Susan & Joshua - April 26, 2008

 

Title: Repeat After M.C. Geometric - Organic

Level: 5th Grade

Description: Repeated shapes and images are often very interesting. Different types of organic and geometric shapes will be explored and eventually used together to create a repeating pattern or image. By creating a stamp of an image or shape, it can be repeated indefinitely, which will be utilized in this piece. M.C. Escher also used this style of repetition in his tessellations, which will be introduced in this lesson.

Objectives:
- Students will be able to identify and describe organic and geometric shapes.
- Students will be able to manipulate materials properly and in a safe manner
- Students will be able to create a visually interesting repeating pattern
- Students will be able to relate their own pieces to the works of M.C. Escher

Materials:

Wooden blocks

Fun Foam

Ink pads (watercolor markers can also be used)

Wood glue

Scissors

Examples of M.C. Escher’s work

Pen

Paper

 

Sequence:

Day one: Students will be able to identify and evaluate key features of works by M.C. Escher
- Introduction to M.C. Escher’s work.
- Introduction to organic and geometric shapes
- Students asked to come up with own shapes in sketchbook for next day. At least 5 of each.

Day two: Students will be able to discuss space and its properties
- Students will show the shapes they came up with
- Intro to repetition and space (negative and positive). Show how M.C. Escher uses space.
- Students will see how their shapes can possibly fit together, like those of M.C. Escher and in the space discussion
- Trace the repeating shapes onto a piece of drawing paper to get layout ideas

Day three: Students will be able to experiment with new materials and processes
- The idea of stamping to get repetition will be explained
- Intro to creating a stamp
- Students will be asked to pick at least one organic and one geometric shape that they would like to use in their piece

Day four: Students will be able to build confidence in a method and make decisions about their readiness to move on to a higher level
- Students will finish creating their stamps
- Stamping method will be demonstrated with either ink pads or watercolor markers
- Practice stamping
- Begin on final piece if they feel comfortable with the stamping process

Day five: Students will be able to observe and discuss details in a given piece of work
- Revisit M.C. Escher’s piece, point out the details added into the shapes to make them look like something
- Students may add details to their pieces, or leave them plain if they like

Day six: Students will be able to accommodate for a time limit in class and have a finished product
- Time to complete their projects at the beginning of class
- Students will exhibit their pieces and talk about them in an open critique forum

Standards:
Understanding and applying media, techniques, and processes:
- Students select media, techniques, and processes; analyze what makes them effective or not effective in communicating ideas; and reflect upon the effectiveness of their choices
- Students intentionally take advantage of the qualities and characteristics of art media, techniques, and processes to enhance communication of their experiences and ideas
Using knowledge of structures and functions:
- Students generalize about the effects of visual structures and functions and reflect upon these effects in their own work
Reflecting upon and assessing the characteristics and merits of their work and the work of others: 
- Students describe and compare a variety of individual responses to their own artworks and to artworks from various eras and cultures
Making connections between visual arts and other disciplines:
-
Students compare the characteristics of works in two or more art forms that share similar subject matter, historical periods, or cultural context

Assessment:
- Rubric completed by student and instructor