Screaming Portraits

 

Fiona Black

Unit of Study: Art History

Subject: Art

Grade: 6th

 

The Big Idea: 

 

Students will use color and body language to convey emotion in their self-portrait.

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Specific Essential Questions addressed in this lesson:

 

How can we use color to convey emotion? How can we use body language and facial expressions to show emotion? What makes you want to scream?

 

Learning Outcomes/Expectations/Objectives:

 

As a result of this lesson, students will understand that there are lots of visual cues used to help convey emotion. 

 

As a result of this lesson, students will know that Edvard Munch was an expressionist painter from the 20th century.

 

As a result of this lesson, students will be able to create a self-portrait that shows them expressing a strong emotion towards something.

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Learning Activities:

 

Introduction/Opening (5 minutes)

Begin by showing students an image of Edvard Munch's The Scream and ask them prompting questions [Have you ever seen this painting before? Do you know anything about it? What might the figure be doing? What emotion is he expressing?] Follow this by asking why they think he is feeling that emotion, i.e. what makes you say that? What about his body language and facial expression shows that? Briefly discuss color and emotion as well, what colors make you feel [list of emotions]. Remind students there are no wrong answers to that question.

 

Demonstration (5 minutes)

For the demonstration briefly show students the best way to blend using oil pastels, and how they can use white and black colors to lighten or darken other colors. Remind students to think big, and try to fill in the whole paper.

 

Transition: Send students to seats to begin working.

 

Activity (35 minutes)

Student will work independently on this project during this time frame.

 

Closure (5-10 minutes) *for when project is done [may take 2-3 classes]

Have students clean up and put their work away. Invite students to share their work and what it is that makes them scream.

 

Materials needed for the lesson:

• large piece of paper (thicker is better) [1 per student]

• oil pastels in a variety of colors

• sketch paper [1-2 sheets per student]

• pencils [1 per student]

 

Teacher Materials needed for demonstration:

• a few oil pastels (including white and black)

• thick (small) piece of paper

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