Lesson+Ideas

1. [|Masks and Emotions] This idea was inspired by the Expressive Masks- Mixed Media lesson submitted by Marcia Lavery on this link. Using masks and other media of their choice students would explore ideas of expressing and masking emotions, moods, or feelings. 2.[|Change/ Metamorphosis] This is an example of a lesson incorporating the idea of change. A class discussion about the changes that people go through or that take place over time can be incorpoated into an art project using metamorphosis. The project could be like the one suggested in the link (which included several objects/pictures) or one that was simply changing one object into another through several stages. 3.[|Senses and how they are experienced] Linked here is an article about an artist with a rare form of synaethesia (a condition in which her senses intermingle). Through her work (photography and video) she aims to capture her experience and express what it is like to others without the condition. Using the idea of senses and how they are used to experience the world around us, a project idea would be to consider how specific senses could interact with a work of art. 4.[|Personal Identity sculpture] This link is an idea for a personal identity sculpture using cardboard and the letters of your name. I feel that students can also be challenged to build more complex personal identity sculptures (such as shadow boxes and other personal spaces, or three dimensional symbols created to represent themselves). This big idea would lend to discussions about how we view ourselves as well as the things we each choose to identiry ourselves by along with how others view us. 5.[|Social or Political Issues in Art] This link shows examples of art work created by students based on social or political issues that were important to them. Using this as a big idea allows for students to think about and identify with issues that matter to them while expressing their feelings about in a piece of art. 6.[|Body Image and Self Esteem] This link provides information about body image and self esteem. Incorporating this into an art project by asking students to think positivily about themselves and their bodies promotes a healthy outlook on life. An additional link:[|The Body Image Project] 7.[|Themes of Materialism in American Literature] Using the examples of materialism as depicted in American Literature students can create art depicting how or where they have seen or experienced materialism in their own lives. This will give them an opportunity to reflect upon how materialsm effects our society or influences our values. 8.[|Optical Illusions] This link shows various optical illusions which can be connected to the idea that works of art often use techniques to make pictures appear to look a particular way. For example, shading and shadowing create a three dimensional illusion on a flat piece of paper. The big idea here also applies to situations in life when considering that things aren't always as they seem. 9.[|War and Conflict] is a link to Art 21, an educational reference to today's contemporary artists. The idea of conflict doesn't only apply to war or fighting, it can also be seen in many of our everyday experiences (for example, peoples' schedules conflict). Students can be encouraged to think of other ways of depicting conflict and illustrate them in some form of artwork. 10.[|Home and Displacement] Another link to PBS's Art 21 website featuring an artist who explores his dependence and independence of home. He also considers what factors define a home.
 * __Big Ideas:__**

Secondary Art Ed.Wiki- Big Ideas Ideas posted by our whole class.

1.[|Ritual and Commemoration] Within this lesson students will explore rituals and rights of passage in cultures other than their own. 2.[|Individual and Collectives] In this lesson students re-design yearbooks after considering the individual and collective identity of a school community. 3.[|Remaking Myths] Students will look at works representing race and racism by Fred Wilson. After reflecting upon how a culture's views affect the way we view ourselves, students will create a collage based on a mythological, historical, or comtemporary figure of their choice. In their collage they must use one of more of Wilson and Sikander's methods (such as changing the context in which we are accustomed to see the figure). 4.[|Folk Arts of Latin America] This lessons involves students in researching and exploring the history of bark paintings in South America, including their purpose, process, and the symbolism used within them. Students will then create their own symbol for an Amate bark painting. 5.[|Mandalas] This link explains the history as well as examples of mandals and would serve as an introduction for a lesson requiring students to create their own personal representation of the sacred symbol. 6.[|A Look at Mexican History Through Research and Art] This is a description of a unit involving students in a research process where they will transfer their knowledge by creating a digital mural (adaptation may be required) dipicting the history or culture or another civilization or historical movement. 7.[|Labor and Craftsmanship] In this lesson students will examine the notions of labor and craftsmanship as they study how cultural tools and techniques apply to artistic practice. 8.[|Mediating Media] Within this lesson students will consider connections between art and advertising through critical analysis of ads and images in popular culture. 9.[|Stories on a String] Using the idea of a traditional form of Brazilian folk art, students will create prints that communicate a sequence of events. 10.[|Making Cultural Symbols Into Decorative Pins] In this lesson students will explore how symbols are used in various cultures, creating a pin to demonstrate how cultural symbols are used or worn as a culture's body decoration. Secondary Art Ed.- Multicultural Lesson IdeasIdeas posted by our whole class.
 * __Mulitcultural Lessons:__**

Secondary Art Ed. Wiki- Lesson Ideas