Art Integration Lesson Plan Template 1

Art Integration Lesson Plan Template

LTC 4240: Art for Children

Lesson Title & Big Idea: Earth Day Fun, Relationships Grade Level 4
th
grade
Lesson Overview/Summary:
Students will learn why it is important to protect the planet and different ways to help our planet through reading The
Lorax and doing a recycling campaign using found recyclable objects.


Class Periods Required:
(please circle)

1 2 3
Key Concepts: What you want the students to know
1. Visual Art: Students will know what a found object is and about Jean Shin.

2. Literacy: Students will develop reading comprehension and application
skills.

3. Science: Students will know ways to help the environment and about
pollution.

Essential Questions:
What positive/helpful relationships exist between Earth and
humans?
What negative relationships exist between Earth and humans?
How does The Lorax relate to our environment?
What is a found object?


Lesson Objectives: What you want the students to do.
1. Visual Art: The students will be able to create a sculpture using recyclable materials.

2. Literacy: The students will be able to comprehend The Lorax and compare and contrast The Lorax and Earth today.

3. Science: The students will be able to understand how they can help the environment and how pollution occurs.

Grade Level Expectations (GLEs)
1. Visual Art: Create an original artwork that communicates ideas about the
following themes: Missouri, the Environment, and time (e.g. past, present,
and future.
2. Literacy: Identify and explain relevant connections between text to text
(text ideas --- information and relationships in various fiction and non-fiction
works-- compare and contrast), text to self (text ideas and own experiences),
text to world (text ideas and the world by demonstrating an awareness that
literature reflects a culture and historic time frame)
Identify & define common vocabulary that connect the art form with the
other identified content areas:
Found object: a natural or manufactured abject that is not typically
incorporated into art
Recycle: to treat or process used or wasted materials so the object
can be reused or turned into another object
Pollution: undesirable state of the natural environment being
contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human
activities
Compare and contrast: tell how two or more things are alike and
how they are different
Art Integration Lesson Plan Template 2

3. Science: Identify and give examples in Missouri where human activity has
had a beneficial or harmful effect on other organisms (e.g., feeding birds,
littering vs. picking up trash, hunting/conservation of species,
paving/restoring green space)




Content Areas Integrated:
1. Visual Art (Inspiration Artist: Jean Shin)
2. Literacy
3. Science

Lesson Activities & Procedure(s) (please be very specific):
Before lesson:
1. Read The Lorax before the class period as a fun read aloud
2. Have students bring in objects that can be recycled
Day 1:
1. Students will start with a VTS using the following picture
http://coastalcare.org/2009/11/plastic-pollution/
2. The teacher will let the students steer the direction of the lesson
using the VTS
3. After VTS the teacher will facilitate a discussion about pollution and
students will generate a list of how we pollute the earth
4. Introduce Earth Day and explain what Earth Day is
5. Teacher states the essential questions.
6. Read The Lorax for a second time and have students look for
examples of how The Lorax relates to the environment
7. Students then generate another class list of ways The Lorax relates
to the environment.
8. To work on compare and contrasting skills, students will use a Venn
diagram to compare and contrast The Lorax and our environment in
their literacy notebooks.
Day 2:
1. Read over the lists the student generated in the previous class over
ways we harm the Earth and how the Lorax relates to the
environment
2. Put students in groups of 2 and have students think of ways they can
help the environment
3. Each group will write one suggestion on a sticky note and place it on
the board to create a class list
4. Class comes back together and have a discussion about ways to save
the planet and how every small deed helps
Art Integration Lesson Plan Template 3

5. Introduce Jean Shin and found objects
6. Show examples of Jean Shins found object sculptures
7. Explain how students will use recyclable found objects to create a
campaign that will help spread the word about recycling and saving
the environment
8. Put students into pairs and have them brainstorm an idea for their
campaign sculpture
Day 3:
1. Restate the purpose of the found object studio
2. Students begin work on their sculptures in pairs
3. During the work time the teacher will walk around and answer any
questions and check in with each pair
4. After students have finished their sculpture, they will name the
sculpture and write a paragraph about their artistic decisions, what
they sculpture is portraying, and why it is important to help the
planet
5. Students do a museum walkthrough of finished sculptures and write
positive comments or noticings on sticky notes for each other
6. Teacher places finished sculptures and paragraphs around school, in
office, or creates a mini hallway museum to spread the word of
saving the planet

Anticipatory Set (Gaining Attention):
To gain the students attention and have students realize the importance
of doing their part to help the planet, students will VTS a photograph that
contains a polluted lake.

Closure (Reflecting Anticipatory Set):
Students will do a walkthrough of other students sculptures and will
write positive comments or noticings for each other on sticky notes.


Formative Assessment strategy:
The teacher will meet with each pair while they are working on their
sculptures. The teacher will ask questions about the sculpture and the artistic
process. During this time, the teacher will also make sure students
understand why it is important to help the planet and ways they can make a
difference.



Summative Assessment strategy:
The teacher will assess student understanding and comprehension of
the reading and ways to help the Earth by looking at students Venn
diagrams and paragraphs they wrote after finishing their sculptures.
Art Integration Lesson Plan Template 4

What student prior knowledge will this lesson require/draw upon?
For this lesson, students will need to have previous knowledge of The Lorax from a previous read aloud. Students will also need to know what recycling
is and have a general understanding of what can be recycled. Students will also need to have previous experiences using a Venn diagram.

How will you engage students in imagining, exploring, and/or experimenting in this lesson?
Students will be engaged in imaging, exploring, and experimenting by working with a partner to create a found object sculpture that with a save the
planet thing. Students will explore and experiment by using different types of recyclable materials in their found object sculptures. Students will imagine by
trying to think of a world without pollution and a world where everyone did their part.

How will this lesson allow for/encourage students to solve problems in divergent ways?
Students are creating a save the planet campaign using art and giving students the opportunity to get involved by using art and doing a fun and
meaningful activity. Students will learn that they can make a difference and one person can make a difference. This lesson can instill problem-solving skills by
portraying that there is always something you can do to make a difference.

How will you engage students in routinely reflecting on their learning?
Students will routinely reflect on their learning through pair sharing with a partner, writing a reflection paragraph after finishing their found object
sculpture, commenting on others art, and through asking and answering questions throughout the whole lesson.

How will you adapt the various aspects of the lesson to differently-abeled students?
For students who struggle with reading comprehension, I will have the book on tape so students can listen to the book again after the whole class read
aloud. Students will be working in groups and this will ensure that all students can participate in the lesson and give support to students who need more
help. Peer tutoring is a major component of this lesson.

What opportunities/activities will students be given to revise and improve their understandings and their work?
Students will build on their knowledge of pollution and ways to help the planet by going over the class lists in the beginning of class. Students will also
have a list in their notebooks and can add more ways throughout the lesson. Each day the lesson goes more in depth to give students a more meaningful and
engaging lesson.

What opportunities/activities will you provide for students to share their learning in this lesson?
Students will share in their learning with others through the display of their found object sculpture, the paragraph reflection that is placed with the
sculptures, and providing comments to each other about their sculptures.

Lesson Resources/References (please be very specific by providing links, authors, titles, etc.):
- The Lorax, Dr. Seuss
- VTS picture http://coastalcare.org/2009/11/plastic-pollution/
- Jean Shin artwork http://www.jeanshin.com
Art Integration Lesson Plan Template 5


References
Silverstein, L. B. & Layne, S. (n.d.). Defining arts integration. Retrieved from
http://www.americansforthearts.org/networks/arts_education/publications/special_publications/Defining%20Arts%20Integration.pdf
VTS photo: