Melody S. Gallagher
Lesson 1 Art Dominoes and Art that makes you go "Hmmm"
Lesson Overview
This lesson falls within the body of the unit and introduces students to using Art Dominoes. Students will use reproductions of a variety of artworks and make connections between the artworks through various themes.
Duration
For the purpose of this unit this lesson will last for two forty-five minute sessions.
Materials
This lesson will use reproductions of works by Glenn Ligon, Ellen Gallagher, Michael Ray Charles, Kerry James Marshall, Pepon Orsario, and Dawoud Bey.
Teacher Preparation
Collect, copy and laminate reproductions of artworks. Make one set per table of students.
Lesson Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to make connections between artworks through various themes.
Instructional Plan
First, I will introduce the reading strategies and model how to create a domino effect with the art reproductions. I will model how to verbally state the connections between the artworks as I am making them. Students will then work in groups of four to create a domino effect with the artworks. As a whole class we will discuss each groups' interpretations and the connections that they have made. Next, I will introduce the artists and their themes within their artworks. Students will play Art Dominoes making connections based on the information learned about the artists and the artworks.
Assessment
Students will be assessed on their ability to work as a team, make authentic connections, and engage in whole group discussions.
Lesson 2 Self-Portraits that make you go "Hmmm"
Lesson Overview
For this lesson students will create self-portraits using photography as a medium. They will study the work of Dawoud Bey as motivation for the lesson. They will learn how to crop a photograph, create a triptych, and write a written piece to accompany their artworks.
Duration
This lesson will take approximately four forty-five minute sessions to complete.
Materials
The materials used will be: reproductions of Dawoud Bey's work, pencils and paper, one or more digital cameras, computer printer (or if one is not available, printing can be completed at a local store offering digital printing).
Teacher Preparation
To prepare for this lesson the teacher should: collect works by Bey, make a teacher exemplar of the final product, make examples of photographs that show interesting cropping as well as cropping that does not work as well, make a few examples of written work, collect digital cameras, check with school that computer can print from camera.
Lesson Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to crop a photograph.
After this lesson, students will be able to create a triptych self-portrait.
After this lesson, students will be able to describe themselves in writing.
Instructional Plan
To introduce this lesson, students will view and discuss Dawoud Bey's artwork. As a whole class we will discuss how he created triptych photographs of close-up cropped portions of his subjects. Students will be given a brainstorming sheet with question prompts to write their written descriptions of themselves. Students will then write a written description of themselves. Students will then work in pairs to make their self-portraits. Prior to this day, students will be instructed to consider what they will be wearing and what they want to show about themselves in their photographs. After creating their portraits, student will write a second description discussing what the photograph reveals about them that was not in the first written description. Last, students will present their work. The photographs will be displayed separately from the written descriptions. Students will then participate in a "matching game" in which they will attempt to pair the written description with a set of photographs.
Assessment
Students will be assessed on their ability to create an interesting composition through cropping, on their two writing assignments, and in their participation in classroom discussions.
Lesson 3 Curating an Art Show and Making Others Go "Hmmm"
Lesson Overview
This lesson will fall at the end of the unit. The purpose of this lesson is to allow students to show their artwork within a community space. Throughout this lesson students will be asked to consider: "Who are the youth of New Haven?" What similarities do students share and what differences make them each unique?
Duration
This lesson will take approximately three forty-five minute sessions to complete.
Materials
The materials for this lesson will include: previously made student work, writing materials, and frames and hanging materials.
Teacher Preparation
To prepare for the lesson I will collect a variety of frames for student work and gather hanging materials. I will view Thelma Golden's TED talk. I will find a local organization that will be willing to host a curated art show by the students.
Lesson Objectives
After this lesson, students will be able to curate an art show within their community. Students will be able to hang and display works of art.
Students will be able to create a written description of the art show.
Instructional Plan
To introduce the concept of curating an art show, students will be shown Thelma Golden's TED talk. Hearing Golden speak directly to an audience is a powerful way for students to gain inspiration for this activity. As a whole class we will discuss how she views currating a show as having the ability to pose questions to a particular community. I will present students with the question: "Who are the youth of New Haven?" As a whole class we will discuss a theme for the art show. After a theme is chosen, students will select work of their own to include in the show. Students will then write written descriptions of their artworks to include in the art show. They will work in pairs to interview each other for the writing pieces. Students will then work as a whole class to create a press release for the show to send to local newspapers. Students will then learn how to frame and hang their own artwork. Upon completion, students will attend their own art show.
Assessment
Students will be assessed on their ability to work within the group. They will be assessed on their ability to frame and hang their work, on their written descriptions of their work, and on their participation and input in creating a press release.