​rethink.

Lesson 4: Creating an Artwork

 

Lesson 4: Jacob Lawrence’s Art

 

Lesson Overview:

As a conclusion to this unit, students will be given the opportunity to make their own work of art. The class will begin by exploring various books that include pieces of Jacob Lawrence’s art. We will discuss some of the major characteristics they notice and come up with a list together. Students will then be able to create their own artwork based on the poem they wrote the day before, and incorporating techniques or the style used by Jacob Lawrence. Once finished, the series of their paintings will be displayed on a bulletin board in the classroom.

 

Preparation & Materials:

Gather books listed below from library

Put art supplies out on supply table to be used

The Great Migration by Jacob Lawrence

Story Painter: The Life of Jacob Lawrence by John Duggleby

Harriet and the Promised Land by Jacob Lawrence

Jacob Lawrence, American Painter by Ellen Harkins

Pencil/pen

Watercolor paint

Paint brushes

Crayons

Markers

White paper

Construction paper

Scissors

Glue

 

Instruction:

1.     The lesson begins by having students split up into groups of 4-5 and giving each group one of the books made by or about Jacob Lawrence.

2.     Students are given 5-10 minutes to flip through their book and come up with a list of at least three things they notice about his style of art based on the pictures they see.

3.     I will then ask each group to share their list with the class and write all of their answers on the board.

4.     I will add and explain any major characteristics of Jacob Lawrence’s art they might have missed such as simplified shapes, bold colors, use of paint (watercolor/gouache), and series’ of paintings with themes.

5.     I will explain to the class that we will be making our own series of paintings based on the poems they wrote the day before.

6.     Students will be given about 30 minutes to create their own piece of art representing both their poem and elements of Jacob Lawrence’s art style as listed on the board.

7.     Supplies should be taken and returned from the supply bins one table at a time, in a neat fashion.

8.     Students will then be given the chance to share their artwork with the class and explain what content they included and what techniques they used.

9.     I will then display all of their finished projects on a bulletin board in my room as a completed series.

 

Standards:

9.1.3.H: Handle materials, equipment and tools safely at work and performance spaces.

9.1.3.J: Know and use traditional and contemporary technologies for producing, performing and exhibiting works in the arts or the works of others.

9.2.3.C: Relate works in the arts to varying styles and genre and to the periods in which they were created (e.g., Bronze Age, Ming Dynasty, Renaissance, Classical, Modern, Post-Modern, Contemporary, Futuristic, others).

9.2.3.D: Analyze a work of art from its historical and cultural perspective.

9.2.3.L: Identify, explain and analyze common themes, forms and techniques from works in the arts (e.g., Copland and Graham’s Appalachian Spring and Millet’s The Gleaners).

 

Assessment:

Students will be assessed based on their cooperative participation in class and completion of a piece of art that 1) connects to their poem and 2) includes at least two characteristics of Jacob Lawrence’s art.