Mix It Up!

Visual Arts Unit Plan utilizing mixed

media
Kaylie Chong
Grade 1

What is Mixed Media?

An art form in which you incorporate a
variety of different media including,
but not limited to:

Colored Pencils/Markers/Crayon
Paint/Watercolors
Glue
Wire/Bottle caps/Recycled
materials/Buttons/Yarn
Seeds/Twigs/Sand/Shells/Nature
Paper (e.g. construction, textured, etc.),
Paper plates, Paper bags, Newspaper

Sanjana Paulson (age 6)

Media used (Dried food, Crayon, White paper)

First Grader
Media used (Newspaper, Construction paper, Yarn,
Glue, Printed paper, Crayon)

First Grader
Media used (Puzzle pieces, Popsicle sticks, Paint,
Fabric)

Elementary-aged Student
Media used (Feathers, Textured paper,
Construction paper, Twigs, Paint)

Elementary-aged Student
Media used (Paper bag, Colored paper, Glue)

Questions

How did the artist make this?

What do you see?
Why do you think the artist chose those media?
What other media would you have used if you were the
artist?
What would you title this artwork?
Where do you think the artist got their inspiration?
What art elements do you see?
What do you wonder? About the artist? About the
artwork?
If you could touch the objects, how would they feel?
How could the media be used in a different way?

(Cornett,

Big Ideas

We
We
art
We
We
We
We

can use many different materials to create art

can use many different materials together to create
can
can
can
can

use art as a way to communicate

describe artwork
incorporate the art elements into our art
use multiple materials to represent something

Art Production Experiences

First, students will view a collection of mixed media artwork. We

will then engage in a grand discussion about the art, media,
and elements used in creating the art.
Next, students will be introduced to a variety of media and we
will brainstorm about different things we can represent with the
media provided
Then, students will each draw a slip of paper out of a jar. Each
slip of paper will have a letter of the alphabet on it.
Students must represent something that starts with the letter
they picked.
After, students will engage in energizers as part of the
brainstorming process to help stimulate ideas and determine
specifics regarding their artwork.
Students will then be given a cardstock square that they will
create their artwork on using a variety of media of their choice.
Finally, all of the squares will be combined to make an alphabet
class quilt.

Works Cited
Cornett, C. E. (2011). Creating Meaning Through Literature and the
Arts: Arts Integration for Classroom Teachers, Fourth Edition.
Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.
Artwithmre.com,. 'Art With Mr. E: Mixed Media Bird Nests: 1St
Grade'. N.p., 2013. Web. 20 June 2015.
Hudsonreporter.com,. 'Exploring Color And Creativity Secaucus
Library Exhibits Broad Spectrum Of ChildrenS Art - From Intimate
Black And White Portraits Of Teens To Crafted Bees And Bears The
ChildrenS Art On Display At The Secaucus Public Library
During
November For...'. N.p., 2015. Web. 20 June 2015.
Things to Make and Do, Crafts and Activities for Kids - The Crafty
Crow,. 'Owl Crafts For Kids'. N.p., 2015. Web. 20 June 2015.

Rubric
Needs Improvement

__ Candidate needs reminder to

post assignment.
__ Candidate needs reminder to
meet criteria for this project.
__ Candidate needs reminder to
submit work as .ppt or .pptx.
__ Candidate needs reminder to
proofread work.
__Candidate needs reminder to
post work in Forums or
Assignments.
__ Candidate needs reminder to
post this project onto professional
website.

Meets Expectations

_x_ Includes a title page that describes the

presentation
_x_Title page includes your name
_x_Background information about the artist, period
in art history, culture, media OR technique
_x_ Five or more images of the selected works of
art
_x_A series of open-ended questions to get
children and adults to look closely at the art work
(double check that all questions are open-ended
and that all answers can be accepted)
_x_ Brief summary list of major concepts you want
to share with elementary students in the
classroom.
_x_List a series of art production experiences that
will build on the art talk. (Note: These can
become the Visual Art Lessons you will plan.)
_x_Submitted as .ppt or .pptx
_x_Citations for all sources for information and
images (APA)
_x_Post work in Forums
_x_Respond in writing to three peers
_x_Name____Heather Grossman__________
_x_Name_____Melissa Murray_________
_x_Name______Tiffany Williams________
_x_Post PowerPoint and Completed Rubric in
Assignments

Exceeds Expectations

In addition to meets expectations,

provide evidence of how you think
you exceeded the expectations for
this project: