Lesson Title:​ Lawren Harris’ Landscapes Lesson #:​ 1 Date: ​October 2017

Name:​ ​Nika Younesi ​Subject:​ Fine Arts ​Grade:​ 5/6

Rationale:
This activity extends from a focus on Canadian artists, exploring the Group of Seven’s contribution to Canadian art.
This activity highlights Lawren Harris’ work, as he is credited in helping create an identity for Canadian art. This
activity establishes a base for further exploration into abstract art.

Curriculum Connections :
Curricular Competency:
● Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of personal, social, cultural, historical, and environmental
contexts in relation to the arts
● Research, describe, interpret and evaluate how artists (dancers, actors, musicians, and visual artists) use
processes, materials, movements, technologies, tools, techniques, and environments in the arts
● Reflect on works of art and creative processes to understand artist’s intentions
Content:
● Visual arts: elements of design: line, shape, space, texture, colour, form, value; principles of design:
pattern, repetition, balance, contrast, emphasis, rhythm, variety, unity, harmony
Core Competency:
● Personal and Social
Learning Intentions Activity Assessment

Students can identify and
distinguish different use of shapes,
forms, colours, and value in
abstract art form.
Students create abstract collage
landscapes that emulate Lawren
Harris’ style .
Assessment Rubric:
- Demonstrates use of form and
shape in landscape motif
- Demonstrates intent to emulate
Harris’ style
- Considered variances in colour
and value
Exceeds expectations, Meets
expectations, Developing.

Self-Assessment:
With Post-it notes, students label
where they used warm, cool, and
neutral colors.
Materials and Resources with References/Sources:

For Teacher For Students

 - Sample images of Lawren Harris’ landscape - Construction paper (variety of colours)
paintings - Pencils and erasers
- Internet Access and video player: - Scissors
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE3epMLz - Glue
5lA - Sample images of Lawren Harris’ landscape
- ‘Lawren Harris: Canadian Visionary - paintings
Vancouver Art Gallery’

Differentiated Instruction (DI): (accommodations)

● Students may find it difficult, or may be uninspired in trying to replicate Harris’ paintings. Such students
may choose to create their landscapes from their own imagination.
● Some learners may find the task too simple. Provide many image examples, some with more in-depths
demonstrations of colour, value, form, and shape.
● Students may be limited in their fine motor skills. Provide templates of cut out shapes, of varying color and
size. Students may choose to paint part of their collage.
Organizational/Management Strategies:
● Students are encouraged to find and print images of Harris’ landscape paintings and bring them to class.
Students may also bring books with images of his paintings. This personal choice is to support student
engagement. However, instructor should also provide students with many examples of varying complexity,
in case students do not find such resources.
● Students collect and return materials in orderly fashion. Send tables or groups up one by one to ensure
smooth transitions.
● Revisit safety etiquette when manipulating scissors or glue. Dependent on the class, instructor may wish to
hand out these supplies.
● Be aware of time constraints. This activity can take time to complete as it involves much finesse.

Lesson Activities:
Teacher Activities Student Activities pacing
Introduction (hook/motivation/lesson overview)
- Video (play till around 2:30):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kE3epMLz5l
A teacher.
- Lead class discussion on Lawren Harris’s style
of painting, in representing landscapes. Note the
use of bold colours and simple shapes and forms.
- Encourage students to visually deconstruct the
painting, to view it as though made up of simple
shapes.
Body (lesson flow/ management)
- Provide students with materials.
- Encourage students to consider the light and
shadows in the paintings, and how they may
represent these elements by using different shades
of colour.
- Ask students to identify the various properties of
color in their collages.
Closure ( connections within lesson or between
lessons, sharing successes, summaries)
- Touch base with each Think-Pair-Share
- Lead group discussion/essential questions:
Looking around at others artwork, did it evoke any
emotion as a viewer?
Is this a style you are attracted to?
Does it resonate with you and your personal
experience in Canada?
- ​Students have the choice to print off an image
of Lawren Harris’ landscape paintings, or they
may select from image samples provided by
- Students determine the simple shapes they see
in the paintings.
- Students choose the colours they need to create 60mins
their landscape collage.
- Students begin by drawing out the major
shapes they see in their paintings onto their
construction paper base.
- Students cut out the various color shapes and
glue them onto their construction paper onto the
layout.
- Self-assessment: ​Using three Post-it notes, 5mins
students label where they used warm, cool, and
neutral colours.
Think-Pair-Share:​ Students discuss similarities 10mins
or differences in the colour shapes and
composition of their work. Students discuss the
ease or challenges of the activity - Would it have
been easier to paint or color with
pencils/crayons? - Why/Why not? Students
discuss whether they perceive landscapes,
nature, and their environment differently now?
In light of colors, lighting, etc.