Unit of Study
Title: “Portraits in Time”
Topic Area: Fine Arts
Grade Level: 9-12
Time Frame: 2- 3 weeks
Key Words: portrait, expressive, composition,
balance, unity, movement, emphasis, photography, Photoshop, crop, value scale,
shading, crosshatching, Michaelangelo, Dorothea Lange
Unit Designer: Kristi Schultz
Unit Designer E-mail: kristi.schultz@k12.sd.us
School District: Menno Public School
Date Added: 7/30/02
Date Last Revised: 7/31/02
Peer Reviewer: Audrey Larson
Peer Reviewer E-mail: audrey.larsen@k12.sd.us
SD Content Standard Goals (SD Content Standards):
VISUAL
ARTS STANDARDS
SD content Standard Indicators:
No Indicators given in the Visual Arts.
SD Content Standard Benchmarks:
This unit will include the following standards and benchmarks.
STANDARD ONE: (see above)
Benchmarks: for students grades 9-12
STANDARD TWO: Students will understand the media, techniques and processes used in the production of visual arts
Benchmarks: for students grades 9-12
STANDARD THREE:
Students will understand the relationship between visual arts and
history, culture, and society.
Benchmarks for students
grades 9-12
STANDARD FOUR: Students will demonstrate a capacity for critical and sensitive response to various visual arts experiences
Benchmarks for students grades 9-12
*Aesthetic criteria: standards used for assessing the effectiveness of fine art forms. These may include the quality of physical perception, emotional makeup of the participant, and the context in which the particular art form is being experienced.
Other Content Standards:
Technology
STANDARD SEVEN
Students will develop an understanding of the influence of technology on history.
STANDARD TEN
Students will develop an understanding of the role of troubleshooting, research and development, inventing and innovation, and experimentation in problem solving.
STANDARD SEVENTEEN
Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use information communication technologies.
Brief Summary of Unit:
Students will use the internet to research two artists from two very different time periods – Michaelangelo (Renaissance painter and sculptor), and Dorothea Lange (a modern photographer). I will use my power point presentation to introduce these artists, their philosophies, influences, and discuss with the students what they have learned through their research. They should be able to recognize these two artists by their work, and understand how they influenced history at the time. Students will use a digital camera to take portraits of each other or strangers to create a collage with an expressive theme, using Photoshop, paint, draw or other digital means to alter their images. They will also incorporate more traditional media, (such as pastels, colored pencil, ink, charcoal etc.) to unify the composition through color and texture, creating a mixed media collage.
Students will Understand:
Students will understand that artists throughout time have influenced history, society and culture. Students will recognize the work of Michaelangelo and Dorothea Lange and understand how they influenced history or society.
Indeed artists continue to influence us today, in how we perceive past cultures, and how we view the world around us in today’s global society. Students will see the impact of photography as a medium, which has influenced the world dramatically. They will experience the joy of the creative process – experimenting with various media, and inventing new ways to combine different elements together.
Essential Questions to Guide this Unit and Focus Teaching and Learning:
Who was Dorothea Lange?
What did she do to initiate social change?
Who commissioned her work, and why?
Who was Michaelangelo?
Who commissioned his work, and why?
How did Michaelangelo influence history?
How did the invention of photography change history?
How has the invention of digital photography and technology such as Photoshop changed the medium of photography?
Which type of medium are you more comfortable with – digital or actually applying color texture, or creating images directly with traditional media like colored pencil, charcoal or pastels?
Key Knowledge and Skills Students will Acquire:
Students will recognize and identify at least two key works by Michaelangelo and Dorothea Lange.
Students will know how Michaelangelo and Dorothea Lange have influenced society during their lives.
Students will give examples of how photography has changed the world.
Students will give examples of how technology has changed photography.
Students will speculate or predict how new technology will influence or change the world in the future.
Students will use digital cameras to take interesting portraits of people, and use Photoshop, Paint or Draw to alter them.
Students will use traditional media to incorporate these images together into an expressive collage.
Students will express themselves visually.
Assessment Plan:
Students will be assessed on participation in small group activities, discussions, and contributions made during the search and investigation activities.
Students will be assessed on participation, effort and behavior during outdoor portrait search.
Students will complete a review sheet over basic composition skills and concepts, and material given in notes over Michaelangelo and Dorothea Lange.
Students will be given a written test over the following information:
Students will explain the changes photography has had on history.
Students will identify two famous artworks by both artists.
Students will explain in writing the historical significance or contributions made by Michaelangelo and Dorothea Lange.
Students will use scanners, and software such as Photoshop, Paint or Draw to enhance or alter the images taken with their digital cameras. They will use these images in a collage demonstrating proper use of design principles and concepts.
Students will apply knowledge of basic composition skills and concepts in the collage, which will be graded using a rubric.
Students will be involved in self-assessment throughout the creative process.
Students will use peer assessment during the partner / portrait activity as they work together, using the digital cameras to select or delete photos.
Learning Activities:
Discuss and demonstrate use of basic composition concepts.
Explain and show techniques used by different artists to create strong, interesting compositions.
Show examples of poor compositions – let students demonstrate their knowledge and tell you how to improve the composition, using the principles of good design.
Web search for Michaelangelo and Dorothea Lange – students work with partners to discover information on both artists to be shared in a class discussion.
Show Power point presentation on Michaelangelo and Dorothea Lange, stop often for class discussion and input.
Visit interactive web sites on composition and principles of design to reinforce prior learning.
Explain and demonstrate photographic techniques necessary to produce quality work.
Show students how to use digital cameras, scanners etc.
Take students outdoors to work in partners taking photos of each other (or people on the street), to use in their portrait collage.
Use Photoshop, Draw or Paint to alter photographs.
Create an expressive, strong collage- incorporating traditional media such as charcoal, colored pencil, pastels, paint or markers to unify the composition and create visual interest using color and texture.
Notes:
I would recommend teaching this unit immediately after a unit on drawing portraits – so the students can apply their new skills in drawing to the hand drawn part of the collage using traditional media. Students may want to put themselves in the picture. I have also done this as a self-portrait unit, allowing the students to bring family pictures, (or images of things that are important to them) scan them, and use them in their work.
Internet Resource Link:
Peer Reviewer Comments:
Mrs. Schultz’s unit is a very detailed, comprehensive plan of study. She has covered all the visual arts standards that apply to her lesson “Portraits in Time”. She has put a lot of thought into every single part of it.
The students will have an excellent understanding of how Michaelangelo and Dorothea Lange influenced society after analyzing their artwork. The students will use a variety of media, technology, and techniques to express themselves in their own artwork.
Kristi has done an excellent job of conveying what she wants the students to learn and apply. I think it would be fun to be in her art class.