For the Teacher

Teacher Overview

This short unit is geared toward intermediate elementary students and is a wonderful way for students to share information about themselves using visual art, making it a perfect opportunity for use at the beginning of the year. Students will learn a brief history of illuminated letters and manuscripts, and then they will create an illuminated initial to represent their interests and personality.

After creating their illuminated letters, you have many choices of how students will share them. It is best to choose one before beginning the unit with students so that you are prepared when you arrive at the Let's Share portion of the unit.

Here are a few examples of what you can do:

  • Students can share their letters with partners or small groups, describing the details in their design and explaining what the designs represent.

  • Students can take turns sharing, following the same format, in front of the class.

  • Students can video share. If you have a free SeeSaw account, students could upload a picture of their illuminated letter. Then, students could record a video blog post describing the details in their letter and explaining what the designs represent.

  • Students can upload a picture of their letter and use it as their profile picture in an Edmodo account. Then, they could post the explanation.

  • The original student artwork could be displayed, or students could use it as a binder cover for a binder with a transparent folder pocket on the front.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CORE Standards Addressed

These are the standards that will be assessed at the end of the unit.

Social Studies Standards

(From The Ten Themes of the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies: A Framework for Teaching, Learning, and Assessment)

2. Time, Continuity, and Change: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of the past and its legacy.

4. Individual, Development and Identity: Social studies programs should include experiences that provide for the study of individual development and identity.

Visual Arts Standards

Anchor Standard #1: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.

Anchor Standard #11: Relate artistic ideas and works with societal, cultural and historical context to deepen understanding.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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.

Language Arts

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.SL.3.6

Speak in complete sentences when appropriate to task and situation in order to provide requested detail or clarification.

Assessment

The assessment for this unit is a checklist found in the "Let's Assess!" section. It should first be used as a self-assessment, after which students can modify their work if they choose. Then, it can be used as a formative assessment for the teacher to provide feedback.

Note: This is designed as a beginning-of-the-year project. The purpose is for students to share information about themselves, but it also sets the stage for you to present your expectations. Sometimes students don't fully realize those until they receive feedback. I use this checklist strictly as a formative assessment so that students get to know those expectations without the surprise that may come from receiving a traditional grade.


Resources and Extensions

There are many wonderful Arts Integrated lessons that can extend this topic if you would like to spend time going deeper into the art or history with your students. Most are geared towards middle and high school grade levels, but could be adapted for use with younger students.

Here are just a few: