Learning Objectives 

Students will: 

• Discuss works of art with content vocabulary.
• Ask and answer questions about informational text.
• Express creativity through painting.
• Examine different artists and their styles of art.
• Create artwork that demonstrates various styles.
• Interpret art created by peers.

Standards Alignment

National Core Arts StandardsNational Core Arts Standards

Common Core State StandardsCommon Core State Standards

Recommended Student Materials

Editable Documents: Before sharing these resources with students, you must first save them to your Google account by opening them, and selecting “Make a copy” from the File menu. Check out Sharing Tips or Instructional Benefits when implementing Google Docs and Google Slides with students.

• Book Recommendations
• Painting Word Wall
• Art Stations: Materials and Set-up
• Slide: Let’s Talk About Painting

Websites

• Pollock's Art

Teacher Background 

Teachers should familiarize themselves with elements of the visual arts and the genre of painting. Review the Book Recommendations and art from NGAkids Art Zone.

Student Prerequisites 

Students should have a general knowledge of the genre of painting.

Accessibility Notes

Modify handouts and give preferential seating for visual presentations. Allow extra time for task completion.

Engage

1. Read the students a book about art appreciation, such as Matthew’s Dream by Leo Lionni, or one from the Book Recommendations list. Ask students if they have ever seen paintings in a museum or another location. Ask them to describe some of the paintings they viewed.

2. Display several prints of paintings gathered from posters, art books, web resources, or the Slide: Let’s Talk About Painting. The paintings should reflect very different styles of art (Impressionism, Cubism, Realism, Pre-Raphaelite, etc.). Ask students to talk about each painting (both objective and subjective responses are acceptable).

3. Introduce students to the concept of the elements of the arts. Tell students that paintings have certain “ingredients”. Artists choose to use these ingredients in different ways, depending on how they want their paintings to look.

4. Introduce the Painting Word Wall and discuss elements of art. Define each word for the students and have them identify the corresponding illustration examples. Note: This list is not an exhaustive list of the elements of art; however, these words should be readily understood by children at the K-4 grade level.

5. Post the words on a word wall and refer to them throughout the rest of the lesson.

Build

1. Read aloud an age-appropriate book about Jackson Pollock, such as Jackson Pollock (Getting to Know the World’s Famous Artists) by Mike Venezia. Discuss the artists’ work with the students, being sure to incorporate the Painting Word Wall. 

2. Display Pollock’s Art and have students evaluate it using the Painting Word Wall.

Apply

1. Set up five stations around the room, each representing a famous artist or style. The supplies for each station are listed in the Art Stations: Materials and Set-up. 

2. Display several prints of paintings by the artist so students have a point of reference.

3. Divide the class into small groups and send them to an art station for 10-15 minutes. 

Reflect

1. Assess students’ knowledge of artistic styles and paintings through presentations and discussions of their artwork. Listen for key vocabulary from the Painting Word Wall. Engage students in determining which style of painting the work represents.