​rethink.

Lesson Overview:

    This lesson introduces one of the most wellknown artists during the period of the Harlem Renaissance. Jacob Lawrence used his talent for painting as a way to tell stories. His stories are of enslavement and freedom, human migration and renaissance, struggle and triumph. From the Lawrence family’s migration North to Jacob’s experience growing up in the midst of the Harlem Renaissance. Using Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence by John Duggleby, the students will be introduced to the biography of Jacob Lawrence through a collection of his own paintings. This engaging biography shows how his life experiences influenced his works of art as a painter and how he rose to become of the most renowned painers of African American life. Then, students will choose a one picture from Story Painter and describe how they think the events of Jacob Lawrence’s life affected his artwork.

 

Preparation:

    Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence

    Copies of Jacob Lawrence’s paintings (see below):

         This Is Harlem, 1942

         Brooklyn Stoop, 1967

         Olympic Games, 1971

    from the book, in black and white with the description of each painting.

    Construction paper

    Markers

    Colored Pencils

    Crayons

    Glue sticks

    Scissors

 

Instruction:

1. The teacher will introduce the book, Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence to the students

2. The teacher will ask if anyone has any prior knowledge of artists during this period of time.

3. The teacher will ask for volunteers to help read the book outloud to the class.

4. After reading the book, the teacher will prompt the students into a discussion about the story they just read about Jacob Lawrence

   1. What do you think it was like to live when Jacob Lawrence did?

   2. What do you think about the paintings in the book? Explain.

   3. Do you think Jacob Lawrence’s life influenced what he painted? Why or why not?

5. After the discussion ends, the teacher will introduce the activity the students are going to do and providing them with an example.

6. Each student will choose a black and white copy of a painting from the book

7. After all the students have a black and white copy of a painting, they are first to color in the painting in a way they feel expresses the picture the best.

8. After they finished that, they are to cut the painting out.

9. Then the students will paste the painting onto a piece of construction paper leaving a decent amount of room under the picture.

10. In the space under the picture of the painting, the students will write how they think Jacob Lawrence’s life experiences influenced him to create the painting.

11. The students will have the freedom to describe the painting and Lawrence’s life in a way that makes sense to them.

12. After the students are finished with their projects, the teacher will instruct the students to find a partner that does not have the same painting as they do

13. When every student has a partner, they will take turns explaining their project.

    1. Why they colored the painting the way they did

    2. Why they wrote what they did under the picture of the painting

14. After ample time, the teacher will call the students’ attention back.

15. The teacher will prompt a whole class discussion reflecting on what they just did

    1. What did they learn about being an artist during the Harlem Renaissance

    2. What do they think about the paintings that Jacob Lawrence created now that they know more about his life?

    3. Discuss how different everyone’s interpretations of the paintings were and why

16. The teacher will collect all of the projects made by the students and display them all around the classroom

 

Standards:

9.1.3.A: Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities.

    Visual Arts: • color • form/shape • line • space • texture • value  

9.2.3.C: Relate works in the arts to varying styles and genre and to the periods in which they were created

9.2.3.E: Analyze how historical events and culture impact forms, techniques and purposes of works in the arts

9.2.3.G: Relate works in the arts to geographic regions

 

Assessment:

Students will be assessed on their understanding of the material being taught based on their descriptions of the Jacob Lawrence painting they chose. They will be graded based their put forth effort and completion.