Clouds and Visual ArtsClouds and Visual Arts

Teaching Critical Thinking Strategies in the Teaching Critical Thinking Strategies in the Classroom through Aesthetic Experiences Classroom through Aesthetic Experiences

Created By: Jackie ZwingelCreated By: Jackie Zwingel

ObjectivesObjectives

Observe clouds pictures from online museums. Observe clouds pictures from online museums. Describe similarities and differences between Describe similarities and differences between them.them.

Observe clouds outside in the sky. Write Observe clouds outside in the sky. Write descriptions and draw pictures of what you see.descriptions and draw pictures of what you see.

Use a variety of art materials to create cloud Use a variety of art materials to create cloud pictures. pictures.

Write descriptions to accompany cloud pictures. Write descriptions to accompany cloud pictures. Create cloud pictures using Kid Pix. Create cloud pictures using Kid Pix. Use digital cameras to take pictures of clouds.Use digital cameras to take pictures of clouds. Share artwork and digital pictures with the class.Share artwork and digital pictures with the class.

Day OneDay One

Students will look at cloud pictures from my online museum site: Students will look at cloud pictures from my online museum site:

http://www.artsconnected.org/resource/102522/cloudshttp://www.artsconnected.org/resource/102522/clouds. I will record . I will record their descriptions on chart paper.their descriptions on chart paper.

Read Read Little Cloud Little Cloud by Eric Carle by Eric Carle

Days 2-5Days 2-5

I will take the students I will take the students outside to observe the outside to observe the clouds in the sky.clouds in the sky.

Each day the students Each day the students will complete a portion will complete a portion of the “Watching the of the “Watching the Sky” worksheet. Sky” worksheet.

Days 6-8Days 6-8

Each student will create a Cloud Book. Each book will contain nine Each student will create a Cloud Book. Each book will contain nine pages. pages.

Page 1 – Students written description of cumulus cloudsPage 1 – Students written description of cumulus clouds Page 2 - Students paint a picture that contains cumulus cloudsPage 2 - Students paint a picture that contains cumulus clouds Page 3 – Students use cotton balls to create and form cumulus cloudsPage 3 – Students use cotton balls to create and form cumulus clouds (Repeat the above steps for stratus and cirrus clouds).(Repeat the above steps for stratus and cirrus clouds).

Day 9Day 9

We will go to the computer lab where the students We will go to the computer lab where the students will create cloud pictures using Kid Pix. will create cloud pictures using Kid Pix.

Day 10Day 10

Students share their artwork and pictures with the class. Students share their artwork and pictures with the class. At any point during our ten day cloud unit, students may At any point during our ten day cloud unit, students may

bring in photographs of clouds they have taken. I will bring in photographs of clouds they have taken. I will compile all of these pictures into a slideshow that our class compile all of these pictures into a slideshow that our class will watch at the end of our unit.will watch at the end of our unit.

Assessment RubricAssessment Rubric

Clouds and Clouds and Visual ArtsVisual Arts

ProficientProficient

33

Partially ProficientPartially Proficient

22

NoviceNovice

11

Accurately completes Accurately completes “Watching the Sky” “Watching the Sky”

worksheetworksheet

Completes Cloud Book Completes Cloud Book with neatness and with neatness and

accuracyaccuracy

Completes Kid Pix Completes Kid Pix projectproject

Shares artwork and Shares artwork and pictures with the classpictures with the class

Participates in Participates in classroom discussionsclassroom discussions

ResourcesResources

““Watching the Sky” worksheetWatching the Sky” worksheet Kid Pix softwareKid Pix software Carle, Eric. (1996). Carle, Eric. (1996). Little Cloud. Little Cloud. New York, NY: New York, NY:

Philomel BooksPhilomel Books Minneapolis Institute of Arts. (n.d). Minneapolis Institute of Arts. (n.d). Artsconnected: Artsconnected:

Tools for teaching the artsTools for teaching the arts. Retrieved July 30, . Retrieved July 30, 2009 from 2009 from http://http://www.artsconnected.orgwww.artsconnected.org//

Slideshare. Slideshare. http://http://www.slideshare.netwww.slideshare.net//

ReflectionsReflections

I had a great time developing this project. I had a great time developing this project. This project incorporates many different This project incorporates many different learning styles and allows students many learning styles and allows students many hands-on experiences. I feel that the hands-on experiences. I feel that the students will be highly motivated because students will be highly motivated because they will be involved in every part of the they will be involved in every part of the lesson. Using art allows the students lesson. Using art allows the students opportunities to express themselves in a opportunities to express themselves in a variety of ways and encourages creativity. variety of ways and encourages creativity.