EDPB: 501 Introduction to Visual Art in Education (Secondary)

Instructor: Heather Pastro

Mallory Chester, Erin Lonsdale, Lisa Brise

Date: 30 October 2017

Reading Lesson Plan: Final Draft

Lesson Title: Dia de los Lesson #1 Date: October 30th 2017

Muertes: The Latin American
Art of Celebrating the Dead
Name: Ms. Chester, Ms. Subject: Visual Arts: Art Studio Grade(s):10
Lonsdale and Ms. Brise

Rationale: This lesson introduces students to the art form of Dia de los Muertes, or ‘day of the dead’.
Throughout this lesson students will form an understanding of the cultural/political/social/historical
themes behind Dia de los Muertes art as well as link these themes to other forms of art in our world.
They will consider the importance of colour as a representation of emotion in ‘day of the dead’ art
work and use these understandings and tools to create their own interpretation of this art form.

Curriculum Connections: https://curriculum.gov.bc.ca/

Big idea: Traditions, perspectives, worldviews and stories can be shared through visual arts.

Curricular Competency: Create personally meaningful artistic works that demonstrate an

understanding of, and appreciation for, personal, social, cultural, environmental, and historical
contexts.

Content: The influence of social, cultural, historical, political and personal context on artistic works.

Core Competency: I can get new ideas or build on other people’s ideas, to create new things within
the constraints of a form, a problem, or materials. I also get ideas when I use my senses to explore.

Learning Intentions: Activity: Assessment:

-Students will consider
cultural/political/social/historical
themes behind Dia de los
Muertes artwork
-Students will consider art forms
that celebrate the dead, and
create connections based on
-Taking notes during -Student’s knowledge will be
PowerPoint/Watching YouTube displayed by the way they
video interpret these idea in their art,
as well as tested at a later date
-Pair and share -Student participation in pair
sharing as well as class sharing
these considerations between
‘day of the dead’ art and other
forms in the world
-Students will consider their own
feelings and emotions
surrounding death and
mourning to create their own
interpretations of this form
(using colour to display emotion)
-Creation of their own Dia de los -Students will hand in their
Muertes piece of art work when completed (can
work on for more than one class
if needed): a successful
interpretation of Dia de los
Muertes will show use of
conventions of the form, as well
as speak to the student’s
emotions and feelings

Prerequisite Concepts and Skills (for student success):

 Students have been using various tools and mediums to create art and have begun to
familiarize themselves with the different ways to use pastels, chalk, pencil crayons etc.
 Teacher may ask students to do some research prior to class: May ask students to bring in
some examples of Dia de los Muertes art to draw inspiration from when creating their own
pieces

Materials for Teacher: Materials for Students:

 Access to projector/projector screen  Tool to access the internet to research
 Black constructions paper (1per student, ideas/inspiration for their own Dia de los
with extras in case) Muertes art (phone, laptop, etc.)
 Drawing/colouring utensils: pencil
crayons, crayons, pastels, chalk (enough
to share between tables- 1 set of each
per table)
 Various examples of Dia de los Muertes
art
 PowerPoint slides (including history of
Dia de los Muertes, it’s cultural
importance, celebrations of the dead)

Differentiated Instruction (DI- accommodations):

 Have different materials available if students feel they would like to take the assignment in a
direction other than colouring/drawing: perhaps offer the idea of students using magazines to
cut out different pieces to use to create their Dia de los Muertes art or could start a painting if
they are particularly interested in this art form and want it to be a bigger project.
 Students may not be comfortable with the initial creation of their skull, creating life like
reflections of faces is not easy. Perhaps you could provide a blank skull template for them to
use/work off of to create their own
 Students could create digital art if they wish. It would work well for this art form due to the
solid colours and use of shapes.
 Student Activities Classroom Pacing
Teacher Activities Management
Considerations
Before Lesson: -If teacher is
-Have student’s desks arranged in groups of 4/5 concerned about
-Have appropriate number of pieces of black paper these items being
out on table, as well as drawing/colouring utensils a distraction
(I set of each per table grouping) before the
Intro: activity, they can
-Show intro/hook videos: -Students watch have them at the 5min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oj7nsq48BcQ videos, briefly front and have 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G8B1FPypOk discuss afterwards student from
-Review historical back round of Dia de los Muertes -students take notes each group come
art (PowerPoint slides) off of PowerPoint and retrieve 10min
 It’s origins slides these items when
 Various examples (past and present) the activity begins
 Cultural significance in Latin America
-Discuss Dia de los Muertes art as a celebration of
the dead, and the significance of this 5min
 Pair and Share: have students get together -students may not
in pairs and discuss other forms of art they -Students pair up in come up with
know that celebrate the dead, then discuss immediate vicinity answers on their 5min
with the class- Possible example: Egyptian and brainstorm, own, have back
hieroglyphics and tombs then volunteer to up answer of
discuss with class Egyptian
hieroglyphics and
tombs on a slide
Activity: as an example
-Explain to students that they will be creating their
own interpretations of Dia de los Muertes art on -Students may ask
the black construction paper questions about 5min
 Go over basic conventions of creating this assignment
type of work
 Go over drawing/colouring tools they may
use
 Emphasis use of colour- bright colours
represent happiness: Dia de los Muertes is
all about celebrating the dead and being
happy rather than sad because the dead
would not like that -Some students
-Have students do some image searching to find may like to wear
inspiration, however; encourage them to try free -Students may use headphones
hand based on their own feelings and emotions their while they work 10min
(perhaps based on their own celebration of a loved phones/computer to on their art,
one who has passed away) search for encourage them
-Students are to begin creating their work, inspiration for their to do so, but only
encourage them to create a draft on a separate own art allow if they stay
piece of paper before they begin. -Students being to on task 35min
-Circulate and assist when needed use tools to create
Conclusion: their work -Students may
-Ask one student from each group collect all not be 10min
drawing tools and return them to the front comfortable
-Have the class come together and discuss their sharing- have an
art: encourage students who are comfortable to example of your
share their art with the class (their own to share
inspiration/colour choices/translation of
feelings/choice of drawing tool etc) -Make sure their
-Have students hand in their work name is signed
After Lesson: somewhere on
-Post art around the class to be enjoyed by their work
everyone