ELEMENTARY ART LESSON
TWO FACES
Using Soviet Posters to Create Two Faced Monster Masks ART INSPIRATION
This lesson asks students to create two sided masks that represent two different emotions. Creating these masks will allow the students to express themselves through artwork. The lesson was inspired by the poster titled, Two Faces, found in the Art Institute of Chicago “Window on the War” exhibit.
EXEMPLAR SILLY and ANGRY Two Faces (1944) Sergei Nikolaevich Kostin and Samuil Iakovlevich Marshak 1365 x 1192 mm Stencil
MATERIALS Colored construction paper Scissors Glue sticks Paint stir sticks Markers
LINDSAY ABRAMO
Master of Arts in Teaching - School of the Art Institute of Chicago
S T U D E N T W O R K 4TH GRADE
Nathan Hale Elementary School 6140 S. Melvina Avenue, Chicago, IL 60638
Lindsay Abramo Lesson Plan TITLE: Two Faces: Using Soviet Posters to Create Two Faced Monster Masks GRADE LEVEL: Early Elementary TIMELINE: One 40-minute period DESCRIPTION: We all have days when we are sad, happy, silly, mad, or scared, but that doesn't mean that those emotions make us who we are. Using images from a poster displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago “Window on the War” exhibit, students will create two faced monsters. As a class we will discuss different ways of showing emotions in artwork. The students will create two faced monster masks that represent one emotion on each side of the mask using construction paper and popsicle sticks. They will use specific visual markers to represent these opposite characteristics. After they have created their monsters, each student will write or tell a story about their monsters that describes the different emotions on each side of their masks. By creating their own monster masks the students will be able to use artwork to represent different emotions. Essential Questions: • How can we recognize emotions? • What visual markers are used to represent these characteristics? • How can students make two sided masks? OBJECTIVES: • Students will be able to identify what elements of line, shape, color and texture portray the emotions of their masks • Students will safely and responsibly create their artwork using cut paper and glue • Students will be able to tell a story about the monster masks they created STATE GOALS: STATE GOAL 25: Know the language of the arts. A. Understand the sensory elements, organizational principles and expressive qualities of the arts. 25.A.1d Visual Arts: Identify the elements of line, shape, space, color and texture; the principles of repetition and pattern; and the expressive qualities of mood, emotion and pictorial representation. STATE GOAL 26: Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced. B. Understand processes, traditional tools and modern technologies used in the arts.
Lindsay Abramo - Elementary School Art Lesson Plan - Two Faced Monster Masks
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26.A.1e Visual Arts: Identify media and tools and how to use them in a safe and responsible manner when painting, drawing and constructing. STATE GOAL 27: Understand the role of the arts in civilizations, past and present. B. Understand how the arts shape and reflect history, society and everyday life. 27.B.1 Know how images, sounds and movement convey stories about people, places and times. MOTIVATION / ACTIVITIES: • The students will be shown the poster titled “Two Faces” from the “Window on the War” exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago. • The teacher will ask the children what they think is happening in the pictures and have them articulate their reasons for their responses. (Example: A lamb is on the left and a beast is on the right. We know that because the creature on the left looks soft and fluffy and creature on the right is bloody and has big teeth.) • The students will discuss the differences between the two sides of the image (How do you feel when you look at each image? What colors make you feel happy? What colors make you feel sad?). • The students will brainstorm different examples of emotions. They will also look at list of emotions paired with thumbnail photos of those expressions to help them come up with ideas. • After the students have chosen their two different emotions, they will create their own two sided monster masks to represent both of their chosen emotions. • The student will choose from pre-cut monster heads (paper cut in an oval shape) made out of brightly colored construction paper. Students will use cut paper, scissors, and glue sticks to decorate their masks (Examples will be shown). • Each mask must have two sides representing two different emotions and use at least three different colors (Examples will be shown). • When the students have finished decorating their masks, they will glue the two sides of their mask to a paint stir stick. • If the students have extra time, they can use markers to add details to their masks. • After completing the two faced monster masks, the student will write or tell a story about why they chose their emotions and explain how they represented them visually. CLOSURE: Student will share their story about the two faced monster masks with the group. ADAPTATIONS FOR EXCEPTIONAL STUDENTS: If students have trouble using scissors to cut their construction paper shapes, the students will have two alternative options. There will be pre-cut shapes available or they can choose to rip or tear the paper to decorate their masks.
Lindsay Abramo - Elementary School Art Lesson Plan - Two Faced Monster Masks
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MATERIALS: • Colored construction paper • Pre-cut shapes out of construction paper • Scissors • Glue sticks • Paint stir sticks • Markers ART INSPIRATION:
EXEMPLAR:
Two Faces (1944) Sergei Nikolaevich Kostin and Samuil Iakovlevich Marshak 1365 x 1192 mm Stencil
Silly
Angry
ASSESSMENT RUBRIC:
Child’s drawing meets the following criteria:
Rated 1-6 (six being the highest and one being the lowest)
Mask represents two different emotions Included details specific to their emotions Mask has at least three different colors Used media appropriately Worked throughout the period with care and focus
Lindsay Abramo - Elementary School Art Lesson Plan - Two Faced Monster Masks
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