LESSON PLAN # 1 Days: 1

Teacher:​ Dana Katz

Lesson Title: ​Observational Cities
Grade Level: ​Kindergarten

Central Focus: ​Using wooden blocks, students will work in teams of three to create a structure,
and then use their knowledge of shapes to create an observational drawing of what they see,
adding details to their drawings to transform it into a city.

IL Art Learning Standards:

CREATING: Anchor Standard 1 and 2: Generate and conceptualize artistic ideas and
work.
Investigate, Plan, Make: VA:Cr1.1.K ​Engage in exploration and imaginative play with
materials.
● In this lesson, students will meet this standard by experimenting with wooden blocks,
and practicing how to use simple blocks to create a structure.

Investigate: VA:Cr2.3.K ​Create art that represents natural and constructed environments.
● In this lesson, students will meet this standard by creating a drawing of the structure
they built and reimagining it as city or building.

RESPONDING: Anchor Standard 8: Construct meaningful interpretations of artistic work.

Perceive: VA:Re8.1.K​ List details and identify subject matter of works of art.
● In this lesson, students will meet this standard by explaining the details and subject
matter of their artwork.

Objectives: Illinois Fine Art

Standards

Objective I:
Given wooden blocks, students will work with one to two other VA:Cr1.1.K
students to form a free standing structure.

Objective II:
Given a pencil and paper, students will use shapes to draw their free VA:Cr2.3.K
standing structure.

Objective III:
Given sharpie’s and markers, students will add details and color to VA:Re8.1.K
transform their drawing into a city.
Instructional Resources and Materials:
Ladybug for demonstrating, and white board for outlining shapes. Google “colorful cities” for
students to be inspired by.

Art Materials for the Lesson:

White Sheets of 9x12” drawing paper, pencils, black sharpies, markers, and wooden blocks.

Management and Safety Issues:

This lesson will require basic management of students and their behavior. Students should be
carefully observed to ensure that they are using their materials appropriately.

Vocabulary:
● Day One
○ Details: ​an individual feature, fact, or item.
○ Form: ​the shape, visual appearance, or configuration of an object.
○ Observational drawing: ​core method of researching, investigating, developing
and communicating ideas through drawing.
○ Shape:​ the form of an object or its external boundary, outline, or external surface,
as opposed to other properties such as color, texture or material composition.
○ Three Dimensional: ​having or appearing to have length, breadth, and depth.

In-Class Activities:
Time Learning Activities Purpose

5 Day 1: Orientation/Engagement/Motivation​: This will give students

min Introduce observational drawing and the project to an introduction of the
students. activity for the day,
● Has anyone ever heard of the word observation while also informing
before? them about
○ It means to draw what we see. observational drawing.
● To create these drawings, we are going to work in
groups of three, and use wooden blocks to create a
tower.

10 Day 1: Presentation/Explicit Instruction​: This activity will

min Turn on the ladybug and have a tower pre-built to display provide practice and
on the whiteboard for students to see. a model for identifying
● To make this tower, I used a lot of different type of and creating a
blocks, but if I want to draw it, I can try to look for drawing.
the different types of shapes I see.
● Can anyone tell me a shape that they see?​ (Outline
the shape they say)
 ● Can someone come up and outline another shape
they see?

Continue this with two more students.

15 Day 1: Guided Practice/Feedback: This will give students

min Pass out blocks to different groups of students. hands on practice,
● Now it’s your turn! I am going to give blocks to each building, drawing from
group of three and you are going to work together observational and
to create something. When you are done, raise reimagining their
your hand and I will give you a paper and pencil to drawing as more than
begin drawing. just blocks.

Remind students that when they have finalized their tower,

they have to be very careful to make sure it does not fall or
change, because that would make it very hard to draw.

● When you are done with your drawing, raise your

hand again, and I will come around, check it and
give you a sharpie to outline the shapes.
● You can then use markers to turn the shapes into
different buildings.

As students begin to finish their pictures, have them create

a new structure and repeat the process.

10 Day 1: Closure Students should learn

min Students should clean up by returning blocks to their to be independent
bowls, and putting their drawings in their classroom and in charge of their
folder. own clean up.
● Time the students using a visual timer on the
screen (3 Minutes)

Pick an artist of the week and let them pick between

● Three blue tickets
● Prize box
● Sit by a friend next week

Call quiet tables to line up.

Observational Cities Rubric

Level 4 Level 3 Level 2 Level 1

Observational Drawing Drawing Drawing somewhat Drawing does not

Drawing demonstrates an demonstrates an demonstrates an demonstrate an
exceptional understanding of understanding of understanding of
understanding of observational observational observational
observational drawing using drawing using drawing using
drawing using shapes. shapes. shapes.
shapes.

Details and Color Drawing includes Drawing includes Drawing includes Drawing does not
many details and a details and color. some details and include details or
wide range of color. some color. color.

Use of Tools All tools are used All tools are used Tools are somewhat Tools are not used
with extreme care. with care. used with care. with care.

Craftsmanship Final piece is Final piece is Final piece is Final piece is not
complete and complete and somewhat complete complete and does
reflects exceptional reflects care and reflects care not reflect care
care

Participation Effective use of Class time used Class time used Class time wasted
class time, well, and work somewhat well and and rarely helps
participation, and space kept clean. sometimes helps to clean up.
cooperative clean clean up.
up.

Originality Project reflects Project somewhat Project reflects Project does not
personal interests reflects personal personal interests, reflect personal
and is completely interests and is but is not original. interests, and is not
original. somewhat original. original.
Inspiration for City Drawings
Examples of Final Pieces