WEATHER SOUNDSCAPE K-1

WEATHER SOUNDSCAPE

WEATHER SOUNDSCAPE

Learning Description

In this lesson, students will work collaboratively to create a weather soundscape depicting the sounds of a drizzle, rainshower, downpour, and thunderstorm.

 

Learning Targets

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

Download PDF of this Lesson

"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can create a weather soundscape.

  • I can ask questions and share observations to develop an understanding of patterns and variations in weather.

Essential Questions

  • How can we use our bodies and found sound as tools to create the sounds of weather?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 1: 

S1E1 Obtain, evaluate, and communicate weather data to identify weather patterns.

Arts Standards

Grade 1: 

ESGM1.CR.2 Compose and arrange music within specified guidelines.

 

ESGM1.PR.2 Perform a varied repertoire of music on instruments, alone and with others.

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

Kindergarten: 

K-ESS2-1. Use and share observations of local weather conditions to describe patterns over time.

Arts Standards

Anchor Standard 1: I can compose and arrange music.

 

Anchor Standard 4: I can play instruments alone and with others.

GM.P NL.4 I can make sounds with classroom instruments and other sound sources.

 

Key Vocabulary

Content Vocabulary

  • Weather - The condition of the air and atmosphere at a specific place and time, it includes factors like temperature, wind, humidity, and precipitation (like rain or snow)

 

  • Rain - Liquid water that falls from clouds to the ground; it forms when water vapor in the atmosphere condenses into droplets, which combine and grow heavy enough to overcome air resistance and fall due to gravity

 

  • Drizzle -  Light rain made up of very small water droplets that fall close together; it’s gentler than regular rain and usually feels misty

 

  • Rain shower - A short burst of rain that starts and stops quickly, it’s often heavier than drizzle but doesn’t last long

 

  • Downpour - A very heavy and sudden rain that falls quickly and can make it hard to see

  • Thunderstorm - A storm with thunder, lightning, and usually heavy rain; It happens when warm, moist air rises quickly and forms tall clouds; thunderstorms can also bring strong winds or hail

Arts Vocabulary

  • Unison - A single melody; all instruments or voices sing/play the same notes

  • Timbre - The distinctive quality of sounds; the tone color or special sound that makes one instrument or voice sound different from another

  • Dynamics - Loud and soft sounds; volume

  • Soundscape - A collection of sounds that create the feeling or mood of a place, event, or scene

  • Found sound - Any sound from everyday life, like a door closing, water running, or birds chirping, that is used to create music or tell a story in theater or art 

 

Materials

Rhythm sticks (if available), tin foil pans, items around the room that can make sounds

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strategy

  • Review weather vocabulary with students.
  • Ask the students to make a sound and/or body movement that reminds them of each word as each word is said again.
    • It may help to project an example of each weather word as it is said.

 

Work Session

  • Pass out a limited amount of supplies to students, such as rhythm sticks (if available), tin foil pans, pencils, etc. Explain that these will be students’ instruments for class.
  • Lead the class through a structured experimentation of the different sounds that they can create with the various materials. As the students experiment, discuss what weather words each of the sounds remind them of.
    • Have students experiment with playing quietly and loudly (dynamics).
    • Tell students that the different sounds that instruments make is called “timbre”.
  • Break students into partners or small groups. Give each group three weather words.
    • Each group will create a weather soundscape consisting of three different sounds to represent the three different types of weather using the materials available. 
      • Each sound should be performed in a sequence.
      • Groups can perform each sound in unison (all students perform all sounds) or can take turns performing their sounds (i.e. one person performs each sound).
  • Allow time for students to rehearse. Circulate to work with students and check for understanding.

 

Closing Reflection

  • Students will come to the rug and each group will perform their soundscape. 
  • The teacher will facilitate class discussion after each performance by asking the class which weather words they think the students performed and why they think that, how the timbre of each instrument sounded different and reflected the weather, were the sounds loud or soft (dynamics), did the group perform in unison or did each group member perform separately?
  • After all the groups perform, the students will reflect in their groups about what they liked about the soundscape they created and what they could have done differently. Students will share out.

 

Assessments

Formative

  • The teacher will observe: 
    • Student review of weather vocabulary and ability to connect sound to the meaning of the vocabulary words
    • Student experimentation with instruments
    • Student collaboration on creating the soundscape
    • Student responses to reflection questions

 

 

Summative

CHECKLIST: 

  • Can students create a soundscape with three distinct sounds representing three weather words?
  • Can the sounds reflect the type of weather? 
  • Can students explain how the performers used timbre and dynamics to express the different types of weather?

 

DIFFERENTIATION 

Accelerated: 

  • Have the students create a story to go with their soundscape. 
  • Incorporate rhythm and beat into the lesson.

Remedial: 

  • Create soundscapes for each type of weather together as a class. 
  • Reduce the number of weather words for their soundscape to one or two.

*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:  Erin Biddie and Katy Betts

Revised and copyright:  Jan 2025 @ ArtsNOW

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CELL TALK 6-8

CELL TALK

CELL TALK

Learning Description

In this lesson, students will become a part of a cell using their bodies and voices to become a particular part of the cell. After they create a character for an assigned part of a cell, students will pair up to create dialogue between the different parts of the cell. Cell Talk brings cells to life before students’ eyes. Through embodying the parts of animal and plant cells, students get an in depth understanding of their functions.

 

Learning Targets

GRADE BAND: 6-8
CONTENT FOCUS: THEATRE & SCIENCE
LESSON DOWNLOADS:

Download PDF of this Lesson

"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can accurately identify and describe my assigned cell type and part.

  • I can explain the role of my cell part.

  • I can portray my cell part using my body and voice.

  • I can write my Cell Talk dialogue demonstrating my understanding of the part and function of my assigned cell.

Essential Questions

  • How can theatre techniques be used to help us understand the parts of cells and their functions?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 7

S7L2. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to describe how cell structures, cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems interact to maintain the basic needs of organisms.

 

Arts Standards

Grade 7: 

TA7.CR.1 Organize, design, and refine theatrical work.

 

TA7.PR.1 Act by communicating and sustaining roles in formal and informal environments.

 

TA7.CR.2 Develop scripts through theatrical techniques.

 

TA7.CN.1 Explore how theatre connects to life experience, careers, and other content.

 

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 6

6-LS1-2. Develop and use a model to describe the function of a cell as a whole and ways the parts of cells contribute to the function.

 

Arts Standards

Anchor Standard 1: I can create scenes and write scripts using story elements and structure.

 

Anchor Standard 3: I can act in improvised scenes and written scripts.

Anchor Standard 8: I can relate theatre to other content areas, arts disciplines, and careers.

 

 

Key Vocabulary

Content Vocabulary

  • Animal Cell - Animals are made up of these cells. They are round and do not have a cell wall.

  • Plant Cell - Rectangular with a cell wall. They make up all plants.
  • Cell - The smallest unit of an organism that can carry on life functions
  • Mitochondria - Cell organelle that breaks down food into energy. It gives and stores energy.
  • Vacuole - Stores water and nutrients for the cell
  • Organelle - A tiny cell structure that carries out a specific function within the cell
  • Tissue - A group of similar cells that perform the same function
  • Organ - Groups of tissues that work together
  • Chlorophyll - A green chemical in plant cells that allow plants to use sun energy for making food
  • Ribosomes - The complex of RNA and protein molecules that can be found either floating freely or attached to the surface of rough endoplasmic reticulum
  • Nucleus - Organelle that controls all the activities of a cell; the cell's control center
  • Cell membrane - A thin, flexible barrier around a cell, it protects the cell while allowing food and waste to enter and leave the cell
  • Cell Wall - A protective outer covering that lies just outside the cell membrane
  • Cytoplasm - A liquid that fills the plant and animal cells. It is jelly-like and holds all the parts in place.
  • Nucleus - Part in both cells that controls the cell like a brain
  • Chloroplast - A structure that contains chlorophyll and is found in plant cells; uses energy from sunlight to make energy rich food

Arts Vocabulary

  • Dialogue - A conversation between two or more persons

  • Scene - A single situation or unit of dialogue in a play
  • Theater - Dramatic literature or its performance; drama
  • Character - A person, an animal or other figure assuming human qualities, in a story

 

  • Voice – An actor’s tool, which we shape and change to portray the way a character speaks or sounds

  • Body – An actor’s tool, which we shape and change to portray the way a character looks, walks, or moves

 

Materials

  • Cell Visuals (half the class needs the plant cell diagram, the other half needs the animal cell diagram. Each visual should have one part circled.) 
  • Lined paper 
  • Pencils

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strategy

  • Start with a general physical warm-up to get the students' bodies ready. Use exercises such as:
    • Stretching: Stretch all major muscle groups.
    • Shaking Out Limbs: Shake out arms, legs, and the whole body to release tension.
    • Energy Passes: Stand in a circle and pass a clap or a simple motion around to build group focus and energy.
  • Explain that students will explore different characters with their bodies by changing their movements. Encourage them to think about how their character’s age, status, mood, and personality influence their movement.
    • Begin with simple prompts to get students thinking about different ways to move. Call out various types of characters and ask students to walk around the space embodying those characters. Examples include:
      • An elderly person with a cane
      • A proud soldier
      • A sneaky thief
      • A graceful dancer
  • Next, ask students to use their voices to introduce their characters. Have students use their voices and bodies to introduce themselves to a neighbor.
  • Have students return to their seats.

Work Session

  • Review animal and plant cells with students.
    • Talk about their parts and the function of each part.  
    • With a neighbor, ask students to create a movement and sound for each cell part. The movement/sound should reflect the function of each part.
      • Provide partners to share with another partner.
  • Creating cell characters:
    • Hand out diagrams of plant and animal cells. Each student should get one cell diagram. Each diagram should have one part circled on it.  
    • Ask the student to write down the type of cell that is pictured on their visual and the name of the circled part of the cell.
    • Ask the students to study the circled part of their pictured cell and write down the following:
      • What shape are you?  
      • What size are you?  
      • What color are you?  
      • What is your job?  
      • Give your cell part a personal name (i.e., Vicky Vacuole).
      • Ask students to use their body and a sound/voice to become their cell part.  
    • Ask students to introduce themselves all at the same time using a voice different from their own voice.  
    • Now, go around the room and ask volunteers to introduce themselves to the rest of the class.  
  • Creating Cell Talk:
    • Pair students up to represent two different parts of the same cell (animal or plant).  
    • Ask them to introduce themselves as the cell part to each other and tell about themselves and their function based on the list above.
    • Ask students to imagine that they are inside the cell and that they bump into each other. Ask students what would they talk about?  
    • Tell students to introduce themselves to each other. Then, they should talk about what they do for the cell and why they are so important to its survival.
      • Remind students to make sure that they talk about which type of cell they are a part of–plant or animal.
    • Next, have students write their conversation down as a scene using dialogue.

 

Closing Reflection

  • Students will perform their scenes for the class. Discuss appropriate audience etiquette and participation prior to performances.
  • After each performance, have students discuss how the actors represented their part of the cell through dialogue.

 

Assessments

Formative

Teachers will assess students’ understanding of the content throughout the lesson by observing students’ participation in the activator; discussion of the types of cells, their parts, and their roles; improvised dialogue; and conferencing with students during the writing process.

 

 

Summative

CHECKLIST

  • Students can accurately identify and describe their assigned cell type and part. 
  • Students can explain the role of their cell part.
  • Students can portray their cell parts using their bodies and voice.  
  • Students can write their cell talk dialogue demonstrating their understanding of the parts of their assigned cell.

 

 

DIFFERENTIATION 

Acceleration: 

  • Have students write a monologue for their cell part introducing themselves and explaining their role and importance.
  • Have students create a scene using dialogue with multiple students representing multiple cell parts.

Remediation: 

  • Scaffold the lesson by modeling the improvised scene with another student.
  • Provide a dialogue graphic organizer or sentence starters to help students structure their writing.

 

*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: Susie Spear Purcell. Updated by Katy Betts.

Revised and copyright: June 2024 @ ArtsNOW

Back to Modules

BE ONE WITH THE WATER 6

BE ONE WITH THE WATER

BE ONE WITH THE WATER

Learning Description

Students will explore states of matter and the water cycle by bringing water to life with their bodies. By enacting the changes that water molecules experience, students will learn scientific information kinesthetically.

 

Learning Targets

GRADE BAND: 6
CONTENT FOCUS: THEATRE & SCIENCE
LESSON DOWNLOADS:

Download PDF of this Lesson

"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can explain the stages of the water cycle, how molecules behave in each state, and how I showed this using my body.
  • I can use my body to enact the different states of matter.
  • I can explain how energy impacts changes in states of matter.

Essential Questions

  • How can the process of acting increase comprehension of states of matter and the water cycle?
  • How does energy relate to changes in states of matter?
  • What are the stages of the water cycle?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 6:

S6E3. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to recognize the significant role of water in Earth processes.

 

  1. Plan and carry out an investigation to illustrate the role of the sun’s energy in atmospheric conditions that lead to the cycling of water. (Clarification statement: The water cycle should include evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, infiltration, groundwater, and runoff.)

Arts Standards

Grade 6:

TA6.PR.1 Act by communicating and sustaining roles in formal and informal environments.

 

TA6.CN.1 Explore how theatre connects to life experience, careers, and other content.

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 6:

6-ESS2-4. Develop a model to describe the cycling of water through Earth’s systems driven by energy from the sun and the force of gravity.

Arts Standards

Anchor Standard 3: I can act in improvised scenes and written scripts.

Anchor Standard 8: I can relate theatre to other content areas, arts disciplines, and careers.

 

Key Vocabulary

Content Vocabulary

  • Water cycle - A continuous process by which water moves through the Earth's atmosphere, surface, and underground
  • Evaporation - Water from oceans, rivers, lakes, and other bodies of water turns into water vapor due to the heat from the sun. This also includes transpiration from plants, where water is absorbed by roots from the soil and released as vapor from the leaves.
  • Condensation - The water vapor rises into the atmosphere and cools, forming tiny droplets that gather to create clouds. This process changes water vapor back into liquid or solid form, such as droplets or ice crystals.
  • Precipitation - When these droplets or ice crystals become too heavy, they fall to the Earth's surface as precipitation, which can be in the form of rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
  • Infiltration - Some of the water that reaches the ground seeps into the soil, replenishing groundwater supplies
  • Runoff - Water that doesn't infiltrate the ground flows over the surface and collects in bodies of water such as rivers, lakes, and oceans. This water will eventually evaporate and continue the cycle.

 

  • Sublimation - In colder regions, snow and ice can change directly into water vapor without melting first, contributing to the water vapor in the atmosphere.
  • Deposition - The reverse of sublimation, where water vapor changes directly into ice without becoming liquid first, often forming frost

Arts Vocabulary

  • Theater - Dramatic literature or its performance; drama
  • Character - A person, an animal or other figure assuming human qualities, in a story

 

  • Voice – An actor’s tool, which we shape and change to portray the way a character speaks or sounds

 

  • Body – An actor’s tool, which we shape and change to portray the way a character looks, walks, or moves
  • Improvisation - A creation that is spoken or written without prior preparation

 

Materials

  • Sound source and music
  • Masking tape

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strategy

  • Ask students what a sound effect is. Ask a couple of students to demonstrate examples of sound effects like a car engine.
  • Next, tell students that they will be using their voices and bodies to create sound effects responding to the teacher’s prompts. Set noise level and movement guidelines for students before beginning.
  • Tell students:
  • “Make the sound of water droplets hitting the ground. Is it rain, a hose, a sprinkler, a spilled glass? You decide.”
  • “Now make the sound of ice hitting something. Is it an ice storm, or ice in a glass from an ice maker or ice tray? Is it hail? You decide.”
  • “Now make the sound of water as a gas. Is it steam from a boiling pot of water? Rain evaporating off of concrete after a storm? You decide.”
      • Debrief the activity with students. Ask them why some states of matter are easy to add sound to and some are not.
    • Tell students that now they will use their bodies to enact the different states of matter.
  • Teacher note: Because students may come in physical contact with each other  during the activity, set parameters and expectations for student behavior prior to the activity.
    • Process:
      • Direct students’ attention to the large square on the floor made with masking tape.
      • Liquid State: Ask your students to come into the middle of the space and get as close together as they can while still being able to move around freely amongst one another.  Students should stay in the middle of the space. Ask students how their movement is like a liquid state.
      • Solid State:  Tell your students that you will be taking away energy from the group.  Ask students what they think should happen when they lose energy. (The group will not be able to move as much, moving slower and slower, eventually ceasing movement.)
      • Gaseous State:  Now tell your students that you will begin pumping energy into the square. The students will be able to move again without holding onto each other. Note that so much energy may enable some of the students to bounce out of the square, and eventually all of the students will be able to go anywhere in the room (they will not be contained by the square anymore).  Remind students that if they "bump into" anything (stress that they should not really crash) they will bounce off in a new direction.
      • Comment on the fact that the group has expanded to fill all of the available space.
      • Ask students what the square might represent (a container) and why they were not confined to it when they changed into a gaseous state (students should think about a pot of boiling water).
    • Facilitate a discussion around the following questions:
      • “What was each state?”
        • Moveable but contained in the shape
        • Not moveable in the shape
        • Bouncing all over, not contained to the shape
      • “What else do you know that has these three states?”

 

Work Session

  • Tell students that they will be using a similar process to enact the water cycle.
  • Tell students to find their own space in the room.
  • Ask the students to describe some places where water is on the earth.  Tell students that when the music starts, they should become bodies of water when the music starts. They can be the ocean, a river, a pond, a puddle, etc.
    • Remind students of the physical shape of water–flat, low, etc.
    • Start music and allow students to move like water.
    • After a few minutes, ask the students to begin letting their water evaporate. Tell students to show the water evaporating, think about where it goes, and show how it rises up.
    • Remind students that if they are a droplet now, move lightly as a droplet would, using their whole bodies.
    • Now ask the students to imagine that they are rising as the water evaporates.
    • As they get higher the air is cooler and the water starts to condense.
    • Ask students to try to move more strongly, contracting as they come more solid.
    • Ask students to squeeze themselves into a cloud that keeps changing shape.
    • Now ask students to work together to become bigger and bigger clouds.
    • Next, ask students to imagine that their cloud has become so heavy that the vapor turns into rain.
    • Ask students to become the rain with their bodies. Are they big droplets? Or a steady spring rain? Remind students to use their whole bodies, including fingers, toes, etc.
    • Now ask students to become a body of water again. Make it a different body of water than before.
    • Repeat the process, altering the size of the cloud or type of precipitation, etc.
  • Debrief the activity with students. Ask students how they changed their bodies based on what state of matter they represented.

 

Closing Reflection

Students should write a reflection on the process, explaining the stages of the water cycle, how molecules behave in each state, and how they showed this using their bodies. This reflection can be done in students’ STEAM journals if they use one.

 

Assessments

Formative

Teachers will assess students’ understanding of the content throughout the lesson by observing students’ participation in the activator, ability to demonstrate various states of matter using their bodies, ability to enact the water cycle using their bodies, and ability to explain their movement choices.

Look for students who seem to be copying other students’ movements and not creating their own, this may indicate a lack of understanding.

 

Summative

CHECKLIST

  • Students can explain the stages of the water cycle, how molecules behave in each state, and how they showed this using their bodies.
  • Students can use their bodies to enact the different states of matter.
  • Students can explain how energy impacts changes in states of matter.

 

Differentiation

Acceleration: Challenge students to write a scene that incorporates dialogue in which each state of matter is personified. Students should create a character profile for each state of matter–this will include adding voice qualities and personalities to each state of matter. Students can then act out the scene.

Remediation: 

  • Use pictures and videos to help students understand how molecules behave in the different states.
  • Break students into small groups. Have them create the scene in which they demonstrate the water cycle in their groups instead as a whole class. This will allow the teacher to identify and work more closely with students who are struggling.

 

*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: Mary Gagliardi and Katy Betts.

Revised and copyright:  June 2024 @ ArtsNOW

Back to Modules

EXPLORING WAVELENGTHS THROUGH OP ART 6-8

EXPLORING WAVELENGTHS THROUGH OP ART

EXPLORING WAVELENGTHS THROUGH OP ART

Learning Description

In this visual arts integrated lesson, students will understand and demonstrate the concept of wavelengths by creating Op Art using line and color.

 

Learning Targets

GRADE BAND: 6-8
CONTENT FOCUS: VISUAL ARTS & SCIENCE
LESSON DOWNLOADS:

Download PDF of this Lesson

"I Can" Statements

“I Can…”

  • I can describe the style of Op Art.
  • I can demonstrate wavelengths and amplitudes in the style of Op Art using the element of line.
  • I can use complementary color schemes to create contrast.

Essential Questions

  • What is Op Art?
  • How can I use the element of line to demonstrate wavelengths and amplitudes in the style of Op Art?
  • How does using a complementary color scheme in art create contrast?

 

Georgia Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 8

S8P4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information to support the claim that electromagnetic (light) waves behave differently than mechanical (sound) waves.

Arts Standards

Grade 8

VA8.CR.1 Visualize and generate ideas for creating works of art. 

 

VA8.CR.2 Choose from a range of materials and/or methods of traditional and contemporary artistic practices to plan and create works of art.

 

VA8.CR.3 Engage in an array of processes, media, techniques, and/or technology through experimentation, practice, and persistence.

 

VA8.CR.4 Incorporate formal and informal components to create works of art.

 

South Carolina Standards

Curriculum Standards

Grade 6

6-PS4-2. Develop and use a model to describe that waves are reflected, absorbed, or transmitted through various materials.

 

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

  • Electromagnetic waves - A form of energy that moves through space in the form of varying electric and magnetic fields; it doesn’t rely on any medium and can travel through a vacuum
  • Mechanical waves - A type of wave that moves through a material medium, transferring energy by causing particles in the medium to oscillate or vibrate as the wave travels

 

  • Amplitude - The height or "size" of a wave from its resting position
  • Peak - The highest point or the topmost part of the wave
  • Trough - The lowest point or the bottommost part of the wave
  • Wavelength - The distance between the peaks (or troughs) of a wave

Arts Vocabulary

  • Line - One of the elements of art, the path of a moving point
  • Color - One of the elements of art, light reflected or absorbed
  • Complementary colors - Colors that are across from each other on the color wheel
  • Op Art - An art movement of the 1960’s; this movement used optical illusions to create abstract art
  • Optical illusion - A visual that plays a trick on the eye
  • Abstract art - Art that does not resemble something in the real world
  • Composition - How the artist arranges the elements of art in an artwork

 

Materials

    • White paper
    • Markers
    • Pencils
    • Rulers
  • Acceleration option - colored pencils

 

Instructional Design

Opening/Activating Strategy

  • Project the artwork, Cataract 3 by Bridget Riley (alternate artwork–Arrest 3 by Bridget Riley). 
  • In small groups, students should make observations about the artwork. 
    • Students should identify as many characteristics of the artwork as they can. Examples could include that it has wavy horizontal lines, it is mostly black and white, it appears three-dimensional, etc.
    • Facilitate a discussion about what students observed.
  • Next, have students make associations about the artwork in their small groups–what does it make them think of?
  • Facilitate a group discussion about the associations that students make.
  • Tell students that the artist, Bridget Riley, is one of the most famous artists associated with the art movement of the 1960’s, Op Art. Artwork in this movement is abstract (does not resemble the real world) and creates optical illusions.

 

Work Session

    • Explain to students that they will create an artwork in the style of Op Art that represents different wavelengths.
    • Review electromagnetic and mechanical waves with students. Look at diagrams of waves. Review specific terms related to waves such as peak, amplitude, and wavelength. 
    • Tell students that line is one of the seven elements of art. Ask students if they can see how a line is used to represent wavelength. 
    • If students have learned how to calculate wavelength, review this concept before moving on.
      • Distribute a set of criteria for a wavelength–this could be specific measurements that they use to calculate wavelength if students have learned this, or it could be specific measurements of a wavelength. Students will use the criteria to create their Op Art.
      • First, students should turn their paper landscape style (wide).
      • Second, using their understanding of the amplitude of their wave, each student should use a ruler to mark the both sides of their paper with the amplitude of the wave. 
        • For example, if the amplitude is represented by .5 inches, students should make horizontal lines that are .5 inches apart on their paper.
      • Third, students should determine the wavelength. Students should use a ruler to mark the wavelength at the top and bottom of their paper; then, students should connect the marks to create vertical lines. 
      • Fourth, using these horizontal and vertical lines as a guide, students should draw their waves in pencil. 
      • Finally, show students a color wheel. Explain to students that colors opposite each other on the color wheel are called complementary colors. Using complementary colors creates contrast, which is one of the characteristics of Op Art.
        • Students should select a complementary color scheme to use for their artwork. Students should fill in the space between their waves using alternating colors. 
      • Allow students time to create their artwork.

       

      Closing Reflection

      • Students should describe in written form what their waves show. 
      • Students should then get into small groups to observe others’ artwork. Students should be able to identify characteristics of the waves in their classmates’ artwork.

       

      Assessments

      Formative

      Teachers will assess students’ understanding by observing whether students are able to explain what Op Art is, how line and color are used in Op Art, and whether students are able to explain waves and what a visual of a wavelength shows.

       

      Summative

      CHECKLIST

      • Students can accurately show the criteria of the wave provided to them in their artwork.
      • Students can use a complementary color scheme in their own Op Art.
      • Students can explain what their individual wavelengths mean. For example, a long wavelength will mean sound will carry farther.
      • Students can identify which characteristics in their artwork demonstrate Op Art.

       

      DIFFERENTIATION 

      Acceleration: 

      • Students can create three small pieces of Op Art using three different wavelength and amplitude criteria and three different color schemes.
      • Students can study how the element of Value (the lightness or darkness of something) creates the illusion of form. Students can then explore how incorporating lighter values on the peaks and troughs with colored pencil furthers the illusion.
      • Students can explore other types of Op Art on Tate Kids.

       

      Remediation: 

      • Provide pre-measured paper for students so that they are only drawing and coloring the wavelengths. Have students use a ruler to measure the amplitude and discuss what the wavelengths show.
      • Provide a visual diagram of a wavelength with labeled parts.
      • Allow students to orally explain what their artwork shows.
      • Allow students to make an artwork inspired by wavelengths rather than using precise measurements. Students should explain how their artwork shows the characteristics of waves (peak, trough, length, amplitude, etc.).

       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: Katy Betts

      Revised and copyright:  May 2024 @ ArtsNOW

       

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      CREATING ATMOSPHERIC ART: EXPLORING HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS

      CREATING ATMOSPHERIC ART:
      EXPLORING HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS

      CREATING ATMOSPHERIC ART: EXPLORING HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS

      Learning Description

      In this lesson, students will demonstrate the characteristics of high and low-pressure systems in weather patterns by creating artwork using color, repetition, placement, and movement.

       

      Learning Targets

      GRADE BAND: 6-8
      CONTENT FOCUS: VISUAL ARTS & SCIENCE
      LESSON DOWNLOADS:

      Download PDF of this Lesson

      "I Can" Statements

      “I Can…”

      • I can use color, repetition, placement, and movement in art to demonstrate the characteristics of high and low-pressure systems in weather patterns.
      • I can explain how air particle density and air pressure impact weather patterns.

      Essential Questions

      • How can I use color, repetition, placement, and movement in art to demonstrate the characteristics of high and low-pressure systems in weather patterns?
      • How does air particle density and air pressure impact weather patterns?

       

      Georgia Standards

      Curriculum Standards

      Grade 6

      S6E4. Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how the sun, land, and water affect climate and weather.

      Arts Standards

      Grade 6

      VA6.CR.1 Visualize and generate ideas for creating works of art.

       

      VA6.CR.2 Choose from a range of materials and/or methods of traditional and contemporary artistic practices to plan and create works of art.

       

      VA6.CR.3 Engage in an array of processes, media, techniques, and/or technology through experimentation, practice, and persistence.

       

      VA6.CR.4 Incorporate formal and informal components to create works of art.

       

      South Carolina Standards

      Curriculum Standards

      Grade 6

      6-ESS2-5. Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for how the motions and complex interactions of air masses result in changes in weather conditions.

      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

      • Low pressure system - An area where the air pressure is lower than the surrounding areas; usually associated with cloudy weather
      • High pressure system - An area where the air pressure is higher than the surrounding areas; usually associated with sunny weather
      • Air particle density - The number of particles in a specific volume of air; high density means more particles, low density means fewer

      Arts Vocabulary

      • Warm colors - Yellow, orange, red
      • Cool colors - Purple/violet, blue, green
      • Movement - One of the principles of design; it is the way artists create the illusion of motion; it is the way artists use the elements of art to move the viewer’s eye through the artwork
      • Placement - Where artists choose to place the elements of art in an artwork
      • Repetition - One of the principles of design; the repeated use of an element in an artwork

       

      Materials

      • White paper
      • Markers/colored pencils OR tempera paint and paintbrushes

       

      Instructional Design

      Opening/Activating Strategy

        • In small groups, students should make observations about the artwork. Students should identify as many characteristics of the artwork as they can. Examples could include that it has dots, repetition, shades of red, etc.
      • Facilitate a discussion about what students observed.
      • Next, have students make associations about the artwork in their small groups–what does it make them think of?
        • Facilitate a group discussion about the associations that students made.
      • Tell students the name of the artword and the artist. Ask students why they think Kusama named the artwork Sunlight.
        • Display a color wheel. Ask students what the warm colors are and what connection that might have to the title Sunlight.
      • Show students other examples of Kusama’s artwork. Ask students to discuss what is similar and different about the artwork. Students should notice that Kusama uses dots throughout most of her artwork.
      • Ask students where they see repetition in her artwork.
      • Tell students that another principle of design is movement. Movement can mean real physical movement, but it can also represent how the artist wants the viewer’s eyes to travel through the artwork.

      Show students Sunlight by Yayoi Kusama again. Ask them where they see movement in this artwork (radiating sunlight).

       

      Work Session

      • Explain to students that they will be creating two artworks–one that demonstrates a high pressure system and one that demonstrates a low pressure system.
      • Review (or teach) students about both systems, warm and cold air density, and why high pressure systems result in sunny weather and why low pressure systems result in cloudy/rainy weather.
      • Students’ artwork should use dots, like Kusama, to represent air particles.
        • Students’ artwork should visualize warm and cool air particles using warm and cool colors.
        • They should use placement of their dots to show that warm air is less dense than cool air.
        • They should also use placement to represent where warm and cool air particles are positioned depending on the type of weather (sunny or cloudy).
      • To make their artwork more visually engaging and interesting, project Starry Night and Sunlight on the board again. Since air particles move, ask students to think about how they could show movement in their artwork.
      • If students are using markers or colored pencils, they will draw dots to represent air particles. If they are using tempera paint and paint brushes, students will “spatter paint” their air particles.
        • Demonstrate low-mess splatter paint techniques: After dipping the paintbrush in paint, tap the handle of the paintbrush on the opposite hand with the bristles over the paper OR flick the bristles of the paintbrush with thumb.

       

      Closing Reflection

      • Students should complete their work by writing a summary explaining how they showed both types of systems using placement and movement to show density and the type of system and how they used color to show air temperature.
      • Conduct a gallery walk. Students should be able to determine which artwork shows a low pressure system and which shows a high pressure system.

       

      Assessments

      Formative

      Teachers will assess student understanding by observing whether students are able to identify how artists show movement, identify repetition in art, and explain high and low pressure systems.

       

      Summative

      CHECKLIST

      • Students can use color to represent air particle temperature.
      • Students can use placement and movement to represent where warm and cool air particles are positioned depending on the type of weather and to visually demonstrate air particle density.
      • Students can explain how they showed both types of systems using placement, movement and color.
      • Students can explain both high and low pressure systems.

       

      DIFFERENTIATION 

      Acceleration: Students can create a similar artwork that shows how changes in air pressure create hurricanes, tornadoes, and thunderstorms.

      Remediation: 

      • Students should select either a high or low pressure system for their artwork.
      • Allow students to work with a partner.
      • Allow students to orally explain how they used color, placement and movement in their artwork to visualize each system.

       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: Katy Betts

      Revised and copyright: May 2024 @ ArtsNOW

       

      Back to Modules