Outside Painting
Tools and Materials: Artwork of various artists, sharpies to represent detail, watercolor, clipboards, paper, water, cups for water, brushes, sponges
Introduction:
Meet on the playground. Have supplies set out for students. When students arrive have them sit in a circle for discussion and instructions. (This assignment could easily be done as an art field trip at a location outside of school, a public park, a downtown area, etc.)
Explain to the students that during the lesson they will be exploring creativity. Ask the following questions and discuss.
Introduction:
Meet on the playground. Have supplies set out for students. When students arrive have them sit in a circle for discussion and instructions. (This assignment could easily be done as an art field trip at a location outside of school, a public park, a downtown area, etc.)
Explain to the students that during the lesson they will be exploring creativity. Ask the following questions and discuss.
- What makes a person creative?
- They think of new ideas
- They approach things in ways that are original to them
- They are inventive and resourceful
- They look at new possibilities to solving problems as they work on projects
- How can you develop your creativity?
- Do not worry what other people think about your work
- Do not be afraid—of rejection, of being different, of not doing it right, or of getting a bad grade
- Examine different ways of doing things
- If you don’t have what you need, think about what else you can use
- Try doing things a new way
- Take time to think about it; pray about it
- Talk about your ideas with someone else; get a second opinion
- Practice and look at things you are interested in, study them
- View artwork by Vincent Van Gogh Starry Night, Kelly Tracht: Pink Cadillac Regatta, Willie Daniels: Florida Landscape. (Tracht and Daniels are local Florida artists.) Students critique the paintings and discuss the unique characteristics of each one. Ask students how each artist demonstrates creativity in their work.
- Explain to students: Today we will be painting outside on the playground. You can paint color, shapes, patterns, lines, or texture. You can paint what you feel, what you see, what you hear, what you imagine, what you know. Don’t worry what other people think. There is no one way to paint. There are lots of ways to paint. And there is your way to paint. If you don’t like the way it looks, try something different. Maybe in the past you have wanted to paint things you see, but feel that you can’t draw them to look real. Don’t let that trouble you. Painting is not copying. It is a selection, an interpretation, and an organization of what you put in your picture. Today all I want you to do is just paint.
- Students create watercolor paintings.
- Eight minutes before class ends, students will wash out their brushes and water cups and return supplies to the designated place.
- Students will write their name on an Exit card and answer the following question: Where did you get your ideas for your painting today?
- Formative: Assessment is done through teacher observation of student’s participation during group discussions, during painting, and during informal interviews. Learners should be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of what creativity means and if they consider themselves creative.
- Summative: Individual artwork will be reviewed for thinking of new ideas, for approaching something in a way that is original to them, and for looking at new possibilities to solve problems that occur as they work.
