The Circle of Life

Grade Level: 2
BIG IDEA: LIFE CYCLES

Ruby Valdovinos, Val Anda, Yang Thao

 Life Cycles
Lesson Objectives:

1. Content area 2- Reading : The students will (TSW) be able to explain meaning making
and big ideas through understanding of the assigned reading, TEaching Real Art Making. They will
have the opportunity to discuss between peers and reflect on the big idea, Life Cycles.

Content area 1 Visual Art : The students will (TSW) be able to create a life cycle wheel
using different art mediums: water color, crayons, markers, pastels and use different
techniques to create their Life Cycle Wheel. The students will then create a life cycle wheel by
creating their own interpretation of any living cyle.

3. Content area 3 Science The students will (TSW) be able to have the opportunity to
use the scientific definitions of the stages of life and be guided by what they learn in their
science classes ex: Butterfly metamorphosis: egg, larva, pupa and adult. They will identify other
living things that go through life cycles such as insects, plants, animals and humans.
Assessment with Lesson Objectives

Formative Assessment strategy (of assigned reading): How will you

assess Literacy? What will you be looking for? : Students will be asked
to interpret and answer questions about the article they read. They will
table share the big idea and reflect it on the article big idea.

Summative Assessment strategy (of studio investigation): How you will

assess Visual Art and Science? What will you be looking for?: We will
be looking for students to chose a living thing and create their own life
cycle wheel that both uses their scientific knowledge of different stages
of life, and their artistic interpretations that depict characteristics and
experiences of each stage. Students will be able to make connections
and call upon personal experiences and be able to tie everything back
to the big idea and answering the essential questions.
Lesson Overview

1. Big ideas: main idea that brings all of

the experiences and meaning making of
the artist together.
2. Meaning making: Using life
experiences and personal values to add
meaning to art.
3. Life: what distinguishes animals and
plants from inorganic matter, including
the capacity for growth, reproduction,
functional activity, and continual change
preceding death.
4. Cycle: series of events that follow one
another.

 o m e
S o n :
i ra ti
Insp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3K5L7nCODM&feature=youtu.be
 Throughout history and across cultures, people have been concerned with . . . LIFE
CYCLES.

.
are the series of changes in the life of an organism and how they
relate to each other.
birth, adolescence, reproduction, and death.
Inspiration Artist: ALICE NEEL (1900-1984)
Leading American portrait artist and one of the most
engaging painters of her times.
Her paintings range from the time period 1940s to the
1980s.
She painted people at different stages of life and included
different emotions and qualities of each stage. For example,
her paintings of mothers and babies reveal her deep
understanding of their close bond. Her paintings of the
elderly show empathy for the changes in body and mind that
come with old age. She also includes themes such as the
vulnerability of children, the awkwardness of adolescence,
the energy of youth, the wisdom of middle age, and the
peacefulness of later life.
 Readings: Discussion Activity

Teaching Real Art Making

Teacher will pass out a sheet of paper and pen to every

group.
Discuss the article and Memo 6 with your table.
Each group will write about what real art means to them.
Include anything that stood out to you in the article.
Group will share their ideas with the class
Answer the question: REAL ART MEANS?
Life Cycle Wheel

 Closing Thoughts:

-Clean up after finishing students life cycle plate

-Students will photograph their work
-Update their website
-Gallery Walk
- Answer and share essential questions between
peers.