Embedded Files
Teacher Overview
This unit is meant for grades 4-6. Expository writing can be a hurdle for many students. These lessons pair the artwork of Van Gogh with 3 types of expository writing styles to provide an opportunity to explore how art is both a piece of text and something to consider, study and reflect upon based on its own merit.
Van Gogh created both series and versions of specific themes. In these lessons, students look at the Sunflowers series and the three versions of Bedroom in Arles to understand how artists revise and edit their work over time, and to analyze these differences through Descriptive, Process, and Comparative writing.
Finally, students create their own piece of artwork in 2 versions. Once completed, they participate in an artwork swap with other students in their class who will choose one type of expository writing style to analyze and describe the work.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Printables
You can download this PDF packet of all the printable documents in this unit. This may save you time when looking for handouts. Simply download the packet, select the printable handout you want students to use and make as many copies as necessary for your class.
DOWNLOAD THE FULL PACK OF PRINTABLES
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Assessment
The assessment for this unit is a checklist that can be used for both the pieces of artwork produced, as well as the expository pieces of writing. You can use the same checklist for each work production (the practice pieces of writing, the letters home, and the two versions of artwork), or you can select just one of these items to assess with this checklist.
STANDARDS ASSESSED
STANDARDS ASSESSED
CORE Standards Addressed
These are the standards that will be assessed at the end of the unit.
Writing Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2 Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly.
Visual Arts Standard
VA:Re8.1.5a 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
ADDITIONAL STANDARDS ADDRESSED
ADDITIONAL STANDARDS ADDRESSED
Additional Standards Addressed
These are the standards which are also addressed in the unit, but which are not the focus for assessment of skills and process.
Writing Standards
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.A Introduce a topic clearly, provide a general observation and focus, and group related information logically; include formatting (e.g., headings), illustrations, and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.B Develop the topic with facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples related to the topic.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.C Link ideas within and across categories of information using words, phrases, and clauses (e.g., in contrast, especially).
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.D Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.2.E Provide a concluding statement or section related to the information or explanation presented.
READING STANDARDS
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.6 Analyze multiple accounts of the same event or topic, noting important similarities and differences in the point of view they represent.
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.5.9 Integrate information from several texts on the same topic in order to write or speak about the subject knowledgeably.
Visual Art
VA:Cr1.2.5a Identify and demonstrate diverse methods of artistic investigation to choose an approach for beginning a work of art.
VA:Re.7.1.5a Compare one's own interpretation of a work of art with the interpretation of others.
Report abuse