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VA.68.S.2.3
Use visual-thinking and problem-solving skills in a sketchbook or journal to identify,
practice, develop ideas, and resolve challenges in the creative process.
VA.68.S.3.1
Use two-dimensional or three-dimensional art materials and tools to understand the
potential and limitations of each.
Behavioral Objective: ABCD = audience, behavior, condition, and degree
Audience 7th grade visual art students
Behavior Descriptive language, adjectives, writing, drawing skills and
techniques
Condition Concentrated observation of objects, illustration, and descriptive
writing at the 7th grade level
Degree 95%
Objective: Given an object to observe, analyze, describe, illustrate, and compare,
7th grade students will use detailed descriptive language verbally and in written
form with 95% accuracy and create a still life illustration and poem.
Required Materials:
1. A variety of fruit and vegetables
2. Blindfolds
3. Sketch book
4. Pencil
5. Drawing paper, poster board, Bristol board, watercolor paper at least 18 x 24
6. Colored pencils, markets, acrylic paints, watercolor paints
7. A copy of Perfection by William Carlos Williams Poem
8. A copy of The Tropics in New York by Claude McKay Poem
9. The Internet
10. Computers with word processing software
Introduction:
First, I will begin the lesson by taking the students on a virtual museum field trip to
explore famous artists still life paintings of fruit and vegetables.
1. The Chicago Art Museum website:
http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artworksearch/results/still+life+fruit?filters=o
bject_type_s%3APainting.
2. The Metropolitan Museum of Art website:
http://www.metmuseum.org/search-results?ft=still+life+fruit+&x=-1163&y=-58
3. See list of resources at end of lesson.
Next, in a whole group discussion, I will talk about describing words; why and how we
use them in art. I will ask the students to think and share as many words as they can that
can describe fruits and vegetables. The class will create a collaborative descriptive Word
Wall. Next, I will read the poems Perfection by William Carlos Williams and The
Tropics in New York by Claude McKay out loud to the class. The class will have a
discussion about the two poems and their relationship to fruit and vegetables.
Closure:
In a whole group session, the students will present their still life illustration and poem to
the class. We will critique the illustration and poem providing feedback for each student,
which will support and guide them in their creative writing in other areas and their visual
observation skills for drawing practices.
Evaluate Lesson Based on Objective(s):
This lesson incorporates a process writing approach and is very effective at teaching
students to observe what they are looking at in great detail. It is very effective at teaching
creative descriptive writing at the intended level. It also provides a formative assessment
on the students creativity, thinking process, and visual representation of an object. It
provides a pre-writing inquiry activity, collaborative writing experience, and contains
specific product goals. The lesson includes two poems and one that the teacher creates in
class; this supports the study of models and writing for content area learning.
Additional fruit still life paintings to share and view with the class:
James, D. (2013, April 2). Jacob van Hulsdonck still life master (2013, April 2).
Retrieved on July 11, 2014, from
http://fruitandflies.wordpress.com/2013/04/02/jacob-van-hulsdonck-still-lifemaster/
Still life oil painting of Rendor Berger. (2011). In The artistic art. Retrieved July 11,
2014 from http://www.theartisticart.com/2014/04/still-life-oil-paintings-ofrendor.html
Van Gogh, V. (1888). Still life with basket and six oranges [Oil on canvas]. In Van gogh
gallery. Retrieved July 11, 2014 from
http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/Painting/520/Still-Life-with-Basket-andSix-Oranges.html
Weinbren, G. (2011). Still life with banquet: Dessert (M). In Vimeo. Retrieved on July
11, 2014 from http://vimeo.com/18480238
Resources:
Buehl, D. (2009). Guided imagery. In Buehl, D. (pp. 90-92). Classroom strategies for
interactive learning (3rd ed.). Newark, DE: International Reading Association.
McKay, C. (2014). The tropics in New York. In Poetry foundation. Retrieved on July 14,
2014 from http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173963
Williams, C. W. (1938). Perfection. Retrieved on July 14, 2014 from
http://ronnowpoetry.com/contents/williamswc/Perfection.html