Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Picturing America Lesson: The Artist's Vision: Abstraction and the American West

Subject Area

Arts Education

Grade(s)

4, 5

Overview

Students will analyze two pieces of abstract artwork. They will identify the elements of art. They will make line sketches of each piece. 

    Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 4 - Visual Arts

    AE17.VA.4.12

    Interpret art by referring to contextual information and analyzing relevant subject matter, visual qualities, and use of media.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:AE17.VA.4.12

    Vocabulary

    • Constructed environment
    • Cultural traditions
    • Digital format
    • Engagement
    • Tertiary color
    • Preservation
    • Proportion
    • Principles of design
      • Unity
    • Shade
    • Style
    • Tints & shades

    Essential Questions

    EU: People gain insights into meanings of artworks by engaging in the process of art criticism.
    EQ: What is the value of engaging in the process of art criticism? How can the viewer "read" a work of art as text? How does knowing and using visual arts vocabularies help us understand and interpret works of art?

    Skills Examples

    • Compare Gyotaku Japanese fish printing and printing with a rubber stamp.
    • Make conclusions about the artist's feelings and perspective.
    • Analyze the meaning of Edvard Munch's The Scream.
    • Interpret Emanuel Leutze's Washington Crossing the Delaware River and its relevance to the Revolutionary War.
    • Discuss and form an opinion about the social and personal value of a piece of art.
    • Apply one element or principle of design to discuss how students' outcomes are different even though they used the same criteria for a work of art/ design.
    • Formulate criteria for discussing and assessing works of art.
    • Use art vocabulary when discussing and judging artworks.
    • Engage in group critiques of one's work and the work of others for the purpose of personal reflection and on-going improvement.

    Anchor Standards

    Anchor Standard 8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
    Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 4 - Visual Arts

    AE17.VA.4.13

    Apply one criterion from elements or principles of design to evaluate more than one work of art/design.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:AE17.VA.4.13

    Vocabulary

    • Constructed environment
    • Cultural traditions
    • Digital format
    • Engagement
    • Tertiary color
    • Preservation
    • Proportion
    • Principles of design
      • Unity
    • Shade
    • Style
    • Tints & shades

    Essential Questions

    EU: People evaluate art based on various criteria.
    EQ: How does one determine criteria to evaluate a work of art? How and why might criteria vary? How is a personal preference different from an evaluation?

    Skills Examples

    • Compare Gyotaku Japanese fish printing and printing with a rubber stamp.
    • Make conclusions about the artist's feelings and perspective.
    • Analyze the meaning of Edvard Munch's The Scream.
    • Interpret Emanuel Leutze's Washington Crossing the Delaware River and its relevance to the Revolutionary War.
    • Discuss and form an opinion about the social and personal value of a piece of art.
    • Apply one element or principle of design to discuss how students' outcomes are different even though they used the same criteria for a work of art/ design.
    • Formulate criteria for discussing and assessing works of art.
    • Use art vocabulary when discussing and judging artworks.
    • Engage in group critiques of one's work and the work of others for the purpose of personal reflection and on-going improvement.

    Anchor Standards

    Anchor Standard 9: Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
    Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 5 - Visual Arts

    AE17.VA.5.12

    Interpret art by analyzing visual qualities and structure, contextual information, subject matter, visual elements, and use of media to identify ideas and mood conveyed.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:AE17.VA.5.12

    Vocabulary

    • Cultural context
    • Formal & conceptual vocabulary
    • Genre
    • Linear perspective
    • Preserve
    • Principles of design
      • Movement
      • Emphasis
    • Relief
    • Vanishing point

    Essential Questions

    EU: People gain insights into meanings of artworks by engaging in the process of art criticism.
    EQ: What is the value of engaging in the process of art criticism? How can the viewer "read" a work of art as text? How does knowing and using visual arts vocabularies help us understand and interpret works of art?

    Skills Examples

    • Compare and contrast artworks in terms of content, stylistic characteristics, and techniques.
    • Collaboratively observe, analyze, and interpret a body of artworks about places, focusing on content, style, and technique.
    • Identify and analyze the terracotta Army and its relationship to Chinese Culture.
    • Describe the relationship between works of art from different cultures being respectful and mindful of cultural sensitive themes.
    • Discuss differences in art of familiar and unfamiliar cultures.
    • Discuss the reasons and value of documenting and preserving works of art and objects for a culture.
    • Recognize what was learned and the challenges that remain when assessing a work of art.
    • Use criteria to assess works of art individually and collaboratively.
    • Use contextual cues to discuss notions of beauty and aesthetic value.
    • Compare and contrast different media and techniques.

    Anchor Standards

    Anchor Standard 8: Interpret intent and meaning in artistic work.
    Arts Education (2017) Grade(s): 5 - Visual Arts

    AE17.VA.5.13

    Recognize differences in criteria used to evaluate works of art depending on styles, genres, and media as well as historical and cultural contexts.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:AE17.VA.5.13

    Vocabulary

    • Cultural context
    • Formal & conceptual vocabulary
    • Genre
    • Linear perspective
    • Preserve
    • Principles of design
      • Movement
      • Emphasis
    • Relief
    • Vanishing point

    Essential Questions

    EU: People evaluate art based on various criteria.
    EQ: How does one determine criteria to evaluate a work of art? How and why might criteria vary? How is a personal preference different from an evaluation?

    Skills Examples

    • Compare and contrast artworks in terms of content, stylistic characteristics, and techniques.
    • Collaboratively observe, analyze, and interpret a body of artworks about places, focusing on content, style, and technique.
    • Identify and analyze the terracotta Army and its relationship to Chinese Culture.
    • Describe the relationship between works of art from different cultures being respectful and mindful of cultural sensitive themes.
    • Discuss differences in art of familiar and unfamiliar cultures.
    • Discuss the reasons and value of documenting and preserving works of art and objects for a culture.
    • Recognize what was learned and the challenges that remain when assessing a work of art.
    • Use criteria to assess works of art individually and collaboratively.
    • Use contextual cues to discuss notions of beauty and aesthetic value.
    • Compare and contrast different media and techniques.

    Anchor Standards

    Anchor Standard 9: Apply criteria to evaluate artistic work.
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Lesson/Unit Plan

    Resource Provider

    Philadelphia Museum of Art
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    Custom
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