OVERVIEW
While older classes will continue with their portrait paintings, young grades and a few students will finish earlier. Signatures are demoed, and then there are fun artist games to do. Each game has a learning component.– – –
Grades 6 – 12
Week of April 7 – 11
1 Hour & 45 Minutes
Lesson At A Glance
Here’s a brief overview of the complete lesson. It’s also on your prep page in the Ready, Set, Go! section (below the lesson).
Colored buttons jump to each section in the full lesson plan below.
5 Minutes -Set up for acrylics or play a color game
5 min – Demo signature in acrylic paint
25 min – Finish portrait painting
15 min – Mix & match colors
2 min – clean up paints
5 min – Preview next project
20 min – Drawing in the round
25 min – Racing game
2 Min – Everyone helps
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SCROLL & TEACH
LESSONPLAN
Each section is a different color. Read over once and then you can SCROLL & TEACH using any device you like. It’s designed to work well with your phone.
STEP 1. Set Up
Students will set up for using acrylics or you can play the color Name Game if your students are nearly finished with their portraits. 5 MinutesLEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to set up their work area for painting with acrylics.
M A T E R I A L S
- Color name game tags (PDF below)
- Tape
- Cheasel reference stand & clip
- Reference for portraits from past 2 weeks
- Acrylic paints
- Brushes – all sizes
- Disposable palette pad
- Smocks
- Paper towels
- Water containers
All materials are suggestions and may be modified as you see fit. We have tried many items, and these seem to allow the most versatility for the cost.
Brushes should be nylon for springiness and durability. Round brushes are the most versatile.
Paint pigment list:
- Napthol or Pyrrol Red
- Hansa or Light Yellow
- Pthalo Green (blue shade)
- Cyan or Cerulean Blue
- Ultramarine Blue
- Dioxazine Purple
- Magenta
- Burnt Umber
- Raw Sienna
- Titanium White (professional grade only)
1.1 Print
Reference
Name Game
Cut images apart and print enough for each student to choose from several.
1 Page – Opens in new window
1.2 game
Tape a color name card to the back of each student as they enter the class. Don’t let them see their own color tag. This is great for young classes who get through the painting a bit faster than the older ones.
The card has a color and name on it, and the students have to guess what color name they are by asking YES or NO questions. Other students can NOT offer suggestions. They can only answer the questions that are asked with a YES or NO.
After they discover their color, each student can move it to their fronts, and that’s their name for the day.
Advanced Student Lesson
CREATIONS - tap here to open
Our Creations lessons are for students who have completed the two years of Foundations and are ready to begin using all that they have learned to create new work. These more challenging versions of the same concepts and techniques are easily taught along-side students in the Foundations course. This allows for excellent review, and is encouraging for students to see progress from each viewpoint.
Use the Student Instructions printout below to distribute to your Creations students. Tap the image to open the PDF in a new window.
Abstract Painting
Overview: Students will create a background using colors they choose, and then create an abstract line painting using photographic reference as their source.
Use a canvas board, a sheet of taped canvas, or a stretched canvas if available.
Step 1. (15 minutes) Set up for painting in acrylic, and cover the canvas with a thin coat of any colors of your choosing. Brilliant colors work well. Colors may be mixed with water instead of white, for a glaze effect, or white can be mixed in for opacity – colors that look more solid. Set aside to dry.
Step 2. (20 min) Choose a reference source from any book or use the provided PDF photographs below. Use a pencil and sketchpad to create an abstract line drawing based on the photo. You should try to make it different enough so that it’s hard to recognize the subject.
Step 3. (5) Write down some ideas for how color will be used as line and filling in areas. The original underpainting may be covered a lot, or it may show through and be an important element in the painting.
Note: colorful lines and pattern can add a lot of visual interest to this painting.
Step 4. Resume painting, using a variety of Brushes for different effects. Clean edges and lines are much easier to create when the paint is a very fluid.
Tap images to open Creations Student Instructions and Reference Materials in new windows
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to sign their name with paint
M A T E R I A L S
- Demo canvas with dry paint area
- Paintbrush – small and pointy
- Acrylic paint
- Disposable palette pad
- Paper towels
- Water container
2.1 DEMO
How to make a signature in acrylic paint. Watch the demo and do it yourself if possible. You can also display the video to your class directly.
Tap the 4 arrows icon to enlarge the video to full screen.
Review the demo video and demonstrate to your students, or you can simply display the video on a larger screen for them to watch.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to make an acrylic painting
M A T E R I A L S
- Cheasel reference stand & clip
- Acrylic paints
- Brushes – all sizes
- Palette pad
- Smocks
- Paper towels
- Water containers
3.1 paint
Students finish their paintings and add signatures when they finish.
When finished, set aside to dry.
3.2 finish
Work on any unfinished paintings from past lessons. Early finishers may move on to the next step.
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to mix colors
M A T E R I A L S
- Color Mixing Game cards (PDF below)
- Acrylic paints
- Brushes – all sizes
- Smocks
- Paper towels
- Water containers
4.1 print
iNFORMATION
Color Mixing Game
Short description goes here for the information printout.
4.2 mix
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to clean up their area
5.1 clean
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to have fun with art
M A T E R I A L S
- Copy paper – 8.5″ x 11″ or above
- 2B pencils
- Markers optional
- Colored pencils optional
- Music playlist ready
7.1 teach
This is a fun game of drawing in the round. Students make creatures by drawing creature parts, one at a time, adding to an existing drawing. Once done with each part, students pass them in one direction as a circle. Everyone works on every drawing.
Have students sit in a circle or rectangular loop so they can pass papers in once direction. It can be one large loop, or you can have smaller ones of 3 or 4 students each. Give a sheet of copy paper to everyone. Put the papers on an open sketch pad so that it’s easy to draw on. 8.5″ x 11″ is ok, but you can also use 11″ x 17″ paper.
Have a playlist of upbeat dance-like music ready. Watch to see when most people are finished and waiting, and then pause the music to pass the drawings.
7.2 teach
Explain the rules.
- When the music stops, you pass to the right
- When the music plays, you draw ONE creature part, and only one. (one eye, one hand, one nose, etc. A head is not a part, but many parts.)
- You do not draw the same part on more than one creature in your group. You have to decide what is best for the creature you are looking at.
- No words on the drawings
- No deliberate ruining of the creature, like drawing something bad or crossing out things. You only make it better and you only add to it.
- All parents must be happy with whatever you draw.
- No blood, violence or weapons.
put name or initials on your sheet when you start, and that will be your creature to keep at the end.
7.3 teach
You can pass a large group one full circuit and maybe 2. Smaller groups can go around more times. At the end, if the creatures are almost finished but not enough is needed for another round, have each student finish their drawings any way they want.
For extra time you can have them add backgrounds.
You can trade drawings if desired, or make copies of everyone’s favorite one so each student gets a copy. Remind students that everyone worked on every single drawing the same amount. Some may be better than others, which is normal for artists. Choose the best drawing and make copies for everyone to have.
If your class is really enjoying this, you can let them color the copies or originals instead of doing the next step. Use markers or colored pencils if you have them. Otherwise use oil pastels and sharpened blenders (paper stumps) to make them more precise for working in smaller areas.
“You may notice that your artwork is not really yours. The ideas you always have are only part of each work, and the one you began isn’t anything like you expected. It’s really fun, but it’s also kind of weird!
Often times, artists must work together in teams, like on movies, books, or games. This is a little bit like that, although there is a lot more planning.”
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know how to have fun with art
M A T E R I A L S
- Long sheet of butcher paper
- Colored markers
- Sticks or rulers
- Tape
8.1 teach
This is a very active game and takes a little set up, but the competitive kids always enjoy it. A long sheet of butcher paper with a maze drawn on it is taped on the floor. Color markers are taped to sticks. Students take turns walking along the side of the maze with a marker stick, using the marker to navigate the maze. A timer can be used for competition with other players, or with your own best score.
Explain clearly that anyone can opt out and have artists’ choice with pastels at any time during the game.
TIP
You can have everyone clean up first (STEP 9), so that this game can be played right up to the point when it’s time to go.
8.2 setup
You may want to draw your maze ahead of class to save time. Or draw the maze in class: you can do it while students watch, or have the students draw it themselves. For instance, each person can draw one flower so you have a lot of flower obstacles. Add more small flowers as needed to make it more challenging.
Move the tables aside to make a long area to play on the floor. Leave a table available for students who do not want to play.
The maze can be one of several different ideas:
- A picture maze, such as flowers, underwater scene, or buildings.
- A map maze – a park map or a city map.
- A geometric maze
Winning is fun, but playing is even more fun. The students can pretend they are playing as something else, such as bees, birds, people, cars, helicopters, or giants. You can make some special spots in the track, like a certain stinky flower to avoid, or a sweet one that gives energy and you have to stop and sniff it by circling the flower once without touching it. Be creative!
8.3 teach
Explain the rules.
- Racer student is one one side of track and ALL others are on other side
- Do not step on track. jumping is ok.
- Do not start before “go” is said or you’re out for the round
- Every touch of the edge or an obstacle counts for an extra second
- Every year over the youngest age in the group counts as an extra second
- This is for fun, so don’t get too crazy about winning. Try not to brag.
- Times are written on the board or on the track.
8.4 play
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LEARNING TARGETS
Students know the importance of cleaning up.
M A T E R I A L S
- Paper Towels
- Cleaning wipes
- Sink
- Waste baskets
- Well-lit spot for photos
- Camera or phone-camera
9.1 CLEAN
- Wash hands
- Super-wash brushes if used
- Put art supplies away
- Wipe tables & toss trash
- Remove any smocks (last)
- Check for items on floors and tables
9.2 PHOTO
9.3 CONNECT
OBJECTIVES
- Practice and improvement in finishing and signing a painting, mixing colors
- Understanding collaboration – working with others on artwork and games
- Accomplishment in creating and finishing their work
- Fulfillment from playing fun games and socializing
TROUBLESPOTS
Potty humor – during the drawing in the round, watch for snickering and shut it down or it can take over the game.
Jumping over the maze – Footprints, tearing the paper, and slipping/falling can result.
ART WORDS
Collaboration – When artists work together to create one work of art. No one gets their way over others, which can be hard on some. It’s difficult to see your work change at the hand of other artists, but it’s also fun and leads to very creative ideas.
Expressive – When artwork shows the artists thoughts and actions instead of looking realistic. The more removed from realism a work is, the more expressive it is.
CLASSROOM
PREP
Have a bunch of amazing supplies ready, and cut a few things apart before-hand in a way that make you look amazing.
Print all of your PDFs from the lesson plan and cut any references apart as needed.
What your room needs
Here are your printable lists and room prep instructions.
Opens in new window
CLASSROOM
MATERIALS
- 11×17” Copy Paper
- Color name game tags (PDF below)
- Cheasel reference stand & clip
- Reference for portraits from past 2 weeks
- Smocks
- Paper towels
- Water containers
- Markers
- Music playlist
- Butcher paper
- Rulers or sticks
STUDENT’S
MATERIALS
- Acrylic paints
- Brushes – all sizes
- Disposable palette pad
- Tape
- 2B Pencils
PREVIEW
Week #34: 1,2,3,4
April 22 – 26
1 project; 2 weeks, 3-dimensional, 4 You! Artists must design and create a painted sculpture made of 3 or 4 panels of corrugated cardboard
Week #35: Week two of 1,2,3,4
April 29 – May 3
Artists continue the project – painting the surfaces in acrylics.