Still Life 6^TH Grade

Preparation:

Have the students bring an important or favorite item from home. Tell them that it cannot be too big.

Discuss the vanitas with the class. Discuss the vanitas and how the artists used the symbolism to remind the viewer of the piece of their own mortality. Brainstorm what symbolism your students would like to include into their still life.  Make the symbolism significant to current times. This might impact what they choose to bring from home. You will need to set up a number of different vignettes to accommodate all of the items brought in.   Bring in a light for each vignette   to create shadows in the still life.

Discussion:

 Have the students help you set up the still life, make sure to have one or two items closer to the students and one or two items off in the back.  Aim your light from the top side. Discuss the shadows and reflections created by the light on your items. Have the students roughly sketch their still life.   If you would like to see if there should be any changes to the order of the items, ask your students if now that they have sketched the still life if they feel that there could be any improvements made on the arrangement. Make sure that each vignette has items that create you version of symbolism.  

Core Standard 1

Objective 1, b. Portray distant objects higher on the drawing paper.

                       E. Show cast shadows as darker directly under the object casting them

                       F. Fuse cast shadows that overlap.

                       h. Use highlight, halftone, shadow side, shadow edge, and reflected light to shade objects.

Objective 2, a. Consider a variety of ideas before starting a work of art

                        b. Make thumbnail sketches, storyboards, or verbal descriptions to help organize art ideas before beginning the actual piece.

Objective 3, a. Handle tools and materials so their inherent danger is minimized.

                       b. Dispose of waste materials in keeping with EPA standards and appropriate recycling methods (see 5^thgrade core standard 1 objective 3,b.)

                        c. Clean and put back to order art making areas after project.

                        d. Respect other student’s artworks as well as one’s own.

Core Standard 2

                     d. Hypothesize ways artists choose to use certain elements or principles more abundantly in their works than others.  (vanitas discussion)

 Objective 2, b. Create the illusion of depth in works of art.

Core Standard 3

Objective 1, a. Select themes or symbols appropriate for describing an idea or personal experience.

Objective 2, b. Evaluate a significant work or works in terms of craftsmanship, concepts, objectives, creativity, beauty now, and beauty when it was created (vanitas)

                      c. Create a work of art portraying an OBJECT or animal important to the student.

Core Standard 4

Objective 1, a. Compare /contrast art forms, past or present, in terms of subject matter, culture, and history.

                       b. Infer ways the availability of resources, technologies, and social conditions have affected artworks.

Objective 2, a. Explain how experiences, ideas, beliefs, and cultural settings can influence the students’ perception of artwork.

                       b. Describe the impact of significant works of art in the time and place they were created.

                       c. Hypothesize if the meanings of significant works of art change over time.