I will use Google classroom as a platform to post my teacher created water slideshow for grade 5 students. I teach this “focus group” 45 minutes a week. This focus group will have more time and be able to go deeper in their thinking and understanding of water. The student google slideshows are a deep dive of water inquiry in a direction of the student’s choice. I will also review all internet surfing guidelines with them since students will be navigating on their own. The Google Slide that I post on google classroom will be given to all 5-8 grade students directly for them to explore.
I will facilitate the grade 5 in the learning process of Google slide options with my slideshow. I will answer any questions on Google slide in order for grade 5 students to design their own slideshow and I will assist them in finding a water topic for them to “teach” or share or orally when each student presents. I will give design instructions on how to insert links, photos, change colors, etc. to make for a visually stronger slideshow. It is important to me that students develop a relationship with water and find a hook or a passion to teach peers. It is also important that students comprehend aesthetics and design to visually “hook” their listeners when they present.
Students will read Water looking at Art by Grolier Educational for inspiration to see examples of how artists through the centuries have used water for their artistic compositions in early renaissance art through seventeenth and eighteenth centuries as well as in twentieth century. I want students to consider the various ways artists use water and for students to consider what artistic direction they are going in when designing their own water composition.
After discussing water with all grade levels, the focus group will participate in a lesson on graphic design. During this lesson students will discuss graphic design elements, and principles, lines, shapes, font style, font size, background color, underline links, bold, visually pleasing images, as well as internet concerns or dangers that exist.
Students will pick a direction to follow their own research. Students will create individual three to five minute Google water Slide presentations. I want students to consider the visual presentation and aesthetics when designing their own google slideshows. I want students to gain skills in critical thinking of graphic design, layout, cropping photos, font, and complementary color choices during their edit process as well as font text bold italic and placement of photos, text, and color together. Students will experiment with all the google slideshow toolbars while simultaneously gaining skills in “seeing” water in a different way, seeing water around them in ways they did not before and possibly learning how valuable their own need or friendship is to water. Students will share / email finished google slide shows of their selected water topic.
We will be reviewing elements and principles of art in order to make aesthetically pleasing presentations as well as water compositions. This focus group will be guided in their art techniques. Grades 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes will use mixed media. Students will create a water inspired work of art. During student studio work time students will view water inspired TED talks that I will have embedded in the teacher water slide show during our class work time. Students can complete a brief 100 word written assignment for extra credit noting what new knowledge they might have gained from this unit of study or TEDX talks. Students can note anything gained from either their peers, their own research, TED or TEDx talks watched, or from me. Students can write their water thoughts at this time for extra credit. Students can submit as many extra credit written assignments as they wish. Each 100 word is ten points. Students who want a 100 yet feel visual art, public speaking, or computer design is too challenging this will help shift their perspective so they feel successful and motivated right from the start.
Students will create a title card to their water composition art work as well. I wish for students to become experts in their selected water direction. I want grade five students who feel passionate about their water direction or area that they selected to then “teach” or present their water topic, for the 3rd grade Art classes. I wish for all students to gain “observational water seeing skills” meaning how they are respecting water or making friends with water, being kinder or more aware, considerate to water and so forth. In addition, I want students' writing and technology skills strengthened through this Art water project to advance their tech savvy skills and graphic design skills. I look forward to seeing what the students teach me as they use critical thinking skills, writing communication skills, creativity, and problem solving skills.
Finally we will review the art of public speaking skills including eye contact, poise, not reading out loud the slide content and other public speaking techniques. Students will have water flow connection lens “upgrades”. Lastly, students fill out self evaluation as well as teacher evaluations of the water unit and address why they selected the google slideshow direction that they did. They will be able to reflect on areas they would have done differently as well.
