Teaching Critical Thinking Strategies in the Classroom through Aesthetic Experiences

Modern Art Comparison

Amanda Aiken

Classrooms by Design, Showcase

August 13, 2009

ObjectivesStudents will: view and discuss of modern art that reflect the

time period stretching from the 1920s-1940s be able to analyze how art is reflection of events

in history research and find their own works of art create a narrated slideshow discussing the

background and meaning of 3 paintings and artists create their own their own work of art that reflects

today’s world

Grade Level: 11th Course: AP European History

Day 1 Students view artwork from the 1920s

– 1940s and discuss how art was a reflection of the time period

Students research artwork from the time period

Student will select 3 pieces of artwork to analyze on their own

Day 2 Student will create narrated or descriptive slideshows

of artwork that includes a reflection of the time period and information about the artist. Students may either narrate or include markers and captions to help explain their choices.

Students will post their slideshows to our class blackboard site

Day 3 Students will create their piece of modern art that

reflects today’s society

Creating an Artistic Response to the Contemporary WorldAP European History

OverviewJust as the artists whose work you have seen responded to their world,

you will create a piece of art – using illustrations, symbols, pictures, or other graphic elements – that represents your personal response to some aspect of the contemporary world.

You may choose to comment on any aspect of the world today, including technology, human relations, family, education, government, industry, war, violence, or politics.

The mood of your piece may be hopeful, admiring, critical, ambivalent, or simply observational.

Requirements1. create your own artistic work (painting, drawing, poem, collage, sculpture, etc). Please DO

NOT feel compelled to buy expensive art materials. Think beyond, however, a simple magazine collage. (You knew how to do that in grade school)

2. determine an appropriate and creative title for your piece3. write a one page “artist’s statement” (please type) that explains your piece and its view of

the contemporary world. Consider: what is the overall message? How did you attempt to communicate that in your piece? What materials did you use and why? A viewer should be able to read the statement and clearly understand the intent of your art piece.

Student Work

Assessment Rubric

Art Comparison

Below Expectation

s 1

Basic

2

Above Expectations

3

Exemplary

4

Total

Participation in group discussion

of artwork

Did not participate in

classroom discussion

Sometimes participated

with discussion

Fully participated in class discussion

Went above and beyond classroom

discussion, led some of the discussion

Slideshow Presentation

Did not present information that

met the objectives

Presentation information is accurate but lacks quality

Presentation is accurate and creative

Presentation information is

accurate, creative and goes above

and beyond expectations

Slideshow Creation

Slideshow is unfinished or doesn’t meet the objectives

Slideshow has accurate information but lacks quality

Slideshow has accurate information and shows effort in creation

Slideshow was accurate and

displayed a high level of quality

and effort

Creation of Modern Art

Example

Made a creation but no

objectives of the assignment

are met

Artwork is created and satisfies the objectives

Artwork is created and there are

noticeable attempts at extra effort and

creativity

Artwork is created and it is above

and beyond expectations of creativity and

effort

ReflectionAfter creating this lesson and having students

work through the components, this is definitely something I would like to weave into my current curriculum. The students enjoyed the opportunity to analyze the art and be creative in their own way even though some claimed they were less artistic than others. This lesson will be one I share with my other Advanced Placement European History colleagues. This lesson would allow our AP students to explore their creativity while learning the objectives of modern art they need to meet their standards.