Elements & Principles

Postcards & Pictionary

National Objective

Students will engage in creating quick simple works of art or design

without having a preconceived plan.

State Objectives

Students will identify and use positive and negative space in twodimensional work

Students will differentiate among and use symmetrical, asymmetrical,

and radial balance

Students will identify and create emphasis (focal point) through contrast
and convergence

Students will use media in various ways to create simulated and

invented textures

Students will differentiate between and use geometric and organic

shapes and forms.

Course: Art 1
Medium: Drawing
Durations: 2 Class Periods

Materials
Postcards (variety)
Elements & Principles Print Outs
Sticky Notes (different colors per team)
Dry Erase Markers (various colors)
Small Basket (1 per team)
14 Ping Pong Balls (per team)
-Labeled with Elements and Principles
Jar with Pictionary Prompts (1 per team)

Art History/Resources
-ElementsPrinciples.ppt
-TypographyInitials.ppt

Modifications/Notes

Art Production
Day 1
(ElementsPrinciples.ppt) Elements & Principles w/ definitions and images.
Postcard Elements & Principles Students should divide into teams (4-5
people per group) Provide each group of students with a stack of postcards
and a list of the elements and principles with definitions. Each group is to
select a postcard that best represents each element and principle.
Students should record what element or principle goes with each card on a
post-it note and stick it to the back of the postcard. Place all the images on
the table face up and divide the elements from the principles placing a
post-it note to label each category.
Once everyone has selected and labeled their Elements and Principles
Postcards. Each team will rotate to each groups postcards and place their
color of sticky note under each postcard to label what they think the
elements and principles were for each image.
Create a scorecard on the board. Each team gets a tally for how many
Elements and Principles they got correct at each station. Have the teams
return to their original table. Take turns having each group show their
examples of each element and principle and note what group was correct.
Note if any element or principle was commonly missed and review that
concept.

Elements & Principles Postcards & Pictionary

Day 2
(TypographyInitials.ppt) Series of letters in various fonts and typographical
design that display the various elements and principles in a simplistic form.
Elements & Principles Pictionary Divide the class into 2 or 3 teams.
Give each team a set of ping pong balls labeled with each of the elements
and principles. At the whiteboard place on basket and a jar of elements
and principle prompts for each team on the floor under their teams
drawing area. Give each team a set of dry erase markers in various colors
including black.
Students will each take turns being the artist. When play begins, one
student will go to the board and select a prompt from the jar. The student
will then illustrate the element or principle using only their initials. They
may use as many of their initials as they like in any combination to
illustrate their concept. The team can talk amongst themselves to decide
what element or principle the artist is illustrating. When the team has a
guess they must select the appropriate ping pong ball and toss it into the
basket. If it bounces out or misses they must try again until they make it.
When the basket is made the artist will check the answer. If correct the ball
is placed back in the basket and the next artist comes up. If wrong the ball
is given back to the team and guessing continues.
The Rules The artist may not speak or in any other way indicate a
correct or incorrect answer, just draw. Letters may repeat in order to
illustrate a concept. Interference with other teams is cause for forfeit. No
screaming.
The first team to fill their basket with all 14 elements and principles wins!
The winning team will select the medium for the next project.
(In case of an unlikely tie there will be a sudden death round combining
two prompts, requiring two ping pong ball answers for the illustration)

Elements and Principles Prompts

Space- Positive, Negative

Texture- Soft, Sharp
Form- Organic, Geometric
Value
Color- Complementary, Primary, Secondary
Shape- Geometric, Organic
Line- Wavy, Straight

Unity
Rhythm- Alternating, Progressive
Pattern- Color, Shape
Movement- Aggressive, Slow
Emphasis- Contrast, Convergence
Contrast- Color, Proportion
Balance- Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, Radial

Evaluation Criteria
Sketchbook quiz: Students will combine 2 elements with 2 principles to
illustrate their initials. On the back of the page or at the bottom describe
the elements and principles used and how they were implemented. 5pts
per element and principle successfully used.

Elements & Principles Postcards & Pictionary