Surrealist Spirit Animals Lesson Plan

Title of Lesson: Surrealist Spirit Animals

Teacher: Emma Jebe
School: Prairieview-Ogden
Grade Level[s]: 5th
Date to be Taught: April 27 and 28th, 2017

Big Idea that drives Lesson/Unit:

Exploring the concept of spiritual animals encourages students to investigate the issue of self and
expand their self-awareness. Illustrating ones individual characteristics through a spirit animal
can further their understanding of their personal identity by focusing on key aspects that make
them who they are.

Key concepts about Big Idea:

Comparing ones own traits to the traits of different animals assists students in recognizing the
traits they relate to and what does or does not make them who they are.
Spirit Animals are a great resource for self-identification and reflection regarding own evident
individual characteristics.
By focusing on positive traits, students will further develop a sense of the kind of person they aim
to be and build the confidence to be the person they want to be.

Fine Arts Goals Met by the Objectives:

VA:Cr2.3.5 Students who meet the standards understand that artists and
designers experiment with forms, structures, materials, concepts, media, and art-
making approaches
Experiment and develop skills in multiple art-making techniques and approaches through
practice.

3-4 Essential Questions:

How can art be used to express your identity, thoughts, and ideas?
How do artists and designers learn from trial and error?
How does rational thought encourage or prevent creative and innovative thinking?

Vocabulary Acquisition:
Oil Pastels - These have a soft, buttery consistency and intense colors. They are dense and fill the
grain of paper and are slightly more difficult to blend than soft pastels, but do not require a
fixative. They may be spread across the work surface by thinning with turpentine.
Identity - condition or character as to who a person or what a thing is; the qualities, beliefs, etc.,
that distinguish or identify a person or thing
Symbol - a drawing, shape, or object that represents an idea, object, or amount of something.
Surrealism - is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for its visual
artworks and writings. By using fantasy and dream imagery, artists produced creative works that
exposed their inner minds in eccentric, symbolic ways through visual means.
Distortion - is the alteration of the original shape (or other characteristic) of something, such as an
object, image, sound or waveform.

Key Artistic Concepts:

Oil Pastel Techniques: Gradation, Blend, Sgraffito, Stipple, Crosshatch

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 Surrealist Spirit Animals Lesson Plan

Artmaking Materials Needed:

50 pieces of black Paper
25 boxes of oil pastels
25 Toothpicks
25 Papertowels

Contemporary/Historical/Multicultural exemplars:
Vladmir Kush; African Sonata

Salvador Dali; The Elephants

Procedures:
DAY1
DISCUSSION: (15 minutes)
o Schedule
Today
First, we will discuss spirit animals and surrealism
Next, we will look at artworks using surrealism
Then, we will practice different oil pastel techniques
Lastly, we will begin creating our own surrealist spirit animals using
those oil pastel techniques
Next Class
We will finish working on our surrealist spirit animals
We will discuss our finished projects.
o Prezi on Spirit Animals and Surrealism http://prezi.com/7x2rdghr33ov/?
utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy
Review Identity
Ask the initial essential questions for the unit giving time for responses
State the key concepts for the unit, explaining concept and asking questions
Introduce and show Vladmir Kushs African Sonata and Salvador Dalis The
Elephants
Describe how artists and their ideas contribute to the lesson
DEMONSTRATIONS: (10 minutes)
o Students are also participating during the demo.
[Student Name] Can you please pass out 2 pieces of paper to each student?
[Student Name] Can you please pass out 1 toothpick to each student?
[Student Name] Can you please pass out 1 paper towel?
[Student Name] Can you please pass a set of oil pastels to each student?

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 Surrealist Spirit Animals Lesson Plan

[Student Name] Can you please pass a handout to each student?

o I write my name and my number on the back of both pieces of paper.
o I draw a line down the middle of my paper and a line across the middle of my
paper
o I label the four squares Blend, Heavy Pressure Blend, Sgraffitio, and
Cross Hatching
o We will experiment with one technique in each box. These are the techniques
we will be using on the project:
Blend
I press down with an oil pastel to make a mark and blend out
using my finger or a paper towel.
Heavy Pressure Blend
I press down heavily with darker color and reduce pressure as I
go
Using a second color and starting at the opposite side, I press
down heavily and slowly release pressure as I blend it into the
first color
Sgraffito
I color with first color
I layer on a second color
Using a toothpick or other pointed tool, I lightly carve into the
pigment to reveal lower layers
Cross hatching
With any amount of pressure, I draw lines crossing at 90 degree
angles
DESIGN/WORK SESSION: (10 minutes)
o DIRECTIONS FOR STUDIO:
Consider and choose an animal that you identify with the most.
EX: I like sloths because they are always smiling and I enjoy smiling a
lot.
Think of one characteristic/interest describing yourself that would not be used to
describe your chosen animal.
EX: I am an artist (Other examples could be that youre athletic, have
long hair, enjoy playing the piano).
Sketch out how you will distort your animal using that trait on the black paper.
EX: I could draw a sloth painting at an easel or a sloth sketching in a
sketchbook.
Using at least 2 different oil pastel techniques, finish your painting.
o Students will work on drawings while teacher walks around assisting with ideas when/if
necessary.
o If students finish early, they will write one high from today, one low from today, and one
hah (funny occurrence) from today.
CLEAN UP: (5 minutes)
o [Student Name] Can you please collect the oil pastels?
o [Student Name] Can you please collect the projects?
o [Student Name] Can you please collect the toothpicks and paper towels and throw them
away?
DAY 2
DESIGN/WORK SESSION: (25 minutes)

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 Surrealist Spirit Animals Lesson Plan

[Student Name] Can you please pass out 2 pieces of paper to each student?
[Student Name] Can you please pass out 1 toothpick to each student?
[Student Name] Can you please pass out 1 paper towel?
[Student Name] Can you please pass a set of oil pastels to each student?
[Student Name] Can you please pass a handout to each student?
o DIRECTIONS FOR STUDIO:
Continue working on paintings.
Students will work on drawings while teacher walks around assisting with ideas
when/if necessary.
If students finish early they should refer to the bottom of the back of the handout.
Did they use at least two of the oil pastel techniques?
Did they draw a background? Did they fill in the entire page?
Have students write one high (good event) from today, one low (not so
good event) from today, and one hah (funny occurrence) from today in
their sketchbook.
Have them find another student who is finished with their project and try
drawing them with oil pastels without looking down at the paper. Then,
give the other student the piece of paper to finish his or her own self-
portrait.
They can sketch.
CLEAN UP: (5 minutes)
o [Student Name] Can you please collect the oil pastels?
o [Student Name] Can you please collect the projects?
o [Student Name] Can you please collect the toothpicks and paper towels and throw them
away.
o [Student Name] Can you please collect the sketchbooks?
CLOSURE: (10 minutes)
o How can spirit animals be used to express your identity?
o How can surrealism be used to express your thoughts and ideas?
o How does rational thought encourage or prevent creative and innovative thinking?
o How do artists and designers learn from trial and error?