Submitted by Donna Rodeghiero,
Beecher High School, Beecher, IL
Unit: Drawing - Identity - Illustration
Lesson: "Where's Waldo" - Self "Portrait"
Grade Level: high school (adaptable to lower grades)

Description:

Students create a narrative piece showing their likes and dislikes. "Where's Waldo" (Where's Wally) serves as inspiration. Look at narrative art - Hieronymus Bosch and others. Students learn there can be different kinds of self portraits.

Objectives:

• Identify the cultural clues found within art forms 
• Produce/explore works of art based on their environment - personal experiences. Create a work of art about self.
• Recognize how technical elements affect works of art - use elements and principles of design effectively

Click images for larger views

Materials:

(Optional) Where's Waldo? (Wally) posters and books
White Drawing Paper, Newsprint
Pencils, Erasers
Fine Point Markers
Colored Pencils, Markers, or Watercolor Sets

Resources:

Hieronymus Bosch (Scholastic Art past issue on Narration: Hieronymus Bosch). Also see the book, Hieronymus Bosch

Where's Waldo (Where's Wally) (Google image search will bring up examples) - illustrator Martin Handford

Star Wallowing Bull - Cultural Identity - "Black Elk's Little Sandman" - learning poster from Plains Art Museum. Poster is free - just pay shipping charges. More work by Star Wallowing Bull (Native American) can be found on line. Try a Google search.

Books

Where's Waldo? The Complete Collection - Six Where's Waldo books in one! Showcasing Martin Handford's art in its original oversize paperback format.

Where's Waldo 2010 Wall Calendar - You can pass this around the room and then hang it up after your lecture.

Misc:

Adult Where's Waldo Kit - You can dress up like Waldo when you introduce the lesson. One idea would be for a student to dress as Waldo and then hide in the room. This might be more appropriate for lower grades.

Where's Waldo (Land of Woofs) Art Poster - Large poster with hidden Waldo.

Where's Waldo (Cake Factory) Art Poster - Another large poster with a hidden Waldo.

Instruction/Motivation:

1. Show examples of narrative art. Look for cultural clues in narrative art by Heironymus Bosch. Present some images of Where's Waldo. Compare/contrast with work of Bosch.
2. Tell students they will fill the composition with memories from early childhood to present. (Donna told them it could be about anything and everything they liked or disliked from their earliest memories on....like having glasses or braces, their pets, their games or special holidays or vacations that had a lasting effect on their lives or memories and to go from there.)
3. Look at some different kinds of self portraits (such as Van Gogh's chair and others).
   

Procedures:

1. Brainstorm events, happenings, memories from early childhood on. Make sketches on newsprint to represent the happenings, events - likes and dislikes
2. Fill composition on drawing paper with images to represent memories. Plan to unify the composition - repeating patterns. shapes and colors.
3. Color with choice of colored pencils, markers or watercolor.
4. Write a reflection about finished work.
5. Class critique.

Added by Jackie Brewer:

I have done something very similar to this. The students have difficulty when it comes to thinking of things about themselves. My approach has been this:

1. Brainstorm. List 20 things about themselves (can relate to family, events, likes and dislikes)
2. Choose sixteen, I don't tell them much more than this at a time for fear of getting trite ideas.
3. Fold 12" x 18" (30.5 x 46 cm) newsprint paper into sections to create sixteen areas.
4. Then they are told that they must illustrate all sixteen items. They may bring items in to work from but can not use magazines.
5. Cut out the individual drawings, such as around an apple....around the rose....etc.
6. I give them an 9" x 12" (23 x 30.5 cm) piece of construction paper.
7. They take the cutouts and make a collage of the drawings. Note: individual drawings could be photocopied larger or smaller if needed.
8. Draw a grid on top of the collage
9. Enlarge on to 18" x 24" (46 x 61 cm) paper. Fill in negative space with patterns/shapes to unify.
10. Complete in color

Jackie suggests this for semester exam project which makes a good Christmas gift to mom and dad if they incorporate family and family traditions.

Assessment/Rubric (adapted from Rubric by Marianne Galyk)

Assessment Rubric
Student Name:						Class Period:
Assignment: About Me Memories (Where's Waldo)						Date Completed:
Circle the number in pencil that best shows how well you feel that you completed that criterion for the assignment.		Excellent	Good	Average	Needs Improvement	Rate Yourself	Teacher’s Rating
Criteria 1 –   sketches and planning		10	9 – 8	7	6 or less
Criteria 2 – composition filled with images representing memories		10	9 – 8	7	6 or less
Criteria 3 – composition has unity through use of color, shapes, patterns.		10	9 – 8	7	6 or less
Criteria 4 – Effort: took time to develop idea & complete project? (Didn’t rush.) Good use of class time?		10	9 – 8	7	6 or less
Criteria 5 – Craftsmanship – Neat, clean & complete? Skillful use of the art tools & media?		10	9 – 8	7	6 or less
Total: 50  x 2 = 100 (possible points)	Grade:					Your Total	Teacher Total

Student reflection:

Teacher's Comments:

National Standards: Standards covered would depend on how much critique/student discussion