Unit: Picture Stories: Images & Ideas

Lesson: Jazz on a Saturday Night 

Artist Inspiration: Pablo Picasso

Essential Questions:

1. How can I use Line and Shape to create?

2. How can the environment around me help influence how I tell and create stories?

Objectives:

1. Students will create an abstract collage inspired by Jazz music and the artist Pablo Picasso.

2. Students will exhibit their knowledge of Line and Shape through the creation of their collage and through their personal reflections.

Materials Needed:

1. Sketchbook

2. Pencil and Eraser

3. Tempera Paint

4. A3 Paper

5. Scissors

6. Glue

7. Oil Pastels

Assessment:

Steps to check for student understanding

1. Students will complete a self reflection where they will use academic vocabulary to describe their artwork.

2. Students will respond to assessment questions in their sketchbooks as we work through creating our collages.

Activity

Describe activity that will reinforce the lesson

Day 1:  Students will get out their sketchbooks and warm-up by drawing instruments they can think of.  We will then talk about each person’s drawing.  Next, we will look at a sheet of paper and identify different kinds of instruments used in Jazz music.  As a class, we will listen to the read aloud: Jazz on a Saturday Night.  Next, we will turn on jazz music and create movements with our hands and arms.  We will discuss what kinds of lines we are making and review the kinds of line we have learned about.  Students will then begin working on their painted papers for their collage.  Their first paper, students will choose from a variety of colors and fill their paper with lines that they feel through the beats of the music.  Next, students will receive a new paper, and have a limited color pallette of 3 colors.  The music will selection will change and they will create a second paper in the same way.  In closing (after cleaning), we will review what we learned about Jazz music and how it can influence the art we create.  Students will be told that next week we will be introduced to the artist Pablo Picasso and his painting the Three Musicians.

Day 2:  Students will review information we have learned about the artist Pablo Picasso.  We will watch a short BrainPopJr video to give us more information about our artist.  Students will then write down important information about the artist in their sketchbook and create a portrait of Picasso.  Next, we will discuss how to create an instrument that is abstract.  Students will be asked to stretch their imagination to create their own abstract instrument.  As a class we will analyze the painting The Three Musicians.  In their sketchbooks they will choose one instrument to create in abstract form.  Students will then receive an A4 size paper to create their abstract instrument using black paint for the border and colored paint for the inside.  Students will then clean their workspaces and we will reflect on what we have learned about Picasso and abstract art.

Day 3:  To begin class, we will recall the painting we used for inspiration to create our instrument last week.  Students will then talk about what is the difference between something that is abstract and something that is concrete.  Next, we will look at our background paper and our instrument.  Students will brainstorm how we will assemble our painting.  We will review steps for creating a collage.  Students will use the remainder of class to complete their collage and add small visual details using oil pastels.  In closing, students will discuss how we used Picasso’s Three Musicians to create their abstract instrument pieces.

Day 4:  Students will take out their completed projects.  Next, we will do a gallery walk where students will walk around the room and give feedback to their artist friends.  In their sketchbooks, students will then complete a self reflection.  Students will use academic vocabulary to describe their artwork.  Time permitting, students will begin to sketch for their next assignment.