'Altered Perception' Visual Art Lesson Plan

Project Title: ‘Altered Perception’ (40 minute lesson)

Target Grade:6thGrade

National Core Art Standard:

Anchor Standard 2:Organize and develop artistic ideas and work. Enduring Understanding:Artists and designers experiment with forms, structures, materials, concepts, media, and art-making approaches

VA: cr2.1.6a“Demonstrate openness in trying new ideas, materials, methods and approaches in making works of art and design.”

Materials (List of supplies needed, list everything):

-Paper

-Crayons

-Oil Pastels

-Markers

-Pencils

-Tape (Painters tape is preferable)

-Material to cover floor

-Thin cardboard

Intro (How will you begin the experience): (7 min)

Ask students if they have heard of the painter Michelangelo. Ask what they believe he is known for. Proceed to show students slides of Michelangelo’s work and life history while giving a brief overview of the Renaissance period. Focus in on the Sistine Chapel, the years it took and the way in which Michelangelo completed the ceiling painting. Ask students how difficult they believe it would be to paint and draw on their backs.Explain to them that they will be working the way Michelangelo did—lying down, looking at the “ceiling” above. Students are encouraged to create a work that interests them and it does not have to reflect the work of the renaissance period. Instead, we are focusing on the approach to the work.

Procedure (How will you guide the experience): (25 min)

Ask students to clear their seats and secure their paper to the bottom side of the table. Give them the option of securing a piece of cardboard to the bottom side of the table if the surface is uneven. Make sure students are able to access materials by supplying a box with pencils, oil pastels, markers and crayons to each student or pair of students depending on how close they are together. Provide a few reference images of general subjects, images or artists work and words that may invoke thought. Tell students they have 20-25 minutes to work and to enjoy the process and not to worry so much about what the work they are producing looks like.

· If a student is unable to lie down for the entirety of the lesson, they are encouraged to get up and move around, thinking on how Michelangelo might have felt.

· If a student is unable to lie on the ground for any extent of time, allow them to sit at the table normally and have them draw with one eye closed or with the opposite hand for a period of time as a way to change their perception of drawing in a ‘normal’ state

Closure (How will you bring the experience to an end): (8 min)

Ask students to stop, sit up and remove their artwork from the bottom side of the table. Have the students take a seat and regroup. Ask students what they noticed about the process. What thoughts struck them? Was it different that working on a flat surface they could lean a hand or arm against or an easel? Did they enjoy it? What surprised them about the process? Would they try it again? Did it generate a new type of creativity for them? Tell students to write their name on the back of their work and help with the clean up of materials.

Power Point Presentation:

https://prezi.com/view/sHj8djuURX9w4hZQu6qB/