Serving Art Educators
and Students Since 1994
Grade Level: 7th Grade Unit Plan
Time: 2-3 weeks
Submitted by: Unknown
Unit: Mexican folk Art - Amate Painting
Media: Hand made paper
See alternate lesson by Grace Hall: Amate Bark Painting
Objectives: The Students will
Explore how societies discover values and beliefs through artistic forms
Distinguish commonalties/characteristics of artistic expressions or styles
Discover relationships among the arts disciplines
Perceive environment - develop personal ideas and themes to create original art
Assess, revise and adjust work throughout the process
Describe and analyze distinguishing characteristics
Interpret meanings, belief and themes - or mood (Internet lesson)
Evaluate works of art using art vocabulary and established criteria (Internet Lesson—class discussion)
Demonstrate skills in painting—skill in using elements and principles of design
Instructional Resources:
Talking to the Sun (book on poems- personal collection)
Amate paintings from Mexico
Materials:
Live houseplants Photographs and photocopies of animals Paint Brushes Drawing Pencils |
Grocery bags Felts and towels Sponges Iron Paint Palettes |
Motivation:
1. Follow-up from pre-Columbian ceramics unit. View examples of Mexican folk art.
2. Discussion on works found on Internet and in teacher made PowerPoint.
3. Discussion on themes for amate painting: Celebration of event from your life - or theme of nature.
4. Drawing from life and from imagination.
Procedures:
1. Present samples and Mexican culture – discuss (Day 1)
2. View Mexican folk art - Internet (Day 1)
3. View PowerPoint—begin drawings on 8-1/2x11" (21.5 x 28 cm) – Draw a scene representing an important event in your life---or draw stylized nature scene.
4. Form handmade paper (western technique)—couch between felts and allow to dry
5. Outline drawing with transfer pencil when competed – iron transfer to handmade paper
6. Outline with fine point markers
7. Paint with tempera—leave negative space the color of the handmade paper
8.
Accent with Paint Markers if desired.
Second Drawing: "Drawing from life"
Create a second drawing—draw plants from life—Add an insect draw from life. Add any other animals from photocopies or photographs (and internet).
Complete drawing with fine point marker—color with watercolor markers if desired.
(This assignment is necessary in order to give all students enough time to make the hand-made paper.
Evaluation:
Class participation in discussion (Objectives: 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10)
Self- evaluation, critical analysis (Objectives: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Written assignment on animals shown, biomes and adaptation (Science curriculum objective)
Accuracy in drawing plants from life. Do they show overlapping? Are there at least three different plants? Does the composition show scale? (Objectives: 4, 5, 6, )
Accuracy/ effort in drawing animals (Objectives: 4, 5, 6, 9)
Use of markers: color plan, textures and patterns (Objectives: 4, 5, 6, 9 10)
Name________________________________________ Section____________
Drawing |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Border design |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Composition (Design principles) |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Color plan |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Painting skill |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
Effort/participation |
10 |
9 |
8 |
7 |
6 |
5 |
4 |
3 |
2 |
1 |
NOTE: This lesson was submitted in the early days of IAD when teachers had no scanners or digital cameras to take pictures of student work.