Lesson Title: Changing Appearances- Abstract Shoes

Grade: 4
Unit: Appearances- Seeing Our World
Lesson Duration: 7-45 minute classes
Lesson Objectives:

Students will understand the difference between photo realism and abstract.
Student will learn processes to abstracting an image.
Students will become familiar with abstract work and artists.
Students will create an abstract piece by drawing from direct observation.
Students will abstract the image by zooming in/cropping, changing the color/non-traditional
color, and adding shapes and lines that do not exist in the actual object.
Students will become familiar with drawing techniques using chalk pastels such as blending and
color mixing.
Students will use complimentary and analogous colors appropriately.

SOLs:

4.4/4.5- The student will identify and apply the element of art and principles of design to
express meaning in works of art.
4.8- The student will use contour drawing and shading techniques in observational drawings.
4.11/4.12/4.13- Students will understand the development of artistic styles, genres and subject
matter throughout history.
4.16 The student will examine and discuss abstract, representational and nonrepresentational
works of art.

Lesson Sequence:
1. Introduction of the brain and creativity. Students write this in sketchbook.
2. Power-point on abstract art. Students will discuss the difference between photorealism and
abstraction.
3. Demonstrate the project to the class. A frame is used to crop the shoe.
4. The students will be drawing this area of the shoe larger than it appears.
5. After drawing what they see, the students will add shapes and lines to abstract the shoe.
Examples of cubism are reviewed during the Power-point to prepare students for this.
6. Students will then use chalk pastels to color the drawings. The students will use non-traditional
colors to abstract their shoe. Students will also display use of analogous colors and
complimentary colors appropriately. Students will blend analogous colors and will place
complimentary colors next to one another.
7. Students will reflect on their work and write about their work in their sketchbook.
8. After writing in the sketchbook students will use these ideas to write an artist statement that
can be placed with their work for showing.

Enduring Understanding:
Students will gain an understanding of photorealism and abstract art. Students will know different
techniques used to abstract an image from direct observation. Students will understand how abstract
art is created from representational objects that are abstracted or changed through an artists creativity.
This lesson will deepen and expand the students understanding of what art is.

Essential Questions:

What is realistic art?

What is abstract art?
Does a picture have to look real to be art?
How does an artist make abstract art?

Lesson/Unit/Anticipatory set:
A presentation is given on how the two sides of our brain control how we think and how we create. The
class discusses how the two sides of our brain affect our view of things. The class discusses appearances
and how using one side of the brain is different from using the other when doing art. Students are given
one minute to draw their hand. We then talk about how they use their memory to draw their hand
instead of looking and drawing from observation. Students know draw their thumb but they can only
look at their thumb and not their paper. This shows the difference between drawing what you think a
hand looks like and drawing from observation.
Closure:
Students will reflect on their work and write about the process, how they abstracted the shoe and what
they do in their shoes. They will then use these ideas to write an artist statement about the work.
Materials:
Teacher:

Power Point
Projector
Laptop

Students:

Chalk Pastels
Pencils
Paper towels
Water
Paper
Frames
Shoes