Shape Lesson with Pablo Picasso K-2

Objective

For this lesson I will be addressing the K-2 Arizona Art Anchor Standard #2 (A) - Organize and Develop Artistic Ideas and Work.  Students will be able to create art with different formats and mediums. They will see how an artist from a different cultural background vastly changed the landscape of art.  Students will be able to create a self profile allowing them to explore their personal interests.

Methodology

Pablo Picasso is one of the founders of Cubism and is largely regarded as one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century.  He used various shapes and line depth to create compositions.  This lesson will show students how to create interesting pieces of art using shape and line in different mediums.

Pablo Picasso Self Portrait

Students will first watch this video on the style of Pablo Picasso.  While video is playing pause at intervals that discuss shapes and lines, write those vocabulary words on the board so students may jot them down in their sketch book along with the name Pablo Picasso.  (3:00 is a good point to pause for shape discussion & 5:24 is a good spot to talk about lines)

Next, students will go to a site where they can create their own Picasso profiles.   You can either book a day in the computer lab for this or have students bring their tablets with them to class that day.  Here is a look at my Picasso Head I created using the generator.

In Between

Take the rest of the class time letting students explore the generator.  They can experiment with color, increasing image size, rotating, flipping, coloring the shapes, bringing shapes to the front or sending them back.  When they have an image they like, have them email it to you.

Before students leave, pass out the homework assignment.  You can find a detailed explanation of it here.  It is called Roll A Picasso and you can download it for $3!  Very basically, roll the dice and draw the shape that corresponds to the number you rolled.  Students should play this at home with their family and draw their Picasso's in their sketch book.  Hopefully this will also lead to discussions about Picasso and the family can research his work together.

For the next class, print off the Picasso heads that your students made with the generator and have them at the desks when they arrive.  Add these to their sketch book. (Their sketch book should have all sorts of goodies to reflect on by the end of the year.  Their portfolios will be comprised of their masterpieces).

Now comes the masterpiece!  I visited Kelsey Lapin's blog for some great inspiration on how to create the final work of art.  Have student's reflect back on the Picassos they have made via the generator and game.  Ask them to create 4 features (eyes, lips, hair etc.) using shapes and then color them. Cut them out and paste on a paper.  Using line, they can add a face profile or full face outline.  Demonstrate how adding borders or varying line thickness creates their own unique look.  Now encourage them to add lots of color to create a certain mood. VOILA! Below is the process for the project.  Mine was inspired by my Picasso generator image above.

Ms Cahoon's Finished Composition

Mr. Sage's 5th Grade Class

After students have completed their art find a place to proudly exhibit them.  If your school does not have a lot of exhibit space search out other locations like libraries, cafes or churches.

Assesment

Rubric

Evaluation

Students will come to class prepared to show case their art work.  They will reflect on their piece explaining how they chose certain features and why they used them the way they did.  They will be required to use two vocabulary words discussed in the lesson plan.  They will also need to talk about one way Picasso influenced their art work.  During peer reflection they will be encouraged to use the art vocabulary they learned about in the lesson and NOT use adjectives like cute, pretty and cool unless they can back it up with a substantial reason why.