Elementary Lesson Plan: Hundertwasser and YOU!

Name: Cori O’Connell
Date: 1/25/11
Unit Title: Faces
Lesson Title: Hundertwasser and you!
Grade Level: First Grade
Sessions: 3-35 minutes sessions
  
Rational: Students learning art should get a multicultural experience and learn about different artists all over the world. In this lesson, students will learn about the historical life of Friedensreich Hundertwasser. He was a Jewish artist from Vienna, Austria, born on December 15, 1928 that grew up during the WWII. He was a painter, printmaker, and architect and died on February 19, 2000. Hundertwasser’s paintings have intensive and radiant colors and use the spiral image, which had several meanings. It is also important for students to get a tactile experience working with several different mediums such as oil pastels and watercolors. Through this project, students will be able to improve their fine motor skills through cutting the paper while developing an image of themselves.  

Goals: 1. To demonstrate knowledge of Friedensreich Hundertwasser and his artwork. 2. To become familiar and appreciate the characteristics of abstract art. 3. To develop an appreciation and understanding of color in a work of art. 4. To demonstrate creativity using art elements and principles in the creation of a work of art.  

Objectives: 1. Students will become familiar with the work of a historical multicultural artist. 2. Students will learn the shapes and proportions of their own face. 3. Students will become familiar with the mediums of oil pastels and watercolor. 4. Students will be also working on improving their fine motor skill in the cutting of the paper.  

Narrative: Students will begin by viewing the artwork of Friedensreich Hundertwasser in the form of a PowerPoint. They will then create their own self-portrait face collages and include a top hat in the style of Hundertwasser. The students will be introduced to the basic proportions of the facial structure. They will also be introduced to oil pastels and watercolor. They will be working on the art elements such as line, texture, pattern, color, warm, cool and shape as well as the principles of design rhythm, contrast, and balance. This lesson includes an interdisciplinary connection to science, history, and ELA.  

Connections to New York State Standards: Students will:
• Use the different mediums of oil pastels and watercolors to create a self-portrait collage. (Standard I & II)
• Demonstrate their understanding of the basic proportions of the facial structure.
• Respond critically to the artwork of Hundertwasser and their own self-portrait collage. (Standard III)
• Have a greater understanding of historical value of Hundertwassers artwork through the creation of the self-portrait. (Standard IV)

Anticipatory Set: Greet the students as they arrive and have them sit on the floor. Have the students look at the work of Hundertwasser in the form of PowerPoint. Show images of his use of vibrant color, detailed pattern, simple shaped people, flowers, and trees. Invite discussion about the work.  

Vocabulary: • Hundertwasser • Oil Pastel • Watercolor • Line • Pattern • Texture • Rhythm • Warm colors • Cool colors • Shape • Horizontal vs. Vertical • Thick vs. Thin • Straight vs. Wiggly • Plain vs. Pattern  

All Lesson Materials: • Oil Pastels (3 sets per table) • Masking tape • One per student • Watercolors sets/brushes (1 set per student) • Water cup (1 set per student) • 10” x 12” Watercolor paper • 5” X 8” piece of paper for eyes, nose, mouth • 3” X 12” strip of paper for brim • Ziploc bags • 9” X 12” colored construction paper • Pencils • 16”x20” bright colored construction paper • 3” X 10” Colored construction paper for title  

Resources: • Hundertwasser books • PowerPoint • Art & Activities, v131 n2 p30-31 Mar 2002 • Harvesting Dreams: Hundertwasser for Kids - Barbara Stieff • Computer for PowerPoint  

Procedure: Session One: Materials: • Oil Pastels (3 sets per table) • Pencil • 5” X 8” piece of paper for eyes, nose, & mouth • How to Draw Head Exemplar • 10” x 12” Watercolor paper • 3” X 12” strip of paper for brim • 18” X 24” Black construction paper • Ziploc bags • Masking tape • Scissors  

Resources: • PowerPoint • Computer for PowerPoint • Exemplar and Steps posters • Hundertwasser drawing sheets • Invite discussion about the artwork. Make sure to include these words in discussion: bright colors, stripes, checkered, dot pattern, almond shaped eyes, MShaped upper lips, U-Shaped bottom lips, and tall rectangular top hats. • Compare top hats found in paintings. • Look at pattern including, horizontal vs. vertical stripes, thick vs. think stripes, straight vs. wiggly lines, and plain vs. patterned brims. Talk about Hundertwasser’s interest, liked nature, and harmony. • Show students final image using oil pastels and watercolors to produce painting. Show exemplar and steps posters. • Demonstrate using oil pastel on paper • First, have the students practice the different techniques with the oil pastels on a 3”x 12” strip of paper testing out the colors and creating patterns. Have the students put their name on the strip of paper. • Then give each student a 10” X 12” piece of watercolor paper. Have the students create a pattern using oil pastels that include, horizontal vs. vertical stripes, thick vs. think stripes, straight vs. wiggly lines. • Teacher will demo how to draw the eyes, nose, and mouth. • Use the oil pastels to draw the eyes, nose, and mouth on 5” X 8” piece of paper (use M and U shape) as well as a pattern. See how to draw head exemplar. • Teacher will walk around the room helping the students as they work. • Have one student from each table collect plastic baggies and masking tape for their group. • Then have the students cut out their images and put into a plastic baggie with their name and class code. • Have each table put their work into a table portfolio or a folded piece of poster board. • Be sure to give the students a 10-minute warning before the end of class and start clean up 5 minutes before the end of class. Encourage helping neighbors clean up. Then have the students line-up and ask the question: “tell me one thing that you learned today.” Encourage students to raise their hand and ask 3 -4 students. Then say goodbye.  

Session Two: Materials: • Paper • Oil Pastels (3 sets per table) • 9” X 12” colored construction paper • Pencils • Scissors

 Resources: • Exemplar and Steps posters • Harvesting Dreams: Hundertwasser for Kids - Barbara Stieff • Hundertwasser drawing sheets • Greet the students as they arrive and have them sit on the floor. • Have the students look at the work of Hundertwasser in the form of a book. Again, point out the line, pattern, rhythm, and color in a discussion. • Then explain the different kinds of face shape; oval, square, rectangle, and square. • Have the students pair up and draw the other person. Have the students draw an outline of the face, eyes, nose, and mouth on the blank space in the packet. Then have the students switch papers so each student has their own face. • After that, give each student a 9” x 12” piece of colored construction paper to draw the outline of their face. Then have the students cut out their shape. Be sure to have the students put their name and class code on the back of their image and into the table portfolio. • Call all the students back to the rug when they are finished. (Have a Hundertwasser Drawing sheet for them to color while they are waiting for others to finish) • Be sure to give the students a 10-minute warning before the end of class and start clean up 5 minutes before the end of class. Encourage helping neighbors clean up. Then have the students line-up and ask the question: “tell me one thing that you learned today.” Ask 3 -4 students. Then say good-by to the students as they leave the room.  

Session Three: Materials: • Glue • 3” X 10” colored construction paper • 18” X 24” Black Construction paper  

Resources: • Exemplar and Steps posters • Harvesting Dreams: Hundertwasser for Kids - Barbara Stieff • Hundertwasser drawing sheets • Greet the students as they arrive and have them sit on the floor. Have the students look at the work of Hundertwasser in the form of a book. • Have the students point out the elements line, pattern, rhythm, and color in a discussion. • Introduce the mounting process to the students. • Demo the process to the students. Show students how to apply glue. “A Dab will Do Ya” Not too much and not a lot. • Get all parts of the face and hat: 10”x12” paper, strip of paper, colored construction paper face, eyes, nose and mouth pieces. Glue face down first, then 10”X12” piece, strip, then eyes, nose, and mouth to an 16”X20” black construction paper. (make sure to put name on the back of the black paper.) • The students will get their own work from the table portfolio. • Have the students team up and work in pairs. Their partner is at their table and this way there will be more space. Also, they have a helper for positioning the pieces. • Have the students write their name. Have the students title of their self-portrait on a piece of paper 10” X 3”. Write words that the student will use on the board. • Put in drying rack or windowsill to dry. Hang up in hallway display. • Have the students that finish work on the packet/coloring pages. Lesson Extension: If student finish early suggest they create details in the background with a oil pastel. Have the students try out the light table with the colored pieces of Plexiglas shapes or the Hundertwasser shape tracers.  

Closure: Gather the students together. Brainstorm 3 things they learned about the artist Hundertwasser and the teacher will write them on the board. Have them brainstorm 3 things they learned about creating their own portrait. Give them packet to take home.

 Interest Center: • Hundertwasser books • Coloring sheets and packet • Light table with colored Plexiglas shapes • Hundertwasser shape tracers or magnets and magnet board Interdisciplinary Focus: ELA, Science, History Assessment Tools: Rubric, teacher evaluation, student assessment brainstorm  

Teacher Assessment: Were the students engaged? Were they able to comprehend the lesson as written? Can they tell you three things about Hundertwasser the artist? Were they able to fill out the packet? Were the students able to create a hat and a head for their artwork? Did they put the eyes in the right area? Were the students introduced to the difference between warm and cool colors? Were there any issues with the oil pastels and watercolors, explain? What changes or suggestions do you have now after completing the lesson?