Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: Language and Skills of Visual Arts

Name: Irin Simon

Content Area: Art

Grade Level: 9-12

CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):

1.0 ARTISTIC PERCEPTION

Processing, Analyzing, and Responding to Sensory Information Through the Language and Skills Unique to the Visual Arts
Students perceive and respond to works of art, objects in nature, events, and the environment. They also use the vocabulary of the visual arts
to express their observations
Develop Perceptual Skills and Visual Arts Vocabulary

1.1 Identify and use the principles of design to discuss, analyze, and write about visual aspects in the environment and in works of art,
including their own.
1.2 Describe the principles of design as used in works of art, focusing on dominance and subordination.

Analyze Art Elements and Principles of Design

1.3 Research and analyze the work of an artist and write about the artist's distinctive style and its contribution to the meaning of the
work.

Big Ideas/Unit Goals:

Big Idea
Students will be able to process, analyze, and respond to the sensory information through the language and skills unique to the visual
arts.
Students will learn the language and the skills needed to create art work and will learn about different artists and how they use the
principle of design in their art work.
Students will also learn the basic skills of principle of design and how to use it in their art projects.
Students will learn how to talk about art and analyze art using the principles of design.

Student Learning Objectives:

During a power point presentation and lecture students will analyze 2 pieces of art work from an artist and will summarize and list at
least 4 principles of design that the artist has used in the artwork.
Students will use a Venn Diagram to compare and contrast two artworks and identify at least 5 similarities and 3 differences.
Students will identify and define the key terms for principle of design.
Students will analyze an artwork, describing and identifying principles of design. Explaining you reasoning on how and why these
principles where applied. Also including their own thoughts and judgements about the artwork.
Unit Summary:

When we have to give our opinion about an artwork saying, I like it or I dont like it, its not an enough reason to justify our answer.
We have to be able to look at an artwork and analyze it very carefully and give reasons of why we feel the way we feel about it and what we
see in it. To be able to understand the language of visual arts we need to learn some key terms to help us on how to talk, create, and organize
art. In this unit we will be introduced to the Principles of Design and be able to define them and use them to be able to analyze, organize, and
discuss artwork. We will do research on artwork and analyze, discuss, and identify how the artist used the principles of design in the artwork
and give reasoning on how and why these principles where applied. You will also use the basic skills of principle of design and apply it to
your own sketch.
Assessment Plan:

Entry-Level:

Formative:

Summative:

Brainstorm: What can you say about this

painting using the principles of design?

Guided Notes: Guide of the lecture to give a

better understanding of analyzing art and
learning the principles of design.

Written Analysis Essay: Analyze a painting

and identify principles of design used and
justify your reasons on how principles of
designs are used in the painting.

Webersice: Responses and analysis on the

biography of the artist Claude Monet and his
artwork. Creating a sketch and implementing
the principles of design and adding Monet art
style.
Concept Map: Identifying Principles of
Design by definitions and examples of
images.
Survey: On important aspects of the
Principles of Design.

Unit Exam: Defining and sketching examples

of the Principles of Design. Analyzing and
demonstrating understanding of an artwork.

Lesson 1 (LECTURE)

Student Learning
Objective:
Demonstrate an
understanding of the
Principle of Design
and identifying them
in artwork.

Acceptable
Evidence
(Assessments):
Students can
identify the
principles of design
in artwork and
explain how the
principles are used
in the artwork.

Lesson Activities:
This lesson will help introduce the Principles of Design and give a mastery of understanding,
identifying, and defining them. This lesson will also introduce to the students on how to
analyze and talk about art using the Principles of Design, and how artist used them in their
artwork.
Teacher Lecture and Guided Notes:
Teacher will do a PowerPoint Lecture and provide Guided Notes for the students to use as
they follow along with the lecture. This help student to stay on track and get a mastery of
understanding to the lecture and will help the teacher to check for understanding.
This unit will start with the entry-level, Brainstorming, of a painting called The Starry Night
by Vincent van Gogh, 1889, before starting the lecture. Students will answer the question,
what do you think the artist is trying to say in this artwork? Explain your answer. This will
help the teacher to check for prior knowledge.
Teacher will then introduce the lecture and for students to follow along with the guided notes.
Students will be introduced to the learning objectives of the day and what they need to know.
Teacher will than move on with introducing the Principles of Design and explicitly teach each
one with many images of examples and will be explaining on how the artwork example is
related with the principle.
Teacher will check for understanding throughout the lecture by asking students to answer
questions on their guided notes.
Teacher will review with students and introduce a two-minute video of the principles of
design that includes brief definitions and art image examples of the principles.
Teacher will move on to critical thinking questions that will help for further checking for
understanding. Question will be what if the artist didnt use the principles of design in this
artwork, how do you think the artwork would look like and do you think it is necessary to use
the principles of design?

Teacher will check for understanding by asking students to draw a quick sketch of the
principles of design they think is most important.
Teacher will play another video on the principle of design so students can master the content.
Students will finalize their guided notes by completing a Venn Diagram to compare and
contrast two artworks and identifying the similarities and the differences.
Lesson 2 (Webercise)

Student Learning
Objective:

Acceptable
Evidence:

Analyze how the artist

used the principles of
design in their
artwork, and how to
apply the principles in
their own drawing.

Students can
identify the
principles of design
that artists use in
their artwork.
Students can also
explain how and
why look at art.
Students will know
how to apply the
principles of art in
their drawing.

Lesson Activities:
Webercise:
This activity will be a formative assessment.
Students will be using the computers to complete the assignment. It will give students the
opportunity to be introduced to an artist. They will be using certain sources to collect
information and will research and analyze the work of an artist and write about the artists
distinctive style and its contributions to the meaning of the work. Students will use the whole
class period to complete this assignment. If they dont finish during class time than they will
have to finish it for homework.
Students will research the biography of Claude Monet and answer certain questions to get a
better understanding of his childhood, adulthood, his movements, ideas, and styles that
influence Monet and his legacy.
Students will watch a video of an analysis and critique on one of Claude Monet paintings. They
will watch and hear how two experts analyze and critique a painting. This will help them learn
how to analyze art correctly so they can apply to their activity on analyzing one of Moments
painting.
Students will watch a video about Why Look at Art? this will help students think about why
look at art and how can a person look at art. This will also help the students to be able to
identify everyday art that is around them and why its art.
Now that the students have done research, answered questions, and watched videos, they
should be ready to in depth critique and analyze one of Monets paintings. Students will explain
why they choose the painting and describe what they see, wonder, and think about the

painting. They will identify the principles of design that the artist had used in the painting and
justify their answer.
The final step in the webersice the students will do a Drawing Activity.
In this section students will create an image of their choice. They will draw their image using
the computer program SKETCHPAD. In their drawing they must include at least 2 principles of
design. Students must also include some kind of representation of Claude Monets style in their
drawing. Before they start their drawing they will spend about 2-5 minutes practicing using
the Sketchpad tools. When they finish their drawing they will Save it and Print It Out. If they
dont finish, they need to make sure to save the drawing and they will have to finish it at home.
Lesson 3 (Graphic Organizer)

Student Learning
Objective:

Acceptable
Evidence:

Collaborate with their

partner to research,
analyze and make a
concept map graphic
organizer on
principles of art.

Each student with

his/her partner
will complete a
concept map based
on the principles of
design, including
definitions and
images linked to
each principle of
design.

Lesson Activities:
Graphic Organizer:
Students have been studying the Principles of Design and are ready to be able to identify,
define, and show examples of the principles of design. They will provide visual art images to
help them discuss the definition of the principle of design. In this assignment they will work
with a partner and they will be creating a Concept Map graphic organizer using Popplet. The
topic for their concept map will be the 9 Principles of Design that we have studied. They will
use the resources provided for them to help them gather information and take notes for their
concept map. They may also use their Guided Notes from the lecture to gather
information. Students should make sure they read all the directions, resources, and
requirements before they start the assignment.
Directions and Requirements:
Students will choose a partner and will have 3 class periods to complete this assignment. They
may arrange with their partner extra hours outside of class if they think they need more time
to compete the assignment.
When creating your concept map students need to complete the following requirements and
include in their map:
1. In the center of the concept map for their topic they will put Principles of Design.
2. For the categories put the 9 Principles of Design that they have studied, which are:

Balance, Emphasis, Movement, Pattern, Repetition, Proportion, Rhythm, Variety, and Unity
3. For each principle of design category, they need to Include
a. A definition of each principle of design written in their own words.
b. Include 2 images that represent each principle. One can be any image of choice, such
as painting, drawing or real image. The second image can be of lines, shapes or a
simple sketch, drawing of their own.
4. Students need to view the concept map Example given and use it as a guide, but they
may Not use the same images and definitions in the example provided and in the video.
5. Students must refer to the Rubric for the structure of the assignment. The Rubric will help
and guide them towards getting a successful grade ("A") for this assignment.
6. They will need to sign up on Popplet for a free trial.
Unit Resources:
Principles of Design Animoto Video: https://animoto.com/play/mVwwYGSekOcnkBrn7RYgfw
Animation of Principles of Design: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZK86XQ1iFVs&feature=youtu.be
How to Look at Art: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZoKElBwKCs&feature=youtu.be
See Think, Wonder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPv1cvxdyTo&feature=youtu.be
Principles of Design Definitions: http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/building_lessons/principles_design.pdf
How to Critique Art: http://www.wikihow.com/Critique-Artwork
How to Critique your Peers Artwork: http://www.wikihow.com/Critique-Your-Peers%27-Art-Work
How to Write and Analysis: http://ualr.edu/art/art-history-resources/papers-and-projects/guidelines-for-analysis-of-art/
Art Cyclopedia: http://www.artcyclopedia.com/
Student Art Guide: http://www.studentartguide.com/articles/painting-and-mixed-media
Useful Websites:
Art History KHAN: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-history
Owl Purdue Online Writing: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/677/01/
The J. Paul Getty Museum: http://www.getty.edu/education/teachers/student_resources/
Analyzing Visual Images and Stereotyping ACADEMY: https://www.facinghistory.org/resource-library/teaching-strategies/analyzing-visual-images-and-stereotyping
Introduction to Concept Mapping: http://www.inspiration.com/visual-learning/concept-mapping
Building a Concept Map using Popplet: http://www.popplet.com/
Principles of Design: http://www.projectarticulate.org/principles.php
Principles of Design: http://flyeschool.com/content/elements-artdesign-and-principles-designorganization
Principles of Design Overview Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GigfWyFAe7Y&feature=youtu.be