Lesson Plan | Active Learning | Visual Expression

Assumptions: This Active Lesson Plan assumes: a 100-minute class, prior student study with both the Book and the start of Project development, and that only one activity (among the three suggested) will be chosen to be conducted during the class, as each activity is designed to take up a significant portion of the available time.

Objectives

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Objectives stage is crucial for directing the focus of students and the teacher on what will be explored in the lesson. By clearly establishing the objectives, students can better understand the importance of visual art in their lives and in broader contexts. This stage also serves to align expectations and ensure that everyone involved is aware of what is expected to be achieved by the end of the session.

Main Objectives:

1. Describe and identify visual art as an artistic manifestation that uses vision as the main sense of appreciation.

2. Analyze and compare different forms of visual expression, such as painting, drawing, photography, sculpture, and design, highlighting their characteristics and influences.

Side Objectives:

1. Encourage students' creativity and critical thinking through the observation and discussion of visual art.

Introduction

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The introduction aims to engage students and place them in the context of studying visual expression, encouraging them to reflect and apply prior knowledge interactively. Problem-based situations encourage practical and imaginative application of concepts, while contextualization highlights the relevance of visual art in real-life situations, sparking interest and curiosity.

Problem-Based Situations

1. Imagine you are in a museum and come across an abstract painting. How would you describe the emotion that this painting conveys to you, even without fully understanding what has been painted?

2. If you had to create a poster for an important school event, how would you use colors and shapes to express the significance of the event?

Contextualization

Visual art is not limited to galleries and museums; it permeates our daily lives through famous logos, book covers, product packaging, and even urban environments through murals and graffiti. Understanding how artists use visual elements such as color, shape, and pattern to communicate and evoke emotions can help students better appreciate the world around them and enrich their own artistic expressions.

Development

Duration: (75 - 85 minutes)

The Development stage is designed to allow students to practically and creatively apply the concepts studied about visual expression. By working in groups, they develop cooperation and communication skills, as well as explore their creativity and critical thinking ability. Each proposed activity aims to consolidate students' understanding of how visual elements such as color, shape, and movement can be used to express emotions and tell stories, preparing them for a deeper and more reflective appreciation of visual art.

Activity Suggestions

It is recommended to carry out only one of the suggested activities

Activity 1 - Color Mystery

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand and apply the concept of color psychology in visual expression.

- Description: In this activity, students will explore the influence of colors on visual perception and emotion. A scenario will be proposed where each group must create a 'mood map' using different colors to represent different emotional states. For example, blue can represent calm, red can represent anger, and so on. Each group will receive poster boards, colored markers, and magazines for cutouts.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Explain the relationship between colors and emotions using simple examples.

• Distribute art materials (poster boards, colored markers, magazines).

• Ask each group to create a 'mood map' representing a typical day at school, using colors to depict different moments of emotion.

• Students should discuss and justify their color choices.

• Each group will present their map and explain how the chosen colors reflect the day's emotions.

Activity 2 - Drawing from Imagination

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Stimulate creativity and personal interpretation in visual art.

- Description: Students will be challenged to create a collective drawing that represents an imaginary story. Each group of students will receive a small part of the story and, without knowing the other parts, must draw what they imagine. In the end, all parts will be combined to form a unique visual story.

- Instructions:

• Divide the class into groups of up to 5 students.

• Give each group a part of a story (for example, 'a boy finds a mysterious key').

• Students must draw a scene that represents what was given to them in their part of the story.

• Only the facilitator knows the complete story.

• At the end, the drawings from all groups are united to form a visual sequence of the complete story.

• Discuss with the class how different interpretations can be formed from the same set of information.

Activity 3 - Painting with Light

> Duration: (60 - 70 minutes)

- Objective: Understand the interaction between light and movement in visual art.

- Description: In this activity, students will explore the concept of long exposure photography to capture the movement of light. Each group will use small flashlights and other light-emitting objects to create interesting patterns and shapes, which will be photographed with a digital camera in long exposure mode.

- Instructions:

• Divide the students into groups of up to 5.

• Explain the concept of long exposure photography and show simple examples.

• Distribute small flashlights and other light-emitting objects.

• Each group will choose a location in the room where they can darken the environment.

• Students will experiment with different movements of the lights to create interesting patterns and shapes.

• Use a digital camera in long exposure mode to capture the images.

• Each group will choose their best photo and present it, explaining the creative process.

Feedback

Duration: (15 - 20 minutes)

The purpose of this stage is to consolidate students' learning, allowing them to reflect on the practical activities undertaken and articulate what they learned in their own words. The group discussion helps share perspectives and discoveries, promoting a deeper and richer understanding of the topic. Furthermore, by answering key questions, students are challenged to think critically about applying concepts of visual expression in different contexts, reinforcing their learning and analysis and synthesis skills.

Group Discussion

To initiate the group discussion, ask each group to briefly share what they created and the discoveries they made during the activities. Use the following questions to guide the discussion: How did the colors, shapes, and movements you chose help express emotions or tell the story? Was there any color, shape, or movement that you found particularly challenging to use? How could you apply what you learned today in other types of artistic projects or in everyday life?

Key Questions

1. How can different visual elements (colors, shapes, and movements) alter the perception of a piece of art?

2. In what ways can understanding the influence of colors on emotions be applied in other contexts, besides visual art?

3. What was the biggest difficulty your group faced in trying to express emotions or tell stories through visual elements?

Conclusion

Duration: (5 - 10 minutes)

The Conclusion stage serves to consolidate learning, helping students synthesize the information and experiences they encountered during the lesson. By summarizing and connecting key points, this section reinforces students' understanding of the importance of visual expression and how it applies in both artistic and everyday contexts. It also provides an opportunity for students to reflect on the relevance of what they learned and how they can continue to explore and apply these concepts in future projects and situations. This stage also facilitates the teacher’s assessment of students' understanding.

Summary

In conclusion, the teacher should summarize and recapitulate the main points addressed regarding visual expression, reiterating the importance of elements such as color, shape, and movement in art. The teacher should also revisit the practical activities conducted, highlighting students' discoveries and work.

Theory Connection

It is essential to emphasize how the lesson connected theory and practice, showing students how the studied concepts are applied in concrete artistic activities. The lesson allowed students to explore and directly experience the influence of colors and shapes on the expression of emotions and narratives, consolidating theoretical learning through interactive practices.

Closing

Finally, the teacher should discuss the relevance of visual expression in everyday life, highlighting how understanding visual elements can enrich the way students perceive and communicate with the world around them. This moment of reflection helps consolidate learning and understand visual art as a universal and powerful language.