I had a huge brainstorming session about a new unit plan I am developing for my last (yes, LAST) art education class before I student teach. I already had a minor panic attack about my last year closing in and everything else...I survived that.
I wanted to explore an enduring idea that resonates with myself and my prior knowledge. Before finding my passion for teaching I wanted to be... a marine biologist. I loved the idea of learning about and from large sea mammals. Specifically orcas (thanks, Keiko). I kind of have a huge catalog of biological knowledge and random fun facts which I would love to incorporate into lessons! I have studied everything from bugs, to plants, to birds, to -- well, you get the idea.
So I am going to do it. Interdisciplinary learning brings reluctant artists into the room with more confidence and curiosity. The enduring idea is "Nature and Culture" and I want to see what high school students can come up with to create understanding between these two concepts.
Rationale:
Contemporary life and culture interacts with nature in diverse
and varied ways. By discussing and interpreting different contemporary artists,
both inside and outside of class, students will come to understand how modern
artists uphold relationships with nature through their work and explorations.
Through multiple media explorations students will build connections between
their own personal lives, our culture, and nature as we interact with it.
Nature has been interwoven with the history of human culture
and art production for millions of years. Students will conduct their own
personal research about contemporary artists and find personal connections to
nature in their own lives. The importance of understanding human interaction
and impact on nature is paramount to a successful study of nature and culture.
1.
Nature and culture interact.
2.
Nature and culture impact each other.
3.
Nature and culture depend on each other.
4.
Culture can affect nature adversely.
5.
Nature and culture are directly connected to
survival.
6.
Nature informs culture.
7.
Nature and culture have gender roles and
differences.
8.
Nature and culture operate similarly.
9.
Nature and culture can be territorial.
10.
Nature and culture change depending on geography and other factors.
11.
Nature and culture evolve.
12.
Nature and culture can be misunderstood.
13.
Nature and culture have their own visual cultures.
14. Nature
and culture have societies and communities.
15. Nature
and culture are full of diversity.
16. Nature
and culture operate in cycles.
17. Nature
and culture change constantly.
Lesson Ideas*:
·
Veterinary medicine – creating prosthetics for
animals (3D PRINTING [I have a problem])
·
Captivity
·
Design an outdoor space
·
Native American Birth Totem Repousse
·
Classroom Art Animal (Alebrijes)
·
Fashion design/ hair design
** The idea behind these lessons is to make students think about how nature informs culture. Students will not be limited to their own natural environment for the majority of the assignments, because the natural world expands so far and wide. I want to provide many possibilities for research and references. Again, interdisciplinary practices in the art room - my teacher warns against them, but frankly... I see it as an opportunity to make connections.
Andy Goldsworthy
Center for Contemporary Art and the Natural World
I need to do more research on example artists but this comes back to my struggle with teacher samples.. I don't want to give kids the answers! It's so hard to sit and come up with a result that will not create a blueprint for copying. "Ms. K did this so I should do that too!" No... no no no. To combat this problem I will try to select from a large number of contemporary artists working with nature and natural elements as their themes/enduring ideas. Then I will pair those artists with different references from nature (animals, plants, environments, etc.). Students would be required to do outside research and bring in their OWN reference materials. I want to foster accountability for student work; if they have questions they need to seek the answers.
Okay. I really do have to get back to reading/animating/planning. I just needed to put that down on 'paper'.
Happy blizzard warning!
Ms. K
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