Lesson Plans and Ideas
Here are a few lessons that I have enjoyed writing and teaching recently. There is no correlation between the two lessons other than the artistic and creative aspects to each. They have been adapted to programs within units of study that I have designed with my partner in teaching gifted students.
Lesson: Olympic Studies with a Zoetrope
6th Grade(other grade levels can be adapted)
This is an art lesson integrated into an Olympic Study Unit for 6th graders in the Lake Forest Gifted and Talented Program. The students meet once a week for 5 hours of their school day. We have at least 2 1/2 hour blocks of time. This lesson will take approximately 45 minutes to an hour of our day. We have been studying the Olympics under such categories as types of sports, famous athletes, history and cultural aspects of the ceremonies and economical implications to each site. Within the study of types of sports and the process of those sports each student will be asked to create an artistic rendering of a sport with in the context of a zoetrope.
The history and invention of the zoetrope will be discussed and then the format will be presented. Strips of paper precut (from a die) will be passed out and the sequence of 10 "frames" will be demonstrated. Comparisons to other animation or multi-viewing processes will be brought up and research may be pursued in discovering the development of the video camera and photograph. The teacher will demonstrate a pre-made zoetrope on a Lazy-Susan wheel or a record player to demonstrate the actual working concept of the viewing process.
Students will be asked to study the parts of the body in motion, in action and sequence within their chosen Olympic sport. The background or details of the sport should be evident with in each frame. The body should be shown in step-by-step sequence of movement and come full circle of motion within the 10 frames. (ex: if student renders a stick figure the legs should be on the ground in first frame, one leg lifted or a knee bent or arm uplifted, etc. in the second frame.) Students will use elements of design with line quality and color to convey images. Color can be added with marker or color pencil. Students will be given several zoetrope patterns for trial and error.
Each students worked once completed will be demonstrated for the class and the technical requirements, process and rules of the particular sport presented.
National Standards used:
Grades 6-8
Indicators of Achievement:
Students will explore media and techniques to create works of art.
A. Students compare and contrast different types of media and techniques used to create various two dimensional art forms.
D. Students utilize the unique characteristics of two dimensional art media and techniques to enhance the communication of ideas and experiences in works of art.
Students will use the knowledge of elements and principles of design.
B. Apply the knowledge of elements and principles of design and analyze how they are used to communicate ideas.
C. Select and use the elements and principles of design to improve the communication of their own ideas in works of art.
Rubic to assess the key concepts:
4 (exemplary) - create an artistic rendering of a sport with in the context of a zoetrope.
The background or details of the sport should be evident with in each frame. The body should be shown in step-by-step sequence of movement and come full circle of motion within the 10 frames. Color can be added with marker or color pencil. demonstrated for the class and the technical requirements, process and rules of the particular sport presented.
Lesson created by Elaine Ippolito
Directions:
ZOETROPE
(say zoheetropeJ
In the 1870's, California Governor Leland Stanford is said to have hired a photographer, Edweard Muybridge, to help him win a $25,000 bet. He bet that a horse has all four of its feet off the ground during part of its gallop. Muybridge set up a row of cameras along the race track and connected strings across the track to release the shutter on each camera. When he sent a horse galloping past the cameras, it hit the strings which clicked the cameras in rapid sequence to provide a series of photos showing the horse's movements. Muybridge used the zoetrope as a means of animating his twelve photos... (Yes, there is a moment when all four legs are off the ground!)
Cut two strips to make one zoetrope for each student. (approx. 2"x 12")
Lay out the two strips and tape together to make one long strip.
Have students draw their design under each slit, making a slight change in each drawing. It is best to choose a subject whose motion is continuous for example, a clock with hands at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00, etc. up to 12:00. The twelfth drawing should naturally connect to the first drawing to make the action seem continuous (12:00 1:00). * If you are using a record player to provide the motion and you want the hands on the clock to move correctly, place the hands on the first clock (left edge of strip) at 12:00, next 11:00, then 10:00, etc., ending with 1:00 at the far right edge of the strip.
When the drawings are complete, tape each end of the
strip together to make what will look like a "crown".
Place the "crown" on your record player, bend down, and look through the slits
to see the action come to life. (If you have a lazy Susan, it can replace the record
player.)
*Animation suggestions: airplane flying loops, frog
jumping, box opening with subject popping up and down, figure jumping rope, etc.
@) Copyright 1993 Ellison Educational Equipment, Inc.
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Updated on 3/14/07
