Exploring Adjectives Through Art and Creative Writing

EXPLORING ADJECTIVES THROUGH ART AND CREATIVE WRITING

EXPLORING ADJECTIVES THROUGH ART AND CREATIVE WRITING

Learning Description

Describing artwork can be a great way to help students use more adjectives!  Adjectives support students in using descriptive language to create interesting and unique stories. In this lesson students will have the opportunity to do both!

 

Learning Targets

GRADE BAND: K-1
CONTENT FOCUS: VISUAL ARTS & ELA
LESSON DOWNLOADS:

Download PDF of this Lesson

"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can use adjectives to describe a piece of art.
  • I can use art as an inspiration to write a creative story.

Essential Questions

  • How can adjectives help me describe a piece of art? 
  • How can art stimulate my imagination and help me write a creative story?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

Kindergarten:

ELAKR6 The student gains meaning from orally presented text.  

ELAKW1 The student begins to understand the principles of writing. 

ELAKW2 The student begins to write in a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literature.  

ELAKLSV1 The student uses oral and visual skills to communicate.  

Grade 1:

ELA1R6 The student uses a variety of strategies to understand and gain meaning from grade-level text. 

  1. Recognizes and uses graphic features        

and graphic organizers to understand text. 

ELA1W2 The student writes in a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive and response to literature.

ELA1LSV1 The student uses oral and visual strategies to communicate. 

Grade 2: 

ELA2R4 The student uses a variety of strategies to gain meaning from grade-level text. 

ELA2W2 The student writes in a variety of genres, including narrative, informational, persuasive, and response to literature.  

ELA2LSV1 The student uses oral and visual strategies to communicate. 

Arts Standards

Kindergarten:

VAK.CR.1 Engage in the creative process to generate and visualize ideas by using subject matter and symbols to communicate meaning.

VAK.CR.2 Create works of art based on selected themes. a. Create works of art emphasizing one or more elements of art and/or principles of design. 

VAK.CR.3 Understand and apply media, techniques, and processes of two-dimensional art. e. Develop manual dexterity to develop fine motor skills. 

VAK.MC.3: Selects and uses subject matter, symbols, and/or ideas to communicate meaning. 

VAK.PR.1 Participate in appropriate exhibition(s) of works of art to develop identity of self as artist. 

Grade 1:

VA1.CR.1 Engage in the creative process to generate and visualize ideas by using subject matter and symbols to communicate meaning.

VA1.CR.2 Create works of art based on selected themes. a. Create works of art emphasizing one or more elements of art and/or principles of design. 

  1. Create works of art that attempt to fill the space in an art composition.

VA1.CR.3 Understand and apply media, techniques, and processes of two-dimensional art. 

  1. Explore spatial relationships.

VA1MC.3: Selects and uses subject matter, symbols, and ideas to communicate meaning. 

VA1.PR.1 Participate in appropriate exhibition(s) of works of art to develop identity of self as artist.

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

Kindergarten:

K.W.MCC.3.1 3.1 Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, to tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and to provide a reaction to what happened.

K.W.L.4.5 With guidance and support, use adjectives.

K.W.MC.1.4 Participate in conversations with varied partners about focused grade level topics and texts in small and large groups.

Grade 1:

1.W.MCC.3.1  Explore multiple texts to write narratives that recount two or more sequenced events, include details, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure. 

1.W.L.4.5 Use adjectives and adverbs.

1.W.MC.1.4 Participate in shared conversations with varied partners about focused grade level topics and texts in small and large groups

Arts Standards

Anchor Standard 1: I can use the elements and principles of art to create artwork.

Anchor Standard 2: I can use different materials, techniques, and processes to make art.

Anchor Standard 3: I can improve and complete artistic work using elements and principles.

Anchor Standard 4: I can organize work for presentation and documentation to reflect specific content, ideas, skills, and or media

 

Key Vocabulary

Content Vocabulary

Narrative - A story or sequence of events and experiences. 

Adjective - Words that describe or modify another person or thing in the sentence. 

Illustration - A picture or diagram that helps make something clear or attractive. 

Arts Vocabulary

Line - A mark made by a pointed tool such as a brush, pen, or stick; a moving point

Color - One of the seven elements of art; it is created by light. There are three properties of color: Hue (name), value (shades and tints), and intensity (brightness)

Shape - A flat, enclosed area that has two dimensions, length and width

Texture - Describes the feel of an actual surface

 

Materials

  • Picture of artwork 
  • Pencil 
  • Paper 
  • Colored pencils/crayons/markers

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strategy

Project an image. In pairs, have students identify 10 things that they see in the image. Have students switch pairs and identify 10 more things that they see. Repeat one final time.  Reflect with the students on how the task became more difficult with each round.  Point out some examples in rounds 2 and 3 in which students began to include more detail, describing the attributes of what they saw (using adjectives).

 

Work Session

Process 

  • Start the lesson by reviewing adjectives. Using the image from the activator, name a few adjectives that can be seen in the image. Focus adjectives around the elements of art - color, types of lines and shapes, and texture.
  • Show students a work of art or illustration from a story. The illustration should be vivid and colorful if possible (not abstract). This will help the students identify many adjectives to use in describing the image. 
  • Older students will write their adjective on a sticky note. The teacher will ask students to take turns sharing their adjectives that describe the artwork. Students will place the sticky note on the board next to the image of the artwork. They will share where they see the adjective in the artwork when it’s their turn to put their sticky note on the board. For younger students, have them take turns coming up to the board and pointing out where they see the adjective that they used to describe the artwork. The teacher can write these words on the board. 
  • Next, have the students close their eyes and imagine what is happening in the picture. Ask the students the following questions to guide their imagination. 
    • Who are the people or objects in the artwork? 
    • What are the characters doing in the image? 
    • Where are the characters going? 
    • When did this happen? 
    • Have the students focus on Who, What, When, and Why as they will have to use their creativity and imagination to write a creative story using the artwork as a starting point. 
  • Explain that students will be writing a story based on the artwork. Students will fill out a graphic organizer to plan their story. Set a minimum number of adjectives that students should include in their story to make the story more interesting and capture the readers’ interest. 
  • Students will then generate drawings of their own to illustrate their stories.

Closing Reflection

Have students engage in small group story time. Students will share their stories and illustrations with each other. Students should use adjectives to describe each other’s stories and illustrations.

 

Assessments

Formative

  • Check for understanding through student discussion of artwork using adjectives and explaining where students see them. 
  • Creative story planning graphic organizer

 

Summative

Students will demonstrate mastery of learning concepts through their illustrations and creative stories based on original artwork.

 

Acceleration: 

Gifted Modifications and Extensions:  Follow steps 1-3 of the original lesson and then finish the lesson with these modifications: Give students a series of adjectives and have them create their own piece of artwork. When done creating their artwork, have the students close their eyes and imagine what is happening in the picture. They will then write an imaginative writing piece answering the questions who, what, when and where in their writing.  

Remediation: 

Follow steps 1 and 2. Next, using a graphic organizer, work as a group to name adjectives that describe the picture. Invite students to use the adjectives as they write or dictate sentences about the picture. 

*This integrated lesson provides differentiated ideas and activities for educators that are aligned to a sampling of standards. Standards referenced at the time of publishing may differ based on each state’s adoption of new standards.

Ideas contributed by: Greg Sena. Modifications, Extensions, and Adaptations Contributed by:  Peggy Barnes, Candy Bennett, Lindsey Elrod, Jennifer Plummer, and Vilma Thomas.  Reviewed by Debbie Frost. Updated by Susie Spear Purcell and Katy Betts

Revised and copyright:  August 2022 @ ArtsNOW

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Exploring Organisms with Crayon-resist Painting

EXPLORING ORGANISMS WITH CRAYON-RESIST PAINTING

EXPLORING ORGANISMS WITH CRAYON-RESIST PAINTING

Learning Description

Discover the world of organisms as students explore an art-making technique known as crayon-resist painting. Students will demonstrate their understanding of organisms, their structures and their needs through this unique style of painting.

 

Learning Targets

GRADE BAND: K-1
CONTENT FOCUS: Visual Arts & Science
LESSON DOWNLOADS:

Download PDF of this Lesson

"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can sort organisms into groups
  • I can identify similarities and differences between different types of organisms.
  • I can create a watercolor-resist painting that visually demonstrates an organism of my choice.

Essential Questions

  • What are the types of organisms?
  • How are organisms visually similar and different?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

Kindergarten:

SKL2: Students will compare the similarities and differences in groups of organisms.  a. Explain the similarities and differences in animals. (Color, size, appearance, etc.)  b. Explain the similarities and differences in plants. (Color, size, appearance, etc.)  

 

Grade 1: 

S1L1: Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about the basic needs of plants and animals.a. Develop models to identify the parts of a plant—root, stem, leaf, and flower.

  1. Ask questions to compare and contrast the basic needs of plants (air, water, light, and nutrients) and animals (air, water, food, and shelter).

Arts Standards

Kindergarten:

VAK.CR.1 Engage in the creative process to generate and visualize ideas by using subject matter and symbols to communicate meaning.

VAK.CR.2 Create works of art based on selected themes.

VAK.CR.3 Understand and apply media, techniques, and processes of two-dimensional art.

 

Grade 1: 

VA1.CR.1 Engage in the creative process to generate and visualize ideas by using subject matter and symbols to communicate meaning. 

VA1.CR.2 Create works of art based on selected themes. 

VA1.CR.3 Understand and apply media, techniques, and processes of two-dimensional art.

 

 

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

Kindergarten: 

Standard K.L.2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of organisms found in the environment and how these organisms depend on the environment to meet those needs. 

 

Grade 1: 

Standard 1.L.5: The student will demonstrate an understanding of how the structures of plants help them survive and grow in their environments.

 

 

Arts Standards

Anchor Standard 1: I can use the elements and principles of art to create artwork.

Anchor Standard 2: I can use different materials, techniques, and processes to make art.

Anchor Standard 7: I can relate visual arts ideas to other arts disciplines, content areas, and careers.

 

 

Key Vocabulary

Content Vocabulary

  • Plant - Any member of the kingdom Plantae, comprising multicellular organisms that typically produce their own food from inorganic matter by the process of photosynthesis 
  • Animal - Any member of the kingdom Animalia, comprising multicellular organisms that have a well-defined shape and usually limited growth, can move voluntarily, actively acquire food and digest it internally, and have sensory and nervous systems that allow them to respond rapidly to stimuli
  • Organism - Any individual living entity that can carry out life processes independently

Arts Vocabulary

  • Crayon-resist - The process of using an oil-based crayon or pastel as a drawing tool prior to covering with watercolor paint
  • Watercolor wash - A layer of watercolor that completely covers a surface and is translucent
  • Line - One of the seven Elements of Art; it is a mark made by a pointed tool such as a brush, pen or stick; a moving point
  • Shape - One of the seven Elements of Art; it is a flat, enclosed area that has two dimensions, length and width; artists use both geometric and organic shapes
  • Space - How the Elements of Art are organized in an artwork; it is used to create the illusion of depth; space can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, negative and/or positive
  • Contrast - An arrangement of opposite elements in a composition to create visual interest

 

Materials

    • Crayons (or oil pastels)
    • Watercolor paints 
    • Soft paint brushes 
    • Water cups 
    • Paper towels
    • Images of plants and animals 
    • Bristol board paper or watercolor paper
    • Digital artwork of Henri Rousseau  
    • Index card or small piece of blank paper
    • Pencils

     

     

    Instructional Design

    Opening/Activating Strategy

    • Students will draw their favorite type of animal on an index card. This should be a quick drawing. Ask a few students to share what their favorite animal is and why.
    • Ask a student to remind the class what an organism is. Explain that the animal that students drew is a type of organism.

     

    Work Session

      PRE-WORK: 

      • Have pictures of a plant and tree and two different types of animals for students to compare and contrast.
      • Create labels for types of organisms and post them on the walls.
      • Have pictures of the artwork of Henri Rousseau ready to show students.

       

      WORK SESSION: 

      • Begin by asking students to identify groups of organisms. 
        • Write them on the board. Under each type, ask students to list types of organisms that one could find in these groups.
        • Facilitate a discussion by asking students to discuss similarities and differences that may be found within these groups.  
      • Display a visual of a plant and a tree. 
        • Ask students to make the shape of a plant or tree with their arms. 
        • Then ask students to identify how the two organisms are similar and different. 
        • Next, display visuals of two animals and ask the same question. 
        • Discuss lines, shape and color of the different organisms.
        • Tell students that they are going to create a painting of an organism.  
      • Introduce the artwork of Henri Rousseau, folk artist, to students. 
        • Ask students to identify the organisms they recognize in the paintings.
        • Discuss similarities and differences between the organisms.   
      • Leaving the visuals projected for students to see, have students make a sketch of one of the organisms on a sheet of tag board or watercolor paper.
        Grade 1: Students should select a plant and focus on portraying how the structures of plants help them survive and grow in their environments and the needs of a plant.
        • Encourage students to use the whole page.
        • Using crayons, have students color in their picture going over all pencil lines. 
      • Introduce the process of crayon-resist painting and demonstrate the technique by drawing with crayons before applying wet watercolor wash on top.
        • Students will follow the teacher's example by painting on top of their crayon drawings using a “wash” technique with watercolor paints. The crayon will “resist” the watercolor.
        • Encourage students to use a contrasting color to the ones they used in their crayon drawing so that their artwork will stand out. This will create contrast and emphasis.

       

      Closing Reflection

      • Ask students to sort their artwork into categories of organisms by taping their artwork under the label of their group of organisms posted around the room.
      • Finally, students will discuss similarities and differences that can be observed between the groups of organisms depicted.

      Assessments

      Formative

      Teachers will assess students’ understanding by observing the discussion of the characteristics of groups and types of organisms and students’ ability to compare and contrast groups and types of organisms.

       

       

      Summative

      CHECKLIST: 

      • Students can sort organisms into groups.
      • Students can identify similarities and differences between different types of organisms.
      • Students can create a watercolor-resist painting that visually demonstrates an organism.

       

       

       

      Differentiation

      Acceleration:

      • Students will create a crayon-resist painting showing the needs of their chosen organism (water, light, etc.).
      • Students can write a description of their organism to accompany their artwork.

       

      Remediation:

      • Reduce the number of images of Rousseau’s artwork. Help the student label at least three organisms they can see in the painting. Ask the student to select one of the three organisms to draw.

       

      •  

       ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

       

      *This integrated lesson provides differentiated ideas and activities for educators that are aligned to a sampling of standards. Standards referenced at the time of publishing may differ based on each state’s adoption of new standards.

      Ideas contributed by: Darby Jones and Debi West. Updated by Debi West and Katy Betts.

      Revised and copyright:  May 2024 @ ArtsNOW

       

       
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      Famous African Americans and Visual Art 2-3

      FAMOUS AFRICAN AMERICANS AND VISUAL ART

      FAMOUS AFRICAN AMERICANS AND VISUAL ART

      Learning Description

      Explore the artist Jacob Lawrence and learn about his bold artistic style while studying the life of the famous American, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.*. Document history by creating a series of paintings to illustrate the struggles and triumphs of Dr. King just as Jacob Lawrence documented the important events in African American history.

      *This lesson can also be adapted to teach about the life of other important African American figures.

       

      Learning Targets

      GRADE BAND: 2-3
      CONTENT FOCUS: Visual Arts, Social Studies & ELA
      LESSON DOWNLOADS:

      Download PDF of this Lesson

      "I Can" Statements

      “I Can…”

      • I can identify important events in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life.
      • I can visually represent important events in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life using the style of Jacob Lawrence. 
      • I can describe the style of Jacob Lawrence’s artwork.

      Essential Questions

      • How can you use Jacob Lawrence’s style of painting to document the lives of historical figures?
      • Who is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and what are important events in his life?

       

      Georgia Standards

      Curriculum Standards

      Grade 2:

      Social Studies

      SS2H1 Describe the lives and contributions of historical figures in Georgia history. 

      1. Martin Luther King, Jr. (civil rights)

       

      ELA

      ELAGSE2W2 Write informative/explanatory texts in which they introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.

      Arts Standards

      Grade 2:

      VA2MC.3: Selects and uses subject matter, symbols, and/or ideas to communicate meaning.  

      VA2CU.2: Views and discusses selected artworks.  

      VA2PR.2: Understands and applies media, techniques, and processes of two-dimensional works of art (e.g., drawing, painting, printmaking, mixed media) using tools and materials in a safe and appropriate manner to develop skills.  

      VA2C.1: Applies information from other disciplines to enhance the understanding and production of artworks. 

       

      South Carolina Standards

      Curriculum Standards

      Grade 2:

      Social Studies

      Standard 1: Utilize the college and career skills of a historian to study the continuity and changes over time in the United States.

      2.H.1 Identify and compare significant historical events, moments, and symbols in U.S. history.

       

      ELA

      WRITING - Fundamentals of Writing

      Standard 2: Write informative/explanatory texts to examine and convey complex ideas and information clearly and accurately through the effective selection, organization, and analysis of content.

      2.1 Explore print and multimedia sources to write informative/explanatory texts that introduce a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.

      Arts Standards

      Anchor Standard 1: I can use the elements and principles of art to create artwork.

      Anchor Standard 2: I can use different materials, techniques, and processes to make art.

       

      Key Vocabulary

      Content Vocabulary

      • Narrative - A story or sequence of events and experiences
      • Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. - A prominent American civil rights leader, clergyman, and social activist who played a key role in the American civil rights movement

      Arts Vocabulary

      • Line - One of the seven Elements of Art; a mark made by a pointed tool such as a brush, pen or stick; a moving point

       

      • Shape - One of the seven Elements of Art; it is a flat, enclosed area that has two dimensions, length and width; artists use both geometric and organic shapes
      • Color - One of the seven Elements of Art; it is created by light; there are three properties of color: Hue (name), Value (shades and tints), and Intensity (brightness)
      • Primary Colors - A hue from which all other colors can be mixed: red, yellow, and blue

       

      • Secondary Colors - A hue mixed from two primary colors, such as orange, green, and purple
      • Neutral Colors - Black, white, gray, brown

       

      Materials

       

      Instructional Design

      Opening/Activating Strategy

      • Display one of Jacob Lawrence’s paintings on the board. 
      • Without giving students any information about the artwork, ask students to write a short description of what they think is going on in the painting. 
        • Students should explain what they see in the image that helped them come to this conclusion.
        • Allow students time to share with a partner.
        • Ask a few students to share their ideas with the class.
      • Tell students the name of the artist, name of the painting, and a description of what is going on. 
        • Ask students how their interpretations are similar or different to the actual description of the painting.

       

      Work Session

      • Tell students that they will be painting in the style of Jacob Lawrence in this lesson.
        • Lawrence is among the best-known twentieth century African American painters. 
        • Lawrence concentrated on depicting the history and struggles of African Americans.  
        • Lawrence used tempera paints. 
        • Direct students’ attention toward Lawrence’s use of vivid color, expressive style, flat shapes, use of entire space, and the series format to convey a story. 
        • Optional: 
          • Ask students to take turns coming up to the board and outlining the major shapes in different paintings.
          • Provide printed copies of one of the paintings; have students outline the major shapes in the painting.
        • Ask students how the description and the painting are connected just as an illustration in a book is connected to the text on the page.
      • Tell students they are going to become artists like Jacob Lawrence. As a class, they will create a series of paintings that depict the life of Dr, Martin Luther King, Jr. 
        • Use a graphic organizer to sequence the important events in his life. 
        • Next, instruct the students to do a simple sketch or illustration of each event.
        • Instruct the students to use pencil to make a sketch of their assigned event before painting. 
        • Remind students to:
          • Introduce their topic (the event) at the beginning of the paragraph 
          • Use facts and definitions that they learned from the lesson to inform the reader about the event
          • Describe how they showed those facts in their painting
          • Include a conclusion sentence
        • Read a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and discuss the life of Dr. King with the class. 
        • Arrange students into groups of two to three students. Assign each group an event in Dr. King’s life. 
        • Students will create a painting of the event in the style of Jacob Lawrence (remind students of Lawrence’s use of vivid color, line and geometric shape). 
        • After students finish painting, they will write a description of their painting on an index card describing what part of Dr. King’s life is pictured. 
      • Have students arrange the paintings in chronological order.
      • Display the paintings as a series that illustrates the life of Dr. King.   

      Classroom Tips: Cover students’ work area with butcher paper. Have students share paint and water supply on their work area. Fill 2 buckets with water--empty one by filling student water cups 1/3 full, then use it to dump dirty water in; the second bucket will be your fresh water supply as needed. 

       

      Closing Reflection

      • Allow students time to engage in a gallery walk to view all of the artworks. 
      • Facilitate a class discussion around how each group portrayed the event in the style of Jacob Lawrence.

       

      Assessments

      Formative

      Teachers will assess students’ understanding by observing students’ discussion of the style of Jacob Lawrence’s work and students’ identification and visual depiction of important events in Dr. King’s life.

       

      Summative

      CHECKLIST

      • Students can identify important events in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life.
      • Students can visually represent important events in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life through painting using the style of Jacob Lawrence.
      • Students can accurately describe and write about an event in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life using relevant details through a well-organized paragraph.

       

      Differentiation

      Acceleration:

      After reading the biography, students will research other events in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. using internet or library resources. Students will pick one event in his life to depict through a picture in the style of Jacob Lawrence. Once each student has created a picture, the student will write a paragraph describing the picture and the event. They will work together to create a chronological/numeric timeline to represent the events in the life of Dr. King.

      Remediation:

      ESOL Modifications and Adaptations: To prepare the ESOL students for the painting assignment, the ESOL teacher will read to students Story Painter: Life of Jacob Lawrence by John Duggleby and show how a series of paintings can tell a story. The ESOL teacher should also utilize photographs and images to help student comprehension when reading the biography of Dr. King (such as Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King).

      Special Education Modifications and Adaptations: Read an age appropriate book about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (such as Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King). The teacher will provide cards with pictures and text that describe the life of Dr. King based on the book of choice. Students will work as a group to sequence the cards in story order. Provide geometric shaped templates and straight edges for students to use as they draw pictures in the style of  Jacob Lawrence. Students will accompany drawings with one or two sentences that they write or dictate.

      ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

      • “Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life in Pictures.” CNN, www.cnn.com/interactive/2018/04/us/martin-luther-king-jr-cnnphotos/. Accessed 26 June 2023.

       

      *This integrated lesson provides differentiated ideas and activities for educators that are aligned to a sampling of standards. Standards referenced at the time of publishing may differ based on each state’s adoption of new standards.

      Ideas contributed by: Whitney Jones. Modifications, Extensions, and Adaptations Contributed by:  Peggy Barnes, Candy Bennett, Lindsey Elrod, Jennifer Plummer, and Vilma Thomas.  Reviewed by Michael Miller. Updated by Whitney Jones Snuggs and Katy Betts.

      Revised and copyright:  June 2024 @ ArtsNOW

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