Emalee Martin

Pre-Visit Lesson Plans

I. Unit Title/ Grade and Rationale:
Exploring Eco-art/ 6-8/ Students will be introduced to current eco- artists.
Students will learn how to use nature as a medium to make art. Students
should accomplish the ability to recognize aesthetic principles within their
natural environments. This lesson about eco-art and artists is significant in
helping students to understand how we can interact with nature and art.
II. Lesson One: pre-visit lesson
III. Unit Key Concepts:
Identify how eco-artists use nature as a medium.
Recognize the aesthetic principles within their natural environments.
Find ways in which to incorporate the medium of nature into an art work.
IV. Essential Question:
What are different ways eco-artists use nature as a medium?
How do our natural environments create an aesthetic experience?
What are some ways to use nature as an art medium?
V. Lesson Objectives:
1. After the lesson, the student will be able to identify how eco-artists use
nature as a medium.
2. After the lesson, the students will be able to recognize the aesthetic
principles within their natural environments.
3. After the lesson, the students will be able to successfully use nature as a
medium to create art.
VI. Specific Art Content:
Concepts about eco-art, elements and principles of environmental
aesthetics, techniques involving art as the medium.
VII. Instruction and Its Sequencing:
Introduction/Motivation:
For my introduction I will use a brainstorming activity to introduce the theme
of nature as the unit. I will ask my students what they think of when they
hear the word nature. After we have gathered enough descriptions of nature I
will then ask my students ways in which they could create art work with
nature as the medium. Then I will introduce them to the world of eco-art, and

give a power point presentation of current eco-artists and they art they are
making.
Purpose: I want my students to learn what eco-art is, and I want them to
start developing a sense of environmental aesthetics.
Instruction: I will need to construct the brainstorming activity, give a short
lecture of eco-art and eco-artists to help students build new knowledge
today.
Resources & Materials for Teacher: I will need a dry erase board to
perform the brainstorming activity, and I will need to create a power point
presentation, and make sure I have a way in which to display the
presentation. I will need to research eco-artists and find suitable and
relatable images that help enhance the lesson.
Resources & Materials for Students: Collage paper, glue, string, tape,
leaves, twigs, grass, pressed flowers, any other natural materials.
Guided Practice. I will show them some nature collage techniques, and
encourage them to make something they find aesthetically pleasing.
Independent Practice: Students will create nature collages out of the
materials provided.
Closure: For the closure of class I will introduce the artist Giuseppe Penone
and some of his works, I will go over museum rules and for the trip to The
Nasher Sculpture Center.
Formative Evaluation: I will check to see if students are constructing
knowledge for themselves in relationship to the lesson objectives by looking
over their progress for the day. I will determine what their final grades for the
project are based on the assessment that has been taken place the entire
lesson, and also assessing the final look of the project.
Classroom Management Procedures: I will keep my students on task by
encouraging them to keep working if they get distracted, and reminding
students of classroom rules when they are not followed.
Adaptations for Students with Special Needs: adaptations for students
with special needs will be dependent on each individual students and their
specific need.
VIII. Summative Assessment and Evaluation:
After the completion of the nature collage project I will allow the students to
be involved with the assessment by prompting them with the questions that
pertain to the big idea, nature and art. The goal being for the students to be

able to successfully explain ways you can use nature within art. I will also
evaluate their participation within the brainstorming activity.
X. Interdisciplinary Connections:
Interdisciplinary connections include, science, environmental science, and
biology.
XI. References & Resources:
Eco-artists websites, nasher sculpture center website.
XII. Art TEKS
Foundations: observation and
perception. The student develops and
expands visual literacy skills using critical
thinking, imagination, and the senses to
observe and explore the world by learning
about, understanding, and applying the
elements of art, principles of design, and
expressive qualities. The student uses what
the student sees, knows, and has experienced
as sources for examining, understanding, and
creating artworks.

The student is expected to:

Creative expression. The student communicates

ideas through original artworks using a variety of
media with appropriate skills. The student expresses
thoughts and ideas creatively while challenging the
imagination, fostering reflective thinking, and
developing disciplined effort and progressive
problem-solving skills.

The student is expected to:

A develop and communicate ideas drawn

from life experiences about self, peers,
family, school, or community and from
the imagination as sources for original
works of art;
B use appropriate vocabulary when
discussing the elements of art,
including line, shape, color, texture,
form, space, and value, and the
principles of design, including
emphasis, repetition/pattern,
movement/rhythm, contrast/variety,
balance, proportion, and unity; and
C discuss the elements of art as building
blocks and the principles of design as
organizers of works of art.

integrate ideas drawn from life experiences to creat

original works of art;
create compositions using the elements of art and
principles of design; and
produce drawings; paintings; prints; sculpture,
including modeled forms; and other art forms such
as ceramics, fiber art, constructions, digital art and
media, and photographic imagery using a variety of
materials.

XIV. National Art Standards

Anchor Standard #1. Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and work.
Anchor Standard #2. Organize and develop artistic ideas and work.
Anchor Standard #3. Refine and complete artistic work.
- See more at: http://www.nationalartsstandards.org/content/national-corearts-standards-anchor-standards#creating