State of Mind

SHANNON ONEILL

Lesson Overview- 3rd Grade

This lesson will integrate visual art, literacy, and social studies for the

students. To begin, students will be given a basic geography lesson of the

United States. They will study maps and learn how to conduct their own
research using credible sources. Next, students will independently
brainstorm what qualities make up their identity. For example: where they
come from, their heritage, interests, culture, etc Students will then be
asked to each pick a state in the United States that they have some sort of
connection to (could be because they have family there, want to travel
there, or are familiar with the area). Students will then research 3-4 facts
about the state they have chosen. For the art project, students will design
and draw a representation of themselves (how they see themselves and how
they identify) and then will create a speech bubble in the shape of the state
that they have chosen. In the speech bubble (state), the students will write
and draw the facts they have researched. To conclude this lesson, students
will be asked to write a short reflection on what they have learned.

Key Concepts
Visual Art: Students will learn how to represent

personal meaning through their artwork

Literacy: Students will read, discuss, and reflect on
the importance of identity
Social Studies: Students will become experts on
their selected state

Essential Questions
What characteristics shape your identity?
How can being from different parts of the United

States impact who you are?

Can the way that states are represented through
certain art/images impact peoples perceptions and
bias about that place?

Lesson Objectives
Visual Art:

Students will be able to create meaningful and educational art

Students will be able to use colored pencils to create a realistic selfimage

Literacy:

Students will be able to describe their artwork and state

representation through a short reflection
Students will be able to create connections between their selected
state and their identity

Social Studies:

Students will be able to identify/locate their selected state on a map

Students will be able to conduct their own research

Content Areas Integrated

Visual Art (Inspiration Artist: Ann Mclvor)

Drawing: how to artistically convey your identity and

simultaneously represent your research through art

Literacy

Read Writing a State Report by Patty Carratello

Written reflection describing what they have learned

Social Studies

Students will learn about a state in the U.S. and learn different
aspects about it that may impact its image to the people

Anticipatory Set
Students will engage in a Visual Thinking Strategy

(VTS). The teacher will provide two different images

of the same place. For example, an image of rural
Missouri and an image of urban Missouri. Have the
class compare and contrast the two images. Ask
them what stereotypes and assumptions they are
making based off of the image. Ask them what they
see when the two images are separate, and when they
are side by side. Can just one image provide the
whole picture?

Summative Assessment
Evaluating the students final written reflection

the teacher will be looking to make sure that the students are
addressing what they have learned. Their reflections should
consist of what identity means to them. And it should address
how the power that the places we come from contribute
monumental impact to who we are. Students will be given a
checklist to make sure that their reflections hit these points

Exemplar