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Marisa Renee Brown

Elementary Experience: Werner Elementary School

Lessons

Each of the following lesson plans includes:

  • objectives that are aligned to Colorado State Visual Arts Standards

  • procedures with opportunities to access the materials in multiple modalities

  • transferrable concepts and enduring understandings

  • differentiation and extension in the form of accommodations and modifications

  • literacy, numeracy, and technology integration

  • formative and summative assessments

Kindergarten: Print-making Cupcakes

In this lesson, kindergarteners experimented with print-making techniques to create cupcakes. Students began this lesson by looking at the artwork of Delilah Smith and planning for their cupcakes. They got a chance to incorporate their personal interests by making a cupcake topper about something they are interested in. Then, they chose from patterned brayers to roll the wall paper and tablecloth that occupies their backgrounds. Next, Kindergarteners made print-making plates with Styrofoam and pencils. They used these plates to print their cupcake in three pieces. To show depth, the students they cut and pasted these pieces to overlap their wall and background. By doing these steps in a specific order, students were introduced to the importance of sequence in art-making processes. To complete the project, students reflected on their choices by listening, speaking, and collaborating with their peers.

First Grade: Dream Playground Paintings

For this project, first graders explored intent and expression by creating dream playground paintings with a theme, or main idea, of their choice. After looking at the unique playgrounds created by the artists at Monstrum, students planned for their paintings by collaborating, making lists, and sketching. Next, first graders drew their playgrounds with graphite using overlapping to convey space. The next step was to outline their drawing with sharpie and crayon to create a wax resist. Finally, students painted their playgrounds with watercolor paints. Because the order of these steps was emphasized, students were able to explain the importance of sequence in art-making processes. To finish this project, students reflected by speaking in small groups about their theme, process, artistic choices, and use of overlapping.

Third Grade: Mixed Media Inventions

For this lesson, third graders observed the drawings and inventions of Dominic Wilcox as evidence of planning in art and other disciplines. The students collaborated with their peers, made lists, and completed sketches with labels in order to plan for their mixed media piece. Third graders personalized their artwork by choosing their own problem and creating an invention to solve it. Students incorporated their understanding of form following function into their sketches by making inventions that look like what they do. After sketching, students collaged with mixed media materials to create their invention. Students demonstrated their understanding of intent and expression by choosing materials that match the appearance of their invention. To reflect on their artwork, students collaborated, spoke, and wrote about each other’s creative choices with a scavenger hunt activity.​

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