Fifth Grade Kits

	Abstract Portraits: Students examine abstract artwork by Picasso and Jim Schoppert, discuss why an artist might choose to do abstract work, and create an abstract portrait using oil pastels. Students base their portraits on face photos that show extreme emotions.	Download this lesson plan
	Amason's Whimsical Animals: Students look at the whimsical animal paintings of Alvin Amason, an Alaskan Native artist. Students begin their own animal paintings using basic shapes and playful color choices, adding large brush strokes in his painting style.	Download this lesson plan
	Andy Goldsworthy; Art from the Earth: Students study Andy Goldsworthy, a British artist who transforms nature into art, photographs it, and lets it return to nature. They then go outside to create art from only nature -- no tools allowed! When done, they photograph their work and write about the art they made and the process they used.	Download this lesson plan
	Andy Warhol Pop Art: Students look at Pop Art by Andy Warhol and others, discussing the presence and purpose of art in media. Students learn to draw a 3-D cylinder, which becomes a can, and using tempera cakes, students create a Pop Art poster of a large can featuring images from current media.	Download this lesson plan
	Bicycles; Art on the Move: Students learn about the history of the bicycle. They work through the artist process by drawing a bicycle from memory, by observation, using tools and then from memory again. They arrange their drawings into a collage for display.	Download this lesson plan
	Capitol Idea: After studying samples of architecture and existing state capitol buildings around the U.S., students re-model the Alaska State Capitol, using drafting tools for arches and angles.	Download this lesson plan
	Crazy Hair Day: Students learn the proportions of a human face and practice these and other tips for drawing faces in a self-portrait. Students add “crazy hair” to this portrait, and write the names of people who have taught them something into the hair. Texture and value are added to the hair with cross-hatching and patterns.	Download this lesson plan
	Diatoms; Microscopic Jewels: Students are introduced to the 17th century Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the microscope he developed, his discoveries and his methods of recording those discoveries. They create a colorful microscopic view of diatoms using watercolors and black crayon 'resist.'	Download this lesson plan
	Formline and Beyond with Jim Schoppert: Students learn about the non-traditional work of Jim Schoppert, Tlingit artist. They create a cut-paper printing plate of a non-traditional design using traditional Northwest Coast formline shapes. They make prints from this plate using a method of oil pastels and heat caused by friction. Students mount and name their abstract art.	Download this lesson plan
	Georgia O'Keeffe Meets Mark Kelley: Students study American artist, Georgia O’Keeffe, and local photographer, Mark Kelley. With deer bones as models, students draw from observation, then place their bone in a southeast Alaska landscape provided by Mark Kelley calendar pages. Students enjoy finding just the right “focal point” for their picture, using the hole in the bone as a view finder.	Download this lesson plan
	Inside and Outside of Me: Students consider prejudice and tolerance by exploring ways in which we are all alike. They then learn about four “artist heroes” who drew their creative strength from accepting and nurturing their personal differences. Students investigate the concept of tolerance by creating an “inside and outside of me self-portrait” using words, color, and pattern.	Download this lesson plan
	Layout Design: Students learn about the career of a layout artist and different strategies used to catch our attention and convey information in an effective “lay out”. Students mount and arrange pictures and text to create a layout design poster. These could be “pretend” posters, as an exercise to simply teach design concepts; OR use student-generated text and images as part of a research project supporting other class objectives.	Download this lesson plan
	Michaelangelo's Hands: Students study the life of the Italian Renaissance artist Michelangelo, focusing on two of his best-known works, the marble sculpture Pieta and a small part of the Sistine Chapel ceiling. They create a modeled or shaded drawing of their hand in a sign language position, cut it out and mount it pop-up style to look like a piece of sculpture	Download this lesson plan
	Monochromatic Mystery: Students are inspired by Chris Van Allsburg’s Caldecott award winning artwork and mysterious style. They draw a common object using tints and shades and place it in an unusual setting. Students follow the pattern of Van Allsburg’s “Mysteries of Harris Burdick,” and write a title and mystery sentence to go with their artwork. The finished piece is a monochromatic color scheme.	Download this lesson plan
	Northern Migrations: Students discuss northern migrations and study photos and artwork showing migrations of cranes, caribou and salmon. They consider design elements that create a sense of movement before using watercolors, oil pastel and cut paper stencils to create a mixed media artwork of cranes, salmon or caribou in motion.	Download this lesson plan
	Paper Quilts: Students work in small cooperative groups to agree on a set of artistic “rules” regarding a species of butterfly. Each child then makes a cut paper collage that follows those rules, and the group displays their unique, but similar artworks in a group “paper quilt.” It is recommended that students get the opportunity to experience this lessonn both as a fourth grader and as a fifth grader.	Download this lesson plan
	Plains Indians Ledgerbooks: Students learn that the history of the Plains Indians is recorded in their art, specifically, drawings done in the recycled ledgerbooks traded from white settlers. Students make a simple, abstracted image, with charcoal, on recycled phonebook pages, that show a possible event in the day of the life of a Plains Indian. Students describe the event in writing.	Download this lesson plan
	Raven's Tail Motif: Students learn the importance of Raven’s Tail robes in the recording of Tlingit history. They learn to recognize motifs as a design element. Students then create a concentric motif and stamp it on to a “raven’s tail” robe.	Download this lesson plan
	Remembering ANCSA: Collectibles in Clay: Create a small clay sculpture to represent an Alaskan native corporation, using corporate logos for inspiration. Recognize the logos of Alaska native corporations are designed to represent specific Alaskan regions, their cultures, strengths, and pride, today and in the future. Carve, and build with slab, coil and pinch-pot techniques.	Download this lesson plan
	Standing Forms: Students discuss “form” and how artists create sculptures that can balance and stand. Students collaborate in pairs to create a paper sculpture which can stand on it’s own. They add embellishment with colored construction paper.	Download this lesson plan