Digital Unit Plan Template

Unit Title: Art Speaks: Materials & Meaning in Art Name: Kelsey Dixon
Content Area:Visual Arts Grade Level: 9-12
CA Content Standard(s)/Common Core Standard(s):
1.0 ARTISTIC PERCEPTION

Processing, Analyzing, and Responding to Sensory Information Through the Language and Skills Unique to the Visual Arts

Students perceive and respond to works of art, objects in nature, events, and the environment. They also use the vocabulary of the visual arts to express their
observations.

1.3 Research and analyze the work of an artist and write about the artist's distinctive style and its contribution to the
meaning of the work.
1.5 Analyze the material used by a given artist and describe how its use influences the meaning of the work.

3.0 HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL CONTEXT

Understanding the Historical Contributions and Cultural Dimensions of the Visual Arts

Students analyze the role and development of the visual arts in past and present cultures throughout the world, noting human diversity as it relates to the visual
arts and artists.

3.2 Identify and describe the role and influence of new technologies on contemporary works of art.

4.0 AESTHETIC VALUING

Responding to, Analyzing, and Making Judgments About Works in the Visual Arts

Students analyze, assess, and derive meaning from works of art, including their own, according to the elements of art, the principles of design, and aesthetic
qualities.

4.3 Formulate and support a position regarding the aesthetic value of a specific work of art and change or defend that
position after considering the views of others.
4.5 Employ the conventions of art criticism in writing and speaking about works of art.


Big Ideas:

- What is Art? (What is considered art?)
- How are modern artists redefining traditional art?
- How has technology affected art? (Roles & influences)
- How can the use of specific materials communicate an idea? (How does material influence the meaning of a work of art?)


Unit Goals and Objectives:

- Students will demonstrate understanding of different definitions of art, as well as several different forms of art.
- Students will research contemporary/modern artists and explore their contributions to the modern art world.
- Students will understand how technology plays a role in art.
- Students will analyze how specific materials affect the meaning of a particular work of art.

Unit Summary:

In this unit, students conceptions of what art is will be challenged. They will embark on a journey in exploring art from a broad perspective (art as a whole) to a
narrow perspective (focusing on a specific artwork). Students will begin by contemplating their own definitions of what they think art is. Then, their
conceptions will be considered, challenged, and questioned through exposure to a wide variety of definitions, artists, and artworks by means of a teacher lecture
& guided notes. Next, students will complete a webercise where they will investigate the meaning of art for themselves by exploring various definitions and
forms of art. They will explore, collect, and briefly analyze information on several different artists; additionally, they will share their findings with their peers, as
well as interact with information found by other students to broaden their perspectives. Next, students will be introduced to technology in art, and explore its
roles and influences. Using this information, students will collaborate to organize information on a single artist and artwork. Once the information has been
organized, student groups will collaborate to create a presentation to give to the class; this will portray their findings on the artist and artwork, as well as
analyze the relationships between materials and meaning within a work of art, and technologys role and influence in the particular artwork through the guise of
a gallery owner. After the presentations, each group will synthesize what they have learned by collaborating to create an art project proposal for their gallery.
Lastly, students will summarize what they have learned by completing a written essay response that will address the big ideas (or essential questions) of the
unit.

Assessment Plan:
Entry-Level:
Survey- (using SurveyMonkey) The topic of
the survey will be: What is Art? This will
address students prior knowledge about
art. (Definitions, types, etc.) (Student
Learning Objective 1)

Formative:
Quickwrite What is Art? Define art, &
provide 5 different forms and examples to
support your definition(s). This will assess
that students understand different
definitions of art, as well as different forms
of art (Student Learning Objective 1).
Graphic Organizer (Popplet) Create a
graphic organizer (using Popplet) based
off of a given artwork & artist that utilizes
technology in some way. (This will be the
artwork that will be the focus for the
Summative:
Collaborative Presentation & Project
(Student Learning Objectives 1, 2, 3, & 4)
Presentation: Student groups will create a
presentation (using Prezi) that will focus on an
artist & particular artwork that utilizes
technology (whether it is as a subject matter,
tool, medium, etc.). In their presentation, they
will include a brief bio of the artist, how they
use technology, present an artwork, provide
info on the artwork, and analyze the artwork
(materials & meaning). Creating the
presentation later, and the inspiration for
the project). Use it to organize your
thoughts and words in analyzing the work
of art and exploring the artistic link to
technology; it will also be used to organize
information pulled from research.
Completion of this Popplet will provide
evidence of student learning with regards
to understanding how technology plays a
role in art & student analysis of how
materials affect the meaning of a work of
art. (Student Learning Objectives 2, 3, & 4)
Questions These will be based off of the
topic of technology & art. They will be
based on the following within the art
context: technology as a subject,
technology as a tool, & technology as a
medium. Questions will also address the
topic of technology linking to the modern
art world. (Student Learning Objectives 2
& 3)
Critique This will be conducted orally,
midway through completing the project
(group artwork ideas/thumbnails will be
critiqued, & may not be finalized at this
point; see Project on the right, below).
Students will critique in a modified
carousel fashion. They will each formulate
& support a position on the aesthetic value
(focusing on materials) and meaning of a
group-proposed artwork (See Project &
Project document on website for more
detail). They may offer advice, note
strengths, and note weaknesses thus far in
the proposed artwork. Then, after each
student has contributed a statement of
their own, they will change or defend their
position based on the consideration of
other students viewpoints. (based off of
Content Standards 4.3 & 4.5) (Student
Learning Objective 4)



presentation will involve researching
contemporary artists. Once presented to the
class, students will be exposed to different
forms of art, as the various artists & artwork
redefine art.

Project: Student groups will collaborate to
create a proposal for an artwork that is
inspired by the chosen artist/artwork above.

Essay Students will write a summative
essay that addresses the big ideas and
answers the essential questions of the unit.
(Student Learning Objectives 1, 2, 3, & 4)
Lesson 1
Student Learning Objective:

(Primary) Students will
demonstrate
understanding of different
definitions of art, as well as
several different forms of
art. (Secondary) They will
be introduced to how
technology plays a role in
art. They will also briefly
analyze how specific
materials affect the
meaning of a particular
work of art.

Acceptable Evidence:

Student written
responses to the
essential question:
What is art/what is
considered art?
(provided via Survey
responses)
Student Quickwrite
responses
Student responses
recorded on a Guided
Notes handout (to be
used in conjunction
with lecture)
Student VoiceThread
responses
Instructional Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction
Lesson Activities:

Students will complete a brief survey on What is Art? that will access
their prior-knowledge.
The teacher will lecture on the essential questions, with the primary
focus being What is Art? using a Prezi. Students will be engaged as
they are provided with guided handouts that they are to use for note-
taking during the lecture. The Guided Notes will include various
questions that relate to the lecture and essential questions.
Students will complete a Quickwrite: What is Art? Define art, & provide
5 different forms and examples to support your definition(s). This will
assess that students understand different definitions of art, as well as
different forms of art (Student Learning Objective 1).

Lesson 2
Student Learning Objective:

(Primary) Students will
research
contemporary/modern
artists and explore their
contributions to the
modern art world.
(Secondary)They will also
analyze more in depth how
specific materials affect the
meaning of a particular
work of art.

Acceptable Evidence:
Student created Diigo
pages
(https://www.diigo.co
m/) that include all of
the required
information:
bookmarked pages,
highlighted text, sticky
notes
Student created
Glogster posters (link
on Diigo)
Student interaction via
sticky notes on peers
Diigo pages, and
comments on peers
Glogs
Completion of
Webercise Worksheet
Instructional Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction
Lesson Activities:
Teacher will introduce new technology to the class: Diigo
(https://www.diigo.com/) & Glogster (http://edu.glogster.com/).
Students will complete a Webercise that will help familiarize
them with the sites, and take them through the process of
researching and collecting information on contemporary/modern
artists, analyzing information, evaluating information from their
peers, interacting with their peers, and creating a unique display
that showcases some of their research/findings (the glog).
Lesson 3
Student Learning Objective:

(Primary) Students will
understand how
technology plays a role in
art. (Secondary) Students
will analyze how specific
materials affect the
meaning of a particular
work of art.
(All other objectives will be
touched on in this lesson)
Acceptable Evidence:
Graphic Organizer:
Student contribution to
Popplet collaboration
(name will be
displayed on their
popplets; gauged with
rubric)
Individual student
responses to Questions
(see Formative
Assessment above)
Student-produced
collaborative Prezi
presentation
(contribution gauged
with rubric)
Critique oral responses
(see Formative
Assessment above)
Student-produced
project : Art Proposal
Individual student
essays
Instructional Strategies:
Communication
Collection
Collaboration
Presentation
Organization
Interaction
Lesson Activities:
Teacher will organize students into groups of 4-5.
Students will learn about technology and its role in art through a brief
reading activity. They will then use this new knowledge as they once
again employ their skills in researching artists & artwork with a
technological link. In their groups, students will decide on an artist &
artwork to focus on.
Students will then use the interactive tool "Popplet" to organize their
thinking and findings in their collaborative group of 4-5 students.
Students will be assessed on their progress via individual responses to
a series of questions (see Formative Assessment above).
Students will use a graphic organizer (Popplet), which will be full of
information from their whole group, to put together a Gallery Show
presentation using the tool "Prezi."
Student groups will present their gallery artist to the class via their
Prezi presentations.
After the presentations, student groups will put their knowledge &
creativity to practice as they collaborate to complete an art project
proposal.
Students will partake in a critique of groups art project ideas midway
through the completion of the full project (once a tentative
idea/thumbnail has been created).
Student groups will complete and submit their art project proposals.
Students will individually write an essay that will answer the essential
questions (big ideas) of the unit.

Unit Resources:

SurveyMonkey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/
VoiceThread: https://voicethread.com/
Animoto: http://animoto.com/
Diigo: https://www.diigo.com/
Glogster: http://edu.glogster.com/
Popplet: http://popplet.com/
Prezi: http://prezi.com/

Art & Art News: http://www.artnews.com/category/profiles/ (under profiles, students can find artists who work with a variety of different materials, and their
works/information)
Artists & Works: http://www.artnet.com/artists/ (students can use advanced search to search for artworks by specific materials)
News Websites: (Students will have to sort through articles to find appropriate sources)
- FOX: http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/search?q=art&submit=Search&ss=fn (students can search for art articles to find innovative artists)
- CNN: http://www.cnn.com/search/?query=art&sortBy=relevance (search for artists)
Art Museum Websites:
- LACMA (L.A. County Museum of Art): http://collections.lacma.org/ (students may find resources primarily under Contemporary Art, or by searching using the
Object Type tab)
- MOMA (Museum of Modern Art): http://www.moma.org/explore/collection/ (students can search by type, or explore various artworks)
Class art textbooks or magazines



Useful Websites:

Art terminology: http://www.artlex.com/ (includes useful definitions for material)
Writing & Citation Help: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
Citation Creation: http://www.bibme.org/