Art Lessons
My goal when creating lessons plans is not only to educate children on the tools, techniques and famous pieces of the art world, but also to integrate enduring ideas that have lasting value beyond the classroom. I believe art has the potential to teach so much about the world around us and it gives children a safe place to express themselves. Below is a collection of lesson plans I’ve taught with K-12 and each one has real student examples.
- All
- Highschool
- Elementary
Collaborative Collages | Grade 2
This lesson emphasized working together as a team to brainstorm collaboratively, communicate effectively, and trust in each other’s ideas. Students worked in groups to make a collage together of a subject they planned and agreed on as a group. They also explored making texture with paint and using shapes to build a form.
The following day each table was given a collage that was not their own that they were tasked with adding to using cut paper and sharpie. Click to see more of the project and how amazing their collages turned out!
Risk Paintings | Grade 2
In this lesson students explored the question "When have you taken a risk and tried something new?" After a class discussion and sharing some ideas, students used wax crayons to illustrate the moment they tried a new thing. Once they were finished, everyone took a risk and painted over their drawings with watercolor. They experimented and found the wax resisted the watercolor and it didn't ruin their drawings. This project allowed them to reflect on experiences outside the room and try new things within the art room.
Taking risks and trying new things is essential to learning and growing. It teaches kids to try things and learn from it. Art in itself is risky and all about trying new tools, materials, and techniques. Click below to see the times students took a risk. They did an amazing job.
Stamp Portraits | Grade 9-12
In this lesson students learned how to create their own brushes in photoshop and visually create value in their work. Students achieved this by changing the opacity of their brush and putting their stamps closer or farther apart. They were challenged with choosing a celebrity to create entirely by stamping symbols that represent the person. During this lesson I encouraged them to use tools and shortcuts learned in previous lessons creatively to fit their current needs. Emphasis was placed on creating accurate values from their chosen pictures.
To the left is Tom Holland, who plays spider man, made entirely of spiders and webs. The highschoolers enjoyed being able to choose a person they were interested in.
Snack Package Design | Grade 9-12
In this lesson students used Photoshop and Illustrator to design their own snacks after analyzing real examples of their favorite food packages. They explored themes like the identity of the brand, the target audiences, font choices, and using various colors, pictures, or buzzwords to portray certain feelings. We discussed the psychology behind package designs and how they can influence what type of people your packaging attracts.
They were tasked with creating two flavors of their snack, using mood boards and sketches to plan, and putting the final designs into a photoshop mockup.
Animal Relief Prints | Grade 4
In this printmaking lesson students learned the process of relief printing by using a piece of foam to etch their drawings into creating a printing plate. They applied the colors of their choice with marker to the foam and pressed it onto damp paper. Inspiration was taken by various famous printmakers in history and the present.
Students used the process of trial and error to find the right balance of marker on their foam and water on their paper to get the print they wanted. Each student made at least four prints, but some had so much fun they did more!
Negative Space Logos | Grade 9-12
During this lesson students were challenged with creating a logo only in black and white using positive and negative space their designs. This project pushed them into idea generation and creatively choosing two objects to create that negative space effect. They made up their own company and brainstormed all the possible symbols and images associated with it. Students learned various tools and techniques to bring their designs to life. This was the first lesson of the class where they had to choose an appropriate font for their company brand.
After sketching multiple ideas, we had individual conversations about their strongest designs and then they put it together in Adobe Illustrator. These students really thought each of their designs through and had some fun with it.
Intro to Digital Illustration | Grade 9-12
In this intro to digital Illustration lesson students learned the basic tools and techniques to draw in Adobe Photoshop. Most of these students had little to no experience with this previously. They were taught how to look for highlights, midtones, and shadows as they laid down the basic colors. From there they were taught how to blend their values and how to visually see the shapes of color that make up an object.
There was a strong emphasis on looking back and forth between their object and their drawing to fine tune and really get those small details and textures that make it look real.
The Great Wave Sculptures | Grade 1-2
These 3D paper sculptures were inspired by the famous Japanese woodcut print "The Great Wave" by Hokusai. Class began with analyzing, responding to, interpreting meaning, and making critical judgments about the work. Then students were tasked with assembling their own Great Wave keeping sculptural techniques in mind.
Students had a lot of fun with this one and were really excited to make their own. Click below to see their great creations.
