This Lesson Explores:
photoshop, book arts, manuscripts, text, the theme of hero/heroin,
Lesson Plan
Morgan Hughes
Hero’s and Heroin’s
Grade Level: 9
BIG IDEA: Students learn more about their personalities and each other’s backgrounds while learning to use commercial digital
media in a unique way
Aim: To create a book generated by the theme of “Hero or Heroin” utilizing Photoshop technology and creative bookmaking skills
Rationale: Since ninth grade students are discovering their interests and personalities in a new high school environment this lesson will help them discover their interests while determining their inspirational idols or ideas.
Behavioral Objectives:
Based on the theme hero’s and heroine’s, create imagery using sketches and Photoshop applications with found imagery
Analyze the words hero and heroine literally and abstractly by using inquiry base learning and visuals
Understand the book arts and the endless creative possibilities
Utilize basic Photoshop skills and apply it to a book
Develop text and apply it to the represented imagery
Discuss designs and symbols in the Book of Kells and Islamic Manuscripts
Discuss creative design decisions in various book art examples
Create at least 5 pages containing a cohesive idea about hero or heroine
A. Knowledge of the Visual Arts: Students will learn about historical books such as the Book of Kells and Islamic manuscripts along with contemporary book arts
B. Art Production Skills: learn to construct and make a creative visual book while learning technical aspects of Photoshop
C. Valuing the Visual Arts Attitudes: Students Express personalities and interests by exploring who or what inspires them. Gain an appreciation for the articulate medieval manuscripts and the creative minds of contemporary book artists. Understand how to combine the significance of technology and the hands on component of art making
Materials: sketchbook, Photoshop, color printer, scanner, scissors, xacto knife, glue, thread/wire,
cardboard, matte board, photo/computer paper, found photos or images, internet access
Resources: see attached book imagery
Motivation
Display images of various contemporary book arts.
In notebooks have students write an observation about the book and then describe how each is different from a regular book they are used to seeing.
Discuss student’s answers and ask questions
How does the artist manipulate or change the paper rather than just using text or words?
How does the artist communicate?
What types of emotions do you suppose the artist was attempting to communicate through their visuals?
Display images of book of Kells and Islamic manuscript book.
How are they different from the other books we saw?
What design patterns and colors do you see?
How do these books communicate or tell a story?
Explain how books can be sacred and personal but also a way to communicate with people and express special information in a creative way. Shortly after the printing press the book became more accessible. People were able to spread their stories and ideas.
In notebooks have student list their definition of Hero or Heroine
Ask them to write 3 different people who they consider a hero or feel are special or what inspires them
Explain we will be making a creative book about their hero/heroin and using Photoshop and mixed media
Procedure
Basic introduction to Photoshop:
Show Photoshop application on projector
Open scanner place image of Current event hero students can relate to-facedown
Scan and Open photo into Photoshop
Click on crop icon and Crop photo
Change size of photo
Click on Stamp icon and show how to blur and shift images
Click on text icon and type over photo
Use layer box to show how each image can be put into a layer
Use eraser tool
Use step backward icon to show how to go back if made mistake
Click on Image, Adjustments and explain the various ways to manipulate color
Save and print image
Display original image and the finished product
Cut photo out creative shape and glue over another existing photo to demonstrate how to use collage and further manipulate an image
Ask students to begin sketching and brainstorming about images they can download from the Internet or images to bring in from home and scan
Assessment Strategies:
Formative
Classroom discussion and participation is provided
Compare and contrast creative and traditional books
Questions are asked and answered throughout lesson
Observe sketches and discuss what book formations they will use to create their hero book
Scan room to make sure students are understanding, listening and following direction
Students record observations of references from beginning and definition of hero
Summative
Students are provided with rubric to stay on task
Critique will be provided after first printing of student’s images to determine if students are keeping with assignment
Last class will be a critique of finished hero books
Methods and Strategies for Differentiation
1. Inquiry based learning: question are asked and answered throughout lesson along with comparing and contrasting
2. Auditory: discussions and questions are prevalent throughout lesson and procedure is explained verbally
3. Kinesthetic/Tactile: will be able to build and use materials creatively
4. Visual: images are shown in motivation and procedure is demonstrated
Closure:
What imagery did students use to communicate the theme of hero?
How were the students influenced by the examples and imagery provided in class?
What technical tools did the students use to manipulate the photos?
How did students structure and/or bind their pages together?
NYS Learning Standards:
1. Creative Opportunities: Students discuss and create issues that deal with their personalities, inspirations and challenge the notion of a book. They create a project utilizing both technologies, specifically Photoshop, along with hands on materials.
2. Knowledge of the arts: Students observe and analyze both historical and contemporary art relating it to a specific theme in hero and heroin. They use the computer as a means to create art.
3. Valuing the Visual Arts: Students learn how to connect traditional and contemporary art. They learn the steps turning an idea into a finished product
NYC Blueprint Strands:
I. Art making: Students learn and apply Photoshop techniques along with constructing a book by hand
II. Literacy in the Visual Arts: Students learn to discuss and describe what they are observing while writing definitions and ideas down
III. Making connections through visual arts: Students recognize connections between traditional and contemporary books and the various styles that are presented and apply them in their own project.
V. Community and cultural resources: Students are challenged by the traditional, everyday book and realize working artists express themselves in a creative medium