This lesson explores:
Cultural pluralism, collaboration, individuality, primary colors, secondary colors, shape, and line
Lesson Plan
Morgan Hughes
Watercolor painting
Grade 4
Big Idea: Students Learn about each others unique individuality while collaboratively displaying a painting project
DAY 1
Aim: To read The Green Apple and practice drawing the unique shapes of various apples.
Learning Objectives
Teach cultural pluralism. To focus on tolerance and understanding of those who may seem different or come from other cultures by reading The Green Apple
To learn how to communicate better
To learn about sketching and making mistakes
To learn how to observe and document an object and its shape
Vocabulary/Key Words
Shape, Form, Primary, Complimentary Colors, Unique, Similar, Culture, Communication
Materials
The book: The Green Apple by Eve Bunting, 8.5x11 drawing paper, pencils, images of apples, and real apples
Motivation
Read the Story The Green Apple by Eve Bunting illustrated by Ted Lewin:
Where does Farah’s class go for a trip?
How does Farah feel at the beginning of the book?
Why does she feel this way?
What does Anna, the other girl do to make Farah feel better?
How were the other children able to communicate with Farah even though she did could not speak their language?
What are some ways of communicating with people other than talking?
How come some of the students did not want the green apple mixed in the rest of the cider?
What happened when the green apple was mixed in and everyone tasted it?
Presentation of Content
Teacher will ask questions:
Who has ever gone apple picking at an orchard?
What color apples did you see there?
What was their shape?
What apples do you like the best?
When I hold up this apple what shape does it make
Extensions
Other books on cultural diversity and pluralism will be introduced and perhaps a trip to an apple orchard during the autumn season. Move onto mixing colors.
NYC Strands of Arts Learning:
I. Arts Making
II. Literacy in the Visual Arts
III. Making Connections
V. Careers and Lifelong Learning
Day 2
Learning Objectives
To create a tempera painting of apples based on the book The Green Apple (This book has watercolor illustrations. It is about a Muslim girl who is a new student in an American school. Her class goes on a trip to an apple orchard. She picks a green apple while all the others have red and they class makes apple cider together)
Create a finished collaborative project.
Learning how to layer using tempera paints while introducing complimentary colors and reviewing primary colors.
Vocabulary/Key Words
Primary, Complimentary Colors, Unique, Similar, Culture, Communication
Materials
8.5”x 11” construction paper, scissors and apples (or photos of apples), large tree cut out and placed on classroom wall.
Presentation of Content
When I hold up this apple what colors other than red do you see?
What colors are the primary colors?
What types of lines can I make with a brush?
When I blend red and blue together what color appears?
When I blend blue and yellow together what happens?
What color do I get when I blend red and yellow?
When I blend red and blue together what happens?
Teacher will demonstrate:
How to blend primary colors (review)
How to first draw an apple
Why we use lighter colors first to paint
How to dip brush in water to clean, then mix paint and apply it to paper
How to cut perimeter of apple with scissors when finished
Teacher will explain:
Students can choose to paint any color apple or make up an apple color of their choice to represent their individuality. Each apple will be displayed in the paper tree in front of the class to represent everyone’s uniqueness but it takes the whole class to have one complete beautiful tree.
Assessment and Evaluation
Teacher will guide and help students decide what color and shape they want their apple to be. The apple can be as simple or complex as the student chooses
Teacher will walk around room holding up examples of work that shows use of primary and secondary color choices and variation.
Teacher will make corrections of any misuse of scissors
Teacher will make sure all directions are being followed
NYC Strands of Arts Learning:
I. Arts Making
II. Literacy in the Visual Arts
III. Making Connections
V. Careers and Lifelong Learning