Visual Literacy Lesson Plan

1.) Objective/Goal of the lesson:

• Students will create a watercolor portrait of themselves showing emotion.

• Students will write 2-3 sentence artist statement describing the emotion within their

piece.

• Students will reflect on the art piece using VTS questions.

2.) Any art standards you think this lesson hits:

• 1. Artistic Foundations

o Demonstrate knowledge of the foundations of the arts area.

▪ Visual Arts; 4.1.1.5.1

• Describe how the principles of visual art such as repetition, pattern,

emphasis, contrast and balance are used in the creation,

presentation or response to visual artworks.

• 1. Artistic Foundations

o Demonstrate understanding of the personal, social, cultural and historical contexts

that influence the arts areas.

▪ Visual Arts; 4.1.3.5.2

• Describe how visual art communicates meaning.

3.) A list of materials:

 • Watercolor paper

• Water/water cups

• Watercolor Paint

• Straws

• Marker

4.) The procedure and timing of the activity:

1. 5-10 minutes: Go over what colors and facial expressions express which emotions, which

has previously been talked about in other classes.

2. 5 minutes: Talk about what the day will look like and what is expected of them along

with what is due by the end of the class period.

3. 10-15 minutes: Demonstrate different techniques using watercolor, such as blowing

through a straw, dry on dry, wet on dry, wet on wet, crayon, etc. After demonstrating

show student examples along with your own examples of the piece and ask them what

colors, facial expressions and emotions they are able to see within the piece. Handout the

VTS questions sheet and go over that they are expected to have it filled out along with an

artist statement they will need to write.

4. 20-25 minutes: Have students gather supplies needed and begin creating their artwork

which is due by the end of class. Once finished with their piece they will be asked to

work on the VTS questions handout along with their artist statement.
 5. 5-10 minutes: Have the students clean up their areas and to wash/put away materials

used; once finished they are able to hand in the artist statement, VTS questions handout

and their final piece to the teacher.

5.) Assessments: How will the students show they learned the material? Remember these should

align with the objectives.

• Assessment Objective 1: Finished Emotion Portrait Project: Criteria will be...

o A face drawing with all essential parts (two eyes, nose, mouth, 2 eyebrows, ears)

o Hair using the straw blow technique

o The piece easily shows emotion through use of facial parts and color

• Assessment Objective 2 and 3: Students will turn in a sheet with their artist statement

along with another sheet, that was handed out, with the VTS questions filled out.

6.) An explanation of how this activity exercises visual literacy skills and how it could relate

to a larger unit of study:

• This activity would come at the end of a unit yet, before the final project. This piece ties

in everything they have been learning about emotion and color through the past lessons

and allows them to see what it all looks like as one piece. This activity allows them to

understand why certain colors make us feel particular ways; they are able to discuss this

through VTS questions that they respond to. Along with when they discuss why certain

colors make you feel that emotion.