I.     Learning Objectives (in outcome-based format)

Art Production:

Students will draw half a realistic self-portrait by looking in a mirror and drawing what they see and from learning about how the human face proportions.

Students will draw the other side of their self-portrait abstractly by drawing who they think they are not what they look like, using symbols, shapes, and objects.

Students will make a portrait that shows technical skills using the pencils, color, shading, value and composition by learning about each term and how they look in a work of art.

Art History:

Students will have prior knowledge of historical self-portraits and why artists make them by doing a token response to some historical self-portraits.

Art Criticism:

Students will be able to name 3 strengths and 2 areas to work on of a classmate's work by participate in an art critique.  

They will explain why they created their portrait as they did by writing an artist statement.

Aesthetics:

Students will formulate opinions about if art has to be made for others or can it be made for oneself and does that take away from its value or beauty by have a class discussion.  

II.    Overview of Lesson (Main message)

Self-portraits have been done by many artists.  They are records of where the artist has come from and who they were at the time.   They should age changing as well as artistic styles developing.   They are useful tools to get to know the artist and trace their lives.  The students will make a self-portrait that is split down the middle.  One side is realistic and one side is abstract showing who they are inside.  It is snap-shot in time that will show both what they look like at the time and who they are, their interests, and developmental abilities.

III. Art Concept(s)/Vocabulary:

abstraction, symbolism, contour line, shading, cross-hatching, value, proportions,  Contour, line, highlights, composition, realistic

Art making Processes and Techniques: Sketch, layout, measure

Art Elements/Principles of Design:

Value, shape, line, balance, proportion

IV. Illinois Learning Standards:

A.  Understand the sensory elements, organizational principles and expressive qualities of the arts.

 STATE GOAL 26:  Through creating and performing, understand how works of art are produced.

 A. Understand processes and traditional tools and modern technologies used in the arts.

V.    Learning Experiences:

Motivation:

Token response art history game with self-portraits (Van Gogh, Close…)

Discuss each one, focus on their expression and possible motivation for making a self-portrait  

Introduction:

We are going to be drawing our own self-portraits! 

Next year you can look back at it and see how you were then and what you liked.

We are going to make a split face portrait, half will be realistic (what you really look like) and half will be abstract (not what you look like but showing what you like, who you are). 

Instruction: (Step-by-step)

Day One:

1.  Explain that we have to train our brains to observe because our verbal brain is usually dominant.  Do color/word test and show double images.

2.  Explain right brain/left brain issues with drawing.

3.  Do upside down drawing practice.

4.  Explain contour drawing, do blind contour of partners face.  Explain the purpose

Show overhead about the proportions of the face.

Day Two-Three:

1.  Show on the board the approximate shape of a head and how much space it should take on the paper.  Have them draw a line down the middle with a ruler.

2.  Have them make a line across the middle with their rulers to show where the eyes go.

3.  Show how an eye is not shaped (football) and show a better eye, explain that all eyes are different shapes and they need to look closely at theirs and draw what they see.   Start on the right side.

4.  Have them count how many eye lengths across their face is by looking at the mirror and using their pencils.  (about 5)   Have them mark out the eye lengths on their paper lightly and then lightly draw their eye in the right spot.

5.  Teach the nose next.  Have them count how many eye lengths down and nose is and how far out it goes by using the eyes as a measuring stick.   Show the parts of the nose on the board. 

6.  Teach the mouth once they start to get close to finishing the nose.  Show on the board how a typical one is drawn showing where the dips and shadows are.   Have them draw the lines that show how far out the mouth goes and how far below the nose. 

7.  Add hair, eyebrows, explain eyelashes, and add shadows.

8.  Start abstract left side.  Keep it looking like a face but with favorite objects (basketball, cell phone), use abstract shapes, can put things in unusual places (eyes uneven).   Show personality (happy, energetic = zigzag lines, bold lines) (calm, reserved = smooth, rounded shapes)

9.  Only if there is time add color only to abstract side.  Color lightly and smoothly!

VI.   Modifications (for special needs students)

Epilepsy- for the student in the class with epilepsy the teacher will only make lesson plan accommodations if they have a seizure, blackout, or involuntary movement.   If they have to leave class due to the above, the teacher will assign a student to take notes on anything they may miss.  To accommodate the involuntary movement that might affect their art the teacher will have them work in pencil so they can erase any mistake.   This lesson is very safe so there are few adaptations needed to be made other than notes on what they might miss.

Non-verbal Learning disability- The teacher will write directions in simple one sentences as well as say them out loud. The student does not have to share out loud during the critique but can write simple sentences on paper and turn that in.   All steps in the portrait will be explained in a step by step concrete format.  The abstract side of the portrait will be explained and modified to be more concrete.   The teacher will explain it one on one with the child describing it as a fun side that they can make look however they want.  If this is too vague for them to comprehend the teacher will show a list of simple descriptive words to the student and have them circle the word that they think is like them.   Then the teacher will show the student what shapes and object will show those things.  See the guide at the end of the packet.

VII.  Resources (prints, etc.)

Overhead color quiz

Overhead double pictures

Print our of historical Self-portraits

Cards for token response

Overhead of head proportions

Overhead of upside down drawing

Materials:

Mirrors, Drawing paper, Drawing pencils, Colored Pencils

VIII. Assessment (aligns with objectives, attach if necessary)

See attached sheet.

IX.   Rationale (why is this important)

This lesson is important because it combines language arts and art in a unique way.  The students are involved in discussion about what is art and do books fall into that idea.   The teacher uses a discovery approach where the teacher then shows art books and see how their idea change.  The teacher demonstrates the techniques and the students observe and then try on their own.   Demonstration in art is very important for students' success.

(connect to language arts)