Composition Practice

 

Fiona Black

Unit of Study: Elements of Art

Subject: Art

Grade: 5th

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The Big Idea: 

 

Students will explore different artistic compositions by creating their own 'movable design pieces' and making different compositions from the same pieces.

 

Specific Essential Questions addressed in this lesson:

 

What does the word 'composition' mean? How might an artist decide how to arrange the parts and pieces of their art to create a larger image?

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Learning Outcomes/Expectations/Objectives:

 

As a result of this lesson, students will understand that there are many ways of composing pieces of art, and ways to make the same components look different by arranging them in a variety of ways.

 

As a result of this lesson, students will know that composition in art is about the artistic arrangement of the parts of a picture.

 

As a result of this lesson, students will be able to create multiple compositions from the same group of parts.

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Learning Activities:

 

Introduction/Opening (5-10 minutes)

Begin by showing a few images from several artists who have a strong senses of composition in their work (Wassily Kandinsky, Mavis Pusey, William T Williams). Ask students prompting questions, what do you see in these works? Are they representational? Abstract? What kinds of artists elements do you see? Shapes? Lines? Symbols?

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Ask students about the word 'composition'. What does it mean? What do you think it might mean in the context of art?

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Explain the steps for this project. First, come up with 10-12 pieces to draw separately on a pieces of paper (these can be symbols, lines, shapes, objects, patterns, colors *no words or numbers*). Then place your clear paper over the sketches and trace with your sharpie. Then color in your pieces and cut them out (put them in your envelope so you don't loose them). After you've cut everything out, start placing them on a new blank piece of paper to create a composition. You will be creating 5 compositions total, and each one should include at least 7 of your pieces (all pieces need to be used at least once). When you have a completed composition, call the teacher over so they can take a picture of it before you take them off and start over.

 

Demonstration (5 minutes)

For the demonstration invite students to help you decide where to arrange your pre-prepped pieces on a piece of paper to create a composition as a class. This is practice for when they do this on their own.

 

Transition: Send students to seats to begin working.

 

Activity (30 minutes)

Student will work independently on this project during this time frame. Remind them to sketch everything first since sharpie is not erasable. Walk around and take a picture when students are finished with a composition.

 

Closure (5 Minutes)

Have students clean up and put their cut out pieces in an envelope with their name on it. 

 

Materials needed for the lesson:

• sharpies in a variety or colors

• small paper envelopes [1 per student]

• scissors [1 pair per student]

• pencils [1 per student]

• sketch paper [2 pieces per student]

• clear laminate paper [1 piece per student]

 

Teacher Materials needed for demonstration:

• pre-prepped shapes/pieces to move around

• a piece of white sketch paper 

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