

3. Discussion Questions "What two species of Crocodile live in Australia? Which of the two crocodile species is bigger? How many species of snakes are there in Australia? Which Australian snake is considered the most poisonous? Which is the largest Shark in Australian Waters? Does the artist paint in long brushstrokes? Are the lines curved, straight, thick, or thin? Does the artist use a variety of shapes? What types of shapes do you see? What are the colors that the artist uses? What do you think the black cone is? What do you think the red and yellow shapes around the cone are? What are similarities in the story behind this painting and the ones you have heard before?"

Lesson Activities

1. Use warm colors (red orange yellow) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the animal paintings

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

3. Use embellishments (plastic eyes, bubble wrap, brown paper) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the Australian Aboriginals 

Day Three, Art Start

1. Retrieve Australian Aboriginals for Assigned Table

2. Set Up Studio Area (tempera paint, popsicle sticks, paint brushes)

Lesson Activities

1. Add highlights (reflective light, light source) to fill in the positive space (animal) of the animal drawings 

2. Add shadow (cast shadow, reflective shadow) to fill in the negative space (background) of the animal drawings

3. Add details (whiskers, spots, eyelashes) to the positive space (animal) of the Australian Aboriginals

Artist Examples

Student Examples