Objective:

Students will create a collaborative mural that tells a visual story, incorporating elements of shape, color, and composition from visual arts, while practicing computational thinking through problem-solving and collaboration.

Materials Needed:

• Large butcher paper or mural paper

• Markers, crayons, colored pencils

• Visual arts references (color wheels, shape guides)

• Story prompt for the mural theme

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Begin by introducing the concept of collaborative art and how artists use shapes, colors, and designs to tell stories in murals. 

  • Explain how breaking down a large project (like a mural) into smaller tasks relates to problem-solving in computational thinking.

• Group Activity:

  • Divide students into small groups, assigning each group a section of the mural. 

  • Each group will be responsible for one part of the overall story, ensuring their section aligns with the overall theme and color scheme. 

  • Encourage students to plan their section by first sketching their designs, paying attention to how they can create balance and unity across the mural.

• Creating the Mural:

  • As students work together, they will need to communicate with other groups to ensure the elements of the mural flow together. 

  • They will make decisions about color, shape, and composition to ensure each part of the mural connects seamlessly with the others. 

  • This process helps students practice problem-solving and abstraction as they break down the larger mural into manageable parts.

• Testing and Refining:

  • After the mural is initially sketched and colored, students will review the entire artwork to ensure consistency. 

  • They will collaborate to refine and adjust any areas that need improvement, focusing on making sure the entire mural tells a cohesive story.

• Presentation and Discussion:

  • Students will present their mural to the class, explaining the artistic choices they made and how each group’s section contributes to the whole. 

  • A discussion will follow on how computational thinking helped them plan, execute, and refine their artwork collaboratively.

Equity and Access:

Provide visual aids and step-by-step instructions for students who may need additional guidance. Group students of different skill levels together to foster collaboration and peer support.

Real-World Application:

Relate the lesson to real-world mural projects in communities, showing how artists often collaborate and use design principles to communicate messages or stories.

CS Practice(s):

• Collaborating Around Computing: Students collaborate to create a unified mural, applying principles of problem-solving and communication.

• Developing and Using Abstractions: Students break down the mural into smaller parts, applying abstraction to connect the sections.

Standard(s):

• CA Arts 4.VA:Cr1.1

• CA Arts 4.VA:Cr1.2

• CA Arts 4.VA:Cr3

• CA CS 3-5.AP.13

Objective:

Students will use Scratch or another coding platform to create a digital storytelling project that integrates visual arts concepts, such as creating balanced compositions and using color theory. Students will animate a short story that incorporates artistic principles while developing computational thinking through coding.

Materials Needed:

• Tablets or computers

• Art reference materials (color wheels, composition guides)

• Nonfiction or fiction text for story inspiration

Steps:

• Introduction:

  • Start by discussing how visual elements like color, shape, and balance are used in visual arts to convey emotions or meaning. 

  • Explain that these same artistic principles can be applied in digital media, including animations. 

  • Introduce a coding platform as a way to bring stories to life using coding and visual arts.

• Group Activity:

  • In pairs, students will select a short story and identify key moments to animate. 

  • Using a coding platform, they will create characters and backgrounds that follow visual arts principles, such as balanced compositions and the strategic use of color to evoke emotions. 

  • For example, a sunset might use warm colors to set a calm or dramatic mood. 

  • They will also ensure that the transitions between scenes are smooth, applying coding logic to animate their characters’ movements.

• Creating and Coding:

  • Encourage students to use the block-based coding system to create loops and sequences in their animations. 

  • They will use art principles, such as symmetry and color contrast, to design backgrounds and characters, while also ensuring that the coding commands allow for smooth transitions and interactions.

• Testing and Refining:

  • Students will test their animations to ensure their coding works as intended and that the visual elements contribute to the overall story. 

  • They will refine their work based on peer feedback.

• Presentation and Discussion:

  • Each group will present their digital animation, explaining the visual arts principles they used and how they applied coding to bring the story to life. 

  • A discussion on how digital tools allow for artistic expression in new forms will conclude the lesson.

Equity and Access:

Provide pre-designed coding templates with basic art elements for students who need extra support. Encourage peer collaboration to ensure all students can contribute to both the art and coding aspects of the project.

Real-World Application:

Connect the lesson to careers in digital media, such as animation and graphic design, where coding and visual arts are often integrated to create compelling content.

CS Practice(s):

• Creating Computational Artifacts: Students use a coding platform to combine coding with visual storytelling.

• Recognizing and Defining Computational Problems: Students solve artistic and technical challenges in their animations.

Standard(s):

• CA Arts 4.VA:Cr1.1

• CA CS 3-5.AP.12

• CA CS 3-5.AP.17