ARTE 301

Environmental Art at PVO Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson: My imprint with nature

Teacher: Karla P. Pantaleon
School: Prairieview Ogden NORTH
Grade Level[s]: 2nd, 3rd, 4th Grade
Date to be Taught: March 1st

Big Idea that drives Lesson/Unit:

These lessons will work through the concept of Environmental Art with a focus on being aware
of our surroundings and how the environment impacts us. Environmental Art is defined by
dictionary.com as “artistic works that are intended to enhance or become part of the environment
or make a statement on environmental issues.” A long with issues of the environment we will
explore community and spreading kindness and positivity as members of the community’s
environment. Taking an active part in improving some environmental issues will be discussed
through the concepts of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. These lessons will carry these elements to
give students the understanding of sustainability and respect towards the environment.

Key concepts about Big Idea:

 Environmental Art can allow us to become more aware of our surroundings.
 Interacting with the objects in nature can be done safely.
 Being respectful to the environment is important for sustainability.
 Environmental Art serves a purpose more than looking pretty.

Fine Arts Goals Met by the Objectives:

 VA:Cr1.1.2 a. Brainstorm collaboratively multiple approaches to an art or design
problem.
o Think about composition and plan before printing
 VA:Cr1.1.3 a. Elaborate on an imaginative idea.
 VA:Cr1.1.4 a. Brainstorm multiple approaches to a creative art or design problem.
 VA:Cr2.3.2 a. Repurpose objects to make something new.
 VA:Cr3.1.3 a. Elaborate visual information by adding details in an artwork to enhance
emerging meaning.

http://illinoisartslearning.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/IL-Arts-Learning-Standards-
Approved-2016-VA-Download-FINAL.pdf

3-4 Essential Questions:

 What is the environment and why is it important that we be aware of it?
 How can we take care of the Environment?
o What are positive and negative ways of interacting with the environment/nature?
 How can we safely and respectfully use things we find in nature to create art?

Vocabulary Acquisition:
 Printmaking: The process of designing and producing prints using a printing block, woodcut, etching,
lithographic, or screen-printing.
o Stamping: This technique’s purpose is to impress a pattern on mark using engraved
manufactured stamps or any objects dipped in paint and impressed on paper.

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Environmental Art at PVO Lesson Plan

o Brayer: A small, hand-held rubber roller used to spread printing ink evenly on a surface before
printing.
o Blended roll / Split fountain technique:
 Composition
 Acrylic Paint

Key Artistic Concepts:

 Printmaking techniques
 Observation
 Reflecting

Artmaking Materials Needed:

 Paper (thick enough to hold acrylic paint)
 Butcher paper (newsprint)
 Acrylic paint
 Paint sponges
 Artist proof paper (printer paper)
 Items found in nature (bin)
 Paper plates
 Napkins
 Plexiglas for groups

Contemporary/Historical/Multicultural exemplars:
 Andy Goldsworthy:
o Row of yellow and green leaves


o Rowen leaves hole


o Goose feathers


 Teacher samples of nature prints

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Environmental Art at PVO Lesson Plan

Procedures:
 DISCUSSION: (5 minutes)
o Printmaking technique of stamp making will be discussed
o Key questions:
 What is the environment and why is it important that we be aware of it?
 How can we take care of the Environment?
 What are positive and negative ways of interacting with the
environment/nature?
 How can we safely and respectfully use things we find in nature to create art?
o Composition brief conversation on how to organize a composition. Use the Andy
Goldsworthy exemplars to talk about the ways he has organized his compositions.
 DEMONSTRATIONS: ( 5 minutes)
o Stamping Technique
 Demo stamping technique
o Blended Roll to get a stamp of two colors with a flat object like a leaf or a flower
 Demo blend roll technique
 Demo butcher paper to show how it will turn out (Artist proof)
o Show teacher made exemplars
o Show Historical/Multicultural exemplars
 Andy Goldsworthy
 How is he Organizing his compositions?
 What items is he using to create art?
o What messages could he be trying to show through his work?
 DESIGN/WORK SESSION: (20 minutes)
o Get 3 pieces of paper
o Pick 1 or 2 colors for which you will use to print
o Grab brayer
o Grab a Plexiglas plate to role your paint / and or plate if are you are stamping. (one
Plexiglas per table)
o Take out the nature items you have collected or take 3 from the class bin or items you
have collected back at home.
o For roll printing:
 Place 3-5 small drops of paint on to Plexiglas plate and role gradient
 Place object on butcher paper and role paint on to the object (example leaf or
flower) using the paint on your brayer.
 Turn over item on to nice paper and press lightly to print.
 Remove the item from the bottom up to reveal print.
o For stamping technique:
 Place small glop of paint on to plate.
 Bring item to plate and dip it slightly on the paint glop (example objects: sticks
and pinecones)
 Stamp objects on to nice paper.
 Remove gently to reveal print.
 CLEAN UP: (7 minutes)
o Throw away papers in recycling bin
o Bring items to the back to be reused
o Clean off Plexiglas plates using water and soap, use a dry towel to remove the access
paint.
o Bring clean materials to the back of the room.

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Environmental Art at PVO Lesson Plan

 CLOSURE: (2 minutes)
o What did you learn about the items you were working with to create stamps?
 Where can they be found?
o Recording objects is important for history.
 Thinking about endangered species and how our works of art have now recorded
a fossil of these items.
 What are other ways to record objects of nature?
 Drawings
 Photographs
 Drying storing
o Taking a closer look at what surrounds you when you are out doors.
 How else can you make sure you’re being more aware of the environment?
 Research plants and other things you find in the environment
 Think about what local things grow and or are found in our
state/country/continent…