Students learn how objects can represent an idea (or serve as symbols), and they focus on the Renaissance as a period in which artists often used symbols to tell a story or convey a message. During discussion, students learn how objects can serve as symbols, conveying specific meanings that an artist wants to share. While making art, they use symbols to create an artwork with personally significant meaning. Students finish with colored pencils.
Fun Days
“This is about the trip I took with my dad. I did the candy, and all the candy wrappers, to show that I had lots of fun and I got spoiled on my trip. I showed the cat by the couch, and I showed claw marks, because my dad gets scared when he sees her doing that, and I wanted to show that we did a few scary things when we were on our trip. I also showed that we went to the lake by the campsite, and that we saw a bunny, and I chose the plants to show that we were outside a lot.”
Scope & Sequence:
Lesson 1: Students are introduced to the ‘Drawing ABC’s’, then create a ‘Deck of Symbols’ that introduces them to 13th-16th century symbology.
Lesson 2: Students decide on a story or experience that they want to depict, and they brainstorm meaningful symbols for their image.
Lesson 3: Students take the story/symbols that they roughed out during lesson 2 and they create a drawing using them.
Lesson 4: In this lesson, student artists color their compositions using colored pencils. They have two days to complete.
Lesson 5: Allow a fifth day entirely for finishing and refining work.
(you can preview the first lesson in a project without enrolling by clicking on ‘lesson 1’ above).
Books & Media:
Lesson 2: (optional) The Clip Art Book : A Compilation of More Than 5,000 Illustrations and Designs by Gerard Quinn (Or use a similar book with line-based images for students to copy.)
Line, shape/form, color
…………………….
National Core Visual Art Standards:
VA:Cr1.1.3a, VA:Cr1.1.4a, VA:Cr1.1.5a, , VA:Cr2.3.5a, VA:Cr3.1.3a, VA:Cr3.1.5a,
VA:Re.7.1.5a, VA:Re.7.2.3a, VA:Re.7.2.4a, VA:Re.7.2.5a, VA:Cn11.1.3a, VA:Cn11.1.4a
Language Arts (potential of linkage to plays or studies on other Renaissance subject matter) Science (could look at the properties of the pigments that Renaissance artists used) Music (could connect to Renaissance music) Geography (could look at European culture and how it was influenced by location)
…………………….
Common Core Standards:
SL.3.1b, SL.4.1b, SL.5.1b, SL.3.1, SL.4.1c, SL.5.1c, SL.3.2, SL.3.4, SL.4.4, SL.4.5, SL.5.5, SL.3.6, W.4.1d, W.5.1d, W.3.2d
Enroll & Stream for Free
Enroll in the course & stream the content for free.
Enroll + Add Printable Lesson Plans
Enroll in the course + access printable lesson plans in your artroom .