VTS-Integrated Unit Planning Guide

LTC 8746: Visual Thinking Strategies II

Adapted from Walker (2001) by Mary J. Franco, PhD

Unit Title: Friendship Puppet Show Grade Level: K

Unit Designer: Becky Hermann Curriculum Topic: Sculpture, Performance
National Core Arts Standards (NCAS) Addressed:
Identify uses of art within one’s personal environment. VA:Re.7.1.K
Create art that tells a story about a life experience.  VA:Cn.10.1.K
Through experimentation, build skills in various media and approaches to art-making.
VA:Cr2.1.K
Interpret art by identifying subject matter and describing relevant details. VA:Re.8.1.K

District Curriculum Goals & Objectives Addressed:

Students will create an original 3D artwork.

Unit Rationale:
It’s important for students of any age to think about and find ways to value the friendships in
their lives.

Conceptual Big Idea Friendship

Framework Enduring List 2-3 Key Concepts or Enduring Understandings students will
Understand acquire about the Big Idea.
ings (EUs) 1. Friendship is a warm feeling we show to others by using kind
words and kind actions.
2. Artists can show ideas about friendship.

Essential List 2-3 Essential Questions that flow directly from the key concepts
Questions (EUs) about the Big Idea
(EQs) 1. How does a good friend show us that s/he is a good friend?
2. How do we show friendship to one another as we make art in the
art room?
3. How do artists show friendship in their artworks?

Key Artistic List 2-3 Key Artistic Concepts that will inform artistic exploration of
Concepts the Big Idea
(KACs) 1. Draw to reflect on a current or past friendship
2. Sculpt to create finger puppets that are representational of self
3. Present a puppet show to demonstrate friendship
 VTS VTS Image Title & Artist: Untitled, HT KëñShï
Instructional #1
Activities

This image sets an initial boundary of working within the realm of

friendship; specifically, the actions and words that a friend uses to
show us that he or she is a good friend. That boundary will guide the
reflection process for students to draw about a friend that has shown
them the warm feeling of friendship. The artistic problem to be
solved is for students to use images to show the feeling of a
friendship.

EUs introduced by VTS Image #1:

1. Friendship is a warm feeling we show to others by using kind
words and kind actions.
2. Artists can show ideas about friendship.

EQs seeded by VTS Image #1:

1. How does a good friend show us that s/he is a good friend?
2. How do artists show friendship in their artworks?

KACs represented by VTS Image #1:

Draw to reflect on a current or past friendship
VTS Image Title & Artist: Teasing Children, Fanny Brate
#2

EUs reinforced & elaborated by VTS Image #2:

1. Friendship is a warm feeling we show to others by using kind
words and kind actions.
2. Artists can show ideas about friendship.

EQs explored by VTS Image #2:

How does a good friend show us that s/he is a good friend?
What would a good friend have done in this image to help?
How do artists show friendship in their artworks? How is this an
example of an artist showing the opposite of friendship?
How do we show friendship to one another as we make art in
the art room?

New perspective(s) on the Big Idea introduced by Image #2:

A lack of friendship can result in bullying.
Unkind words and unkind actions result in bad feelings.
VTS Image Title & Artist: Shortcut, Jane DeDecker
#3

I wanted something 3D to reinforce how friendship can be depicted

in multiple ways by artists.

EUs & KACs assessed by VTS Image #3:

Friendship is a warm feeling we show to others by using kind words
and kind actions.
Artists can show ideas about friendship.

Sculpture

EQs reignited by VTS Image #3:

How do artists show friendship in their artworks?

Additional perspective(s) on the Big Idea prompted for continued

exploration by VTS Image 3:
Representations of friendships take a variety of forms: photographs,
paintings, puppet shows, books, videos and even outdoor
sculptures.
 Students will further explore Key Concepts or EUs about the Big Idea by:

Brainstorming what kinds of words and actions are used by a friend.

Engaging in a picture survey as a whole group. Images are presented that show
both good and bad examples of friendship qualities; students participate to
separate the exemplars into categories: friendship or not friendship

Students will consider & investigate Essential Questions about the Big Idea by:

In response to the 1st VTS session, students will reflect on their own experiences
with friendship through drawing. At the end of class, students will partner up
and answer the question of “How did you show the idea of friendship in your
picture?”

Listening and Responding to:

The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, read by Ernest Borgnine: http://
www.storylineonline.net/books/the-rainbow-fish/
- Comprehension Questions:
Non-VTS Why was the Rainbow Fish sad at the beginning?
Instructional How did the Rainbow Fish make friends? How did that make him feel?
Activities Add answers to an anchor chart.
- Personal connection:
How do we show friendship to one another as we make art in the art room? Give
an example of something you’ve done, something you’ve seen (or heard) done,
or something you could do or say.

Students will explore Key Artistic Concepts by:

Drawing about actions and feelings associated with their own friendships.
Practicing how to make a finger puppet by first using modeling dough.
Building a finger puppet our of Model Magic and then painting it once it is dry.
Performing with at least one classmate the actions and words associated with the
warm feelings of friendship.

Students will develop/expand Artmaking Knowledge by:

Working with and talking with other students about their ideas and ways of
creating.
Seeing various forms of approaching the big idea of friendship.
 How will students engage with, explore, expand, & visually express
understanding of the Big Idea
through artmaking? Describe &/or visually diagram the studio art activity or
activities in the space below.

Draw about friendship and then reflect

Create puppets: practice, create, paint

Studio
Artmaking
Activities
 List & briefly describe FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT activities/strategies.

VTS sessions - Are students commenting on friendship qualities? In the second

image, are the students noticing the unkind words and unkind actions? Do they
notice in the 3rd image the sculptural aspects?
Checklists - addressing standards and essential questions; kept throughout the
unit
30 second feedback - check in with students, especially during the sculptural
process. (Give a buffer, provide a specific positive, provide a specific area of
growth, thank)
Partner discussion questions - addressing progress and personal connections
Assessment Thumbs up, Thumbs down - picture survey defining kind words and kind actions
Activities that may be associated with a friendship

List & briefly describe SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT activities/strategies.

Puppet creation - Did the student create a finger puppet representative of self? Is
the puppet complete and ready for presentation in front of peers?
Performance - Did the student act out kind words and kind actions that could be
associated with friendship? Did the class use kind words and kind actions in
response to the presenters?

VTS-INTEGRATED STUDIO ART UNIT OUTLINE

Lesson #1
Total Minutes 30 Image 1 and picture survey to define friendship - reflection, drawing activity
Lesson #2
Total Minutes 30 Rainbow fish - comprehension and reflection questions about story, finish
drawing reflections, partner share/reflect
Lesson #3 Image 2 - practice finger puppets with modeling dough
Total Minutes 30
Lesson #4 Build finger puppets, draw about puppet in action showing friendship
Total Minutes 30 qualities as an extension

Lesson #5 Paint puppets, create pieces of set as needed, draw about puppet in action
Total Minutes 30 showing friendship qualities as an extension

Lesson #6 Image 3 - act with partner or small group for the class
Total Minutes 30

Lesson #7 Buffer
Total Minutes 30
RESOURCES:
Possible extra resource
Sesame St Friendship Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=59tKl37x1d4&list=PLUKU8p_ToDQlgRMwpiRL755eGTCcHi4iW&index=2