Whos Who: A Creation Study of Identity

Unit Plan - Andrea Birdsong, Art Teacher, Odessa High School

National Art Standards
Creating:
Presenting:
VA: Cr1.1.IIa
VA: Pr4.1.IIa
VA: Cr1.2.IIa
VA: Pr5.1.IIa
VA: Cr2.1.Ia
VA: Pr6.1.Ia

Responding:
VA: Re7.2.IIa
VA: Re8.1.IIa

Connecting:
VA: Cn10.1.Ia
VA: Cn11.1.Ia

Essential Questions:
? - Is identity a singular (determined only by yourself) concept or a plural? What leads you to feel this way?
? - What affects or helps to create our identity as an individual?
? - What affects or helps to create our identity as a culture?
Processes:
Elements and Principles: Balance, Space, Line, Shape, Color, Form, Contrast, Emphasis
Art Processes: Collage, layering, multimedia, craftsmanship
Life Lessons: Consideration, responsibility, ownership
Pinks Senses: Story, Empathy, Design, Symphony, Meaning, Play
Imagination Spark: 22 - Design for the Hallway
Possible Video Media
Finding Forrester (PG-13)
Good Will Hunting (R)
Dead Poets Society (PG)
Anastasia (G)
Possible Music Media (Title, Artist)
Dont Let Me Get Me, Pink
Just Who I Am, Martina McBride
Unwell, Matchbox 20
7 Years, Lukas Graham
Anything but Ordinary, Avril Lavigne
Artist References (Title, Artist)
1000 Self Portraits, Andrew Jones
4 Self Portraits, 1990, Richard Hamilton
Fashion Plate, 1969-70, Richard Hamilton
Colors of Music, Patrice Murciano
Tokyo, Patrice Murciano
Project Creation Materials
2D Media (drawing materials, painting materials, magazines, papers, etc)
3D Media (beads, wire, string/yarn, found objects, etc)
Large paper (18x24 minimum, 24x36+ recommended)
20x30 foam core
Adhesives (rubber cement, hot glue and standard white glue are ALL recommended, potential need for a heavier

adhesive for 3D objects)

Camera
Computer
Printer
Photo Editing Software
Creation
Visual Definition Answering: What is Identity?
o As a class, students will visually collaborate to answer the question What is Identity/ using 2D and
some 3D media of their choice.
Time: Unit Long

I am From poem
o Each student will begin their research into their own identity by composing an I am From poem.
Students will have the option of using a plug and play outline format or using the outline as a
platform from which to jump off of.
Time: 1 day to write, -1 day to present

Portrait Without A Face

o Each student will create a primarily 2D 20 x 30 composition defining their identity in regards to
inward/outward expression, stereotypes, history, future, etc.
Time: 5 class periods

Interview
o Each student will interview each of their peers in the class. Students will create their own interview
script from which to ask questions of their peers to help guide them in their collaborative selfportraits.
o Students will create thumbnail sketches of possible ideas, media to be used, components of the
portrait to cover, etc. from the answers and observations the make during their interview.
Time: 1-3 class periods depending on class size

Multimedia Collaborative Portrait (see visual reference example)

o Each student will have a 24 x 36 sheet of paper as a substrate.
o All 2D media are available for students to use, including photography, collage, drawing/painting
materials, etc.
o Some 3D media are allowed
o Students are encouraged to bring personal items from home
Students will have one full class period to begin their portrait composition using media of
their choice.
The following class period, students will continuously create on and switch to other students
portraits every 20 minutes, again, creating with materials of their choice, using their notes
and thumbnail sketches/idea from their interviews. At the end of each 20 minute period,
students will photograph each portrait they have worked on. These will be printed later to be
displayed with each portrait.
Students will have one to two full class periods to conclude their portrait composition. They
may not remove anything created by another student but they may modify it.
Time: class size dependent

VTS and Reflection

o Each student portrait will be used for 5-10 minute VTS sessions.
o
o
o
o

Students will respond to guided questions to create a reflection in their sketch books:
Reflect on your experience creating a self-portrait as a collaborative work. What did you enjoy about
this process? What would you change about this process?
What did you learn about your identity through the interpretation of you by your peers? What makes
you say this?
What are you most pleased with in your composition? What are you least pleased with?

Assessment
Formative
o Students will receive formal grades for their participation in the collaborative process, final product,
and reflection work
Summative
o Student understanding will be assessed through observation by and one on one conversation with
the instructor, the creation process, final display

Rubrics

Letter
Grade

Description

% Equivalent

An A project will be excellent in:

- I Am From poem: creative use of symbolic language, proper spelling, originality, flow
- Portrait Without a Face: craftsmanship, general and creative use of media, compositional design

90 % or higher

and unity. Ideas are communicated visually through the use of multiple medias, theme is
recognized/symbolized effectively.
- Interviews: complete and concise questions, sketches and media ideas for collaborative portrait
work for each student in the class.
- Multimedia Collaborative Portrait: class participation, consideration and respect for anothers
work, completed self-portrait exemplifying a cohesive sense of design and unity, craftsmanship.
- Reflection: answering all questions with insight and sincerity, complete sentences/proper
spelling/grammar/language.

A B project will be good in:

- I Am From poem: creative use of symbolic language, minor spelling errors, originality, slightly

80 % or higher

inhibited flow
- Portrait Without a Face: craftsmanship minor flaws/imperfections in quality of media
application, general and creative use of media, compositional design and unity. Ideas are
communicated visually through multiple medias, theme is recognized/symbolized effectively with
only minor discontinuity.
- Interviews: complete and concise questions most sketches and media ideas for collaborative
portrait work for each student in the class.
- Multimedia Collaborative Portrait: class participation, consideration and respect for anothers
work, completed self-portrait exemplifying with minor incongruities in the cohesive sense of design
and unity, craftsmanship.
Reflection: answering all questions with insight and sincerity, minor issues with complete
sentences/proper spelling/grammar/language.

A C project is considered adequate because of:

- I Am From poem: some use of symbolic language, proper spelling, originality, flow
- Portrait Without a Face: craftsmanship, general and creative use of media, compositional design

70 % or higher

and unity. Attempts to communicate visually through the use of multiple medias has been made,
theme is somewhat hard to discern.
- Interviews: amount of questions however more information would have been helpful for the
student, missing sketches and media ideas for collaborative portrait work for each student in the
class.
- Multimedia Collaborative Portrait: class time could have been used more effectively,
consideration and respect for anothers work, self-portrait is incomplete/unfinished in nature, lacks
unifying design
- Reflection: some questions with insight and sincerity, incomplete sentences/improper
spelling/grammar/language.

An F project will be unacceptable in content, organization, development and style. Many of the
project components are not addressed.

Below 60%

Assignments, Activities, and Projects

Points

I Am From poem

50

Portrait Without a Face

100

Interviews

TBD 10 points
per student
interview

Multimedia Collaborative Portrait

100

VTS (participation)

10

Reflection

50

Total

310+

Curation
Student work will be displayed outside the classroom in the hallway for their peers and teachers to observe,
consider, and analyze. Student portrait projects will surround the What is Identity? collaborative class composition
as a way to further explain the identity definition and concept.