ARTISTIC THINKING UNIT INSTRUCTION PLAN

utilizing the
MU Art Education Lesson Plan Format
Developed by Dr. Kathy Unrath
*Lesson plans are always accompanied by a teacher-made
exemplar of potential student work!

1. NAME : Danielle Davidson

2. TITLE OF UNIT: Landscape Design
3. GRADE LEVEL(S): 5th

4. STANDARDS:
NATIONAL VISUAL ARTS STANDARDS:

VA:Cr1.1.5 Combine ideas to generate an innovative idea for artmaking.

VA:Cr2.1.5 Experiment and develop skills in multiple art-making
techniques and approaches through practice.
VA:Cr2.3.5 Identify, describe, and visually document places and/or
objects of personal significance.
VA:Cr3.1.5 Create artist statements using art vocabulary to
describe personal choices in art-making.
VA:Re7.1.5 Compare one's own interpretation of a work of art with
the interpretation of others.
VA:Re8.1.5 Interpret art by analyzing characteristics of form and
structure, contextual information, subject matter, visual elements,
and use of media to identify ideas and mood conveyed.
PP.3.A Landscape: Create an original outdoor scene to show the
illusion of space

SHOWME VISUAL ARTS STANDARDS:

1. Process and techniques for the production, exhibition or performance of
one or more of the visual or performed arts
5. Visual and performing arts in historical and cultural contexts

Missouri Fine Arts GRADE LEVEL EXPECTATIONS (GLEs):

PP.1.A- Create texture or surface quality using any drawing media
PP.3.A- Create an original outdoor scene to show the illusion of space
EP.1.G- Identify and use a single horizon line
EP.2.A- Identify and use asymmetrical (informal) balance
EP.2.F- Identify and use relative size (realistic scale)
AP.1.A- Discuss and develop answers to questions about art, such as:
Who decides what makes an artwork special, valuable or good?

ISTE-S Standards / 21st Century Learning and Innovation Skills (4Cs)

2b - Communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences
using a variety of media and formats
3b- Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use
information from a variety of sources and media
6a- Understand and use technology systems
6d- Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies
This lesson includes all 4Cs of the 21st Century Skills:
Collaboration
Communication
Critical thinking
Creativity
5. RATIONALE and GOALS FOR THIS LESSON:
This lesson is important because it teaches students to gather resources
for reference, use something important to them for inspiration, and reviews
how to create the illusion of space in a landscape. It takes students
through a process that is similar to what many adult artists go through
when creating their work.
I hope that by giving students the freedom to choose their own landscape
and medium that it will engage them and keep them interested as they
create their landscape. I hope to end of with landscapes of 70 different
places, made with a wide variety of media.
6. ENDURING BIG IDEA:
Why do artists paint landscapes? How do they choose the scene?
Students will go through the process of choosing a scene to create and
choose a medium that captures the feel of their location, just as Van Gogh
and Kirchner did.
7. ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS:
From Essential Questions Poster:
What inspires me?
What do I have to say?
How do I see the world differently?
What do I love about art?
What do I need to learn to express my ideas?
How do I use art skills to make art?
What can I do to better focus on my work?
Why am I creating this work?
Other EQs:

3
How do artists choose tools, techniques, and material to express their
ideas and feelings?
How do artists and designers learn from trial and error?
How do artists appropriately use others images and ideas?
Students will discover the process an artist goes through and the choices
he or she makes while creating his or her art. Students will investigate
different drawing media, methods for creating the illusion of space, and
other techniques necessary for creating their work.
Guiding Questions:
Do you prefer digital or traditional media?
How much detail does your scene require?
What kind of texture is appropriate?
Do you need color or is it distracting?
What medium best expresses your feelings about this place?
8. KNOWLEDGE BASE AND KEY CONCEPTS:
Students will learn that:
artists gather reference material for inspiration
artists choose subject matter that has significance to them
landscape painting is the depiction in art of
landscapes natural scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees,
rivers, and forests, especially where the main subject is a wide
view with its elements arranged into a coherent composition.
an artists statement is an artists written description of
their work
artists (such as Van Gogh and Kirchner) often use
their work to convey their emotions
artists choose mediums that represents their subject
matter
artists create the illusion of space in a landscape by
overlapping, shading, placement, size, value and focus, and
linear perspective

9. OBJECTIVES:
Students will know the definition of landscape.
Students will understand how to create the illusion of space.
Students will be able to choose a place in nature that is important to them.
Students will be able to find resources for reference.
Students will be able to choose a medium that captures the feel of their
landscape.
Students will be able to create a landscape.

Students will be able to write an artists statement describing their work and their
choice of medium.
Students will be able to write a paragraph reflecting on what they learned.
10. VOCABULARY: landscape, space, media, digital media
11. LESSON SEQUENCE - LESSON VIGNETTES:
Standards

VA:Re7.1.5
VA:Re8.1.5
SVAS 5
AP.1.A

Major Learning Activities:

21st C Skill

1. Introduction (Anticipatory Set)

Activity: Review the definition of landscape. Using
Visual Thinking Strategies, view and discuss Van
Goghs Starry Night and Kirchners Winter Moonlit
Night.
Objectives:
- Students will know the definition of landscape.
- Students will understand how to create the illusion
of space.
Ask students what a landscape is. Review
the definition: landscape painting is the
depiction in art of landscapes natural
scenery such as mountains, valleys, trees,
rivers, and forests, especially where the
main subject is a wide view with its
elements arranged into a coherent
composition
Display images and ask:
o What's going on in this picture?
o What do you see that makes you
say that?
o What more can we find?
Ask Essential Question:
o How do artists choose tools,
techniques, and material to
express their ideas and feelings?
Go over the Illusion of Space handout,
and see if students can find any of the
methods in either work.
SAMR Level Augmentation (SMARTboard)
Resources:
Visual Thinking Strategies Website
Vincent Van Goghs Starry Night

collaboration
communication

5
Ernest Ludwig Kirchners Winter Moonlit Night
Illusion of Space handout
2. Brainstorming (Body)
Activity: Discuss how landscape artists choose a
location.
Objective: Students will be able to choose a place in
nature that is important to them.
Introduce Essential Questions Poster
- Ask and discuss Essential QuestionWhat inspires me?
Students will think about a place in nature
that is important to them. They will
describe it to a partner, and then record
their description.
Resources:
Essential Questions Poster

collaboration

VA:Cr1.1.5
VA:Cr2.3.5
ISTE-S 3b
ISTE-S 6d

3. Gathering (Body cont.)

Activity: Inspiration Board
Objective: Students will be able to find resources for
reference.
Ask and discuss Essential QuestionsWhat do I have to say? How do I see the
world differently? How do artists
appropriately use others images and
ideas?
Students have the option of either
creating an online or physical inspiration
board that will display reference photos
that remind them of their place in nature.
- Online - Students will find reference
photos online to save to Google drive
and add to Mood Board.
- Physical Students will use nature
magazines to gather reference photos
and glue them to a sturdy surface.
SAMR - Modfication
Resources:
Essential Questions Poster
www.gomoodboard.com

communication

VA:Cr2.1.5

4. Play (Body cont.)

communication

VA:Cr2.3.5

communication

critical
thinking
creativity

6
PP.1.A

PP.3.A
SVAS 1

PP.3.A
SVAS 1
PP.1.A
PP.3.A
EP.1.G
EP.2.A

Activity: Media Experimentation

Objective: Students will be able to choose a medium
that captures the feel of their landscape.
Ask and discuss Essential QuestionsWhat do I love about art? How do artists
and designers learn from trial and error?
Students will have access to several
different drawing media, including digital
media using various painting apps in the
Google app store. They will experiment
using different media in their art journals
or online until they find the media that
will capture the feel of their place in
nature.
SAMR level: Augmentation
Resources:
Essential Questions Poster
InspirARTion Sketch & Draw
Digital Painter
Psychopaint

critical
thinking
creativity

5. Plan (Body cont.)

Activity: Landscape Planning
Objective: Students will be able to create a plan for
their landscape.
Ask and Discuss Essential Question- What do
I need to learn to express my idea?
Students will plan out their landscape in their
art journal. They will meet with a partner to
discuss their plan and get suggestions.
Students will formulate a list of things they
will need to know how to do in order to
create their landscape.
SAMR level: Substitution
Resources:
Essential Questions Poster

collaboration

6. Create (Body cont.)

Activity: Creating the Landscape
Objective: Students will be able to create a
landscape.
Ask and discuss Essential Questions- How do
I use art skills to make art? What can I do to

communication

communication
critical
thinking

creativity

7
EP.2.F

better focus on my work?

Students will create their landscape with their
chosen medium. The teacher will offer
guided instruction based on the list of needs
that each student created. Students will have
handouts on creating the illusion of space to
reference while they work.
SAMR level: Augmentation
Resources:
Essential Questions Poster
Illusion of Space handout
InspirARTion Sketch & Draw
Digital Painter
Psychopaint

VA:Cr3.1.5
ISTE-S 2b
ISTE-S 6a

ISTE-S 6a

7. Reflect (Closure)
Activity: Writing an Artists Statement
Objective: Students will be able to write an artists
statement describing their work.
Ask and discuss Essential Question-Why did
I create this work?
Students will write a paragraph about what
their place in nature means to them, and how
the media they chose to use captures the feel
of that place.
Students will take a photo or screen shot of
their work and upload it to VoiceThread,
where they will record their paragraph.
Work will be displayed with a QR code that
links to their VoiceThread.
SAMR level - Redefinition
Resources:
Essential Questions Poster
www.voicethread.com
QR Code App

communication

8. Assessment (Closure cont.)

Activity: One-page Portfolio
Objective: Students will be able to write a paragraph
reflecting on what they learned.
Students will type half a page about what
they learned while creating their landscape.
Students will include photos of their process.

critical
thinking

critical
thinking
creativity

8
SAMR level - Augmentation
Resources:
Google Docs

12. ASSESSMENT/RUBRIC: Students will submit their one-page portfolio

for teacher review. Teacher and student will conference to review portfolio
and determine a grade. Grade will be determined based on student
learning and completion of objectives. The teacher will you and objectives
checklist for reference:
Objectives Checklist
Student Name:
Students will know the definition of landscape.
Students will understand how to create the illusion of space.
Students will be able to choose a place in nature that is important to
them.
Students will be able to find resources for reference.
Students will be able to choose a medium that captures the feel of their
landscape.
Students will be able to create a plan for their landscape.
Students will be able to create a landscape.
Students will be able to write an artists statement describing their work.
Students will be able to write a paragraph reflecting on what they
learned.
Grade:
Rationale:

13. STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND ADAPTATIONS FOR SPECIAL

NEEDS:
Students will be able to choose their own scene, media, and will be
able to create a realistic or stylized work. This allows student at many
different ability and skill levels to be successful.
Students who receive special services for writing will have assistance,
as needed, with the writing portion of the assignment.
Students whose motor skills do not allow them to use a computer can
choose a traditional medium, and will receive assistance typing as
needed.
Allowing students to choose their own media and scene will give
students ownership of their work and increase engagement. I will also

9
use essential question each day to engage students while generating
discussion.
I will challenge students who are highly talented to learn a new skill or
add more detail to their work.
Students who finish early will research a landscape artist who inspires
them and create a Google slide presentation about them.
14. MATERIALS, TEACHING RESOURCES/REFERENCES:
- Images of Van Goghs Starry Night and Kirchners Winter Moonlit Night
- Illusion of Space handout
- Essential Questions poster
- www.gomoodboard.com
-Google App Store:
InspirARTion Sketch & Draw
Digital Painter
Psychopaint
-Google Docs
15. PREPARATION REQUIRED:
- Art Journals
- Magazines
- Various drawing media (digital, oil pastel, charcoal, etc.)
- iPad
- Chomebooks
-

A space for traditional media that is accessible to students

When creating my exemplar I chose to use digital media, because I

think that most of student will do the same. I dont have a lot of
experience with digital media, so Id imagine my experience was
similar to was my student will encounter. I found that because of my
skill level, I had to simplify my plans because I wasnt able to create
the same amount of detail that I couldve with traditional media.

16. TEACHER REFLECTION:

I will know this lesson is a success if:
- Students choose a location that is important to them
- Students can explain how the media they chose is appropriate
- Students finished assignment show the use of at least one technique
from the Illusion of Space handout
- Student writes an Artists Statement that describes their work and
explains their choices

10
-

Students show pride in their work