american identity jennifer hankes daniel webster elementary 8th grade language and visual arts and...
TRANSCRIPT
American Identity
Jennifer HankesDaniel Webster Elementary8th GradeLanguage and Visual Arts and Social Science
Archibald J. Motley, Jr. (1891-1981)Self-Portrait, 1920Oil on canvas; 30 1/8 X 22 1/8 in.The Art Institute of Chicago
Archibald J. Motley, Jr. Nightlife, 1943Oil on canvas; 36 x 47 3/4 in.The Art Institute of Chicago
Key information & ideas about the artworks that informed the lesson:
Self-Portrait--wanted to show he was an artist and a gentleman
Painted during the Great Migration and the Harlem Renaissance
Negative stereotypes and few opportunities existed for African Americans in art during this time
Goals for Lesson--what I wanted students to learn:
Artists tell stories through the images in their work
Stereotypes influence how we see others and ourselves
What does it mean to be an American?
One can express his/her identity through texts and illustrations
A few major learning activities:
Close Read: Formal analysis of Self-Portrait
Research the artwork, artist, and time period
Compare and contrast two different paintings (Self-Portrait and Nightlife)
Compose a narrative to accompany Nightlife
Create a self-portrait
Short Story to accompany to the painting Nightlife
Poem written to accompany the painting Nightlife
Self Portrait
Self-Portrait
What my students learned:
• “Paintings tell a story.” –Andrenetta
• “Painting yourself is hard to do.” – Ronald
• “I learned that paintings can be based on true events.” –Renita
• “His painting [Archibald Motley’s Self-Portrait] tells a lesson about not to judge others by how they look.” –Tachetti
What I learned:
Lack of art experience and exposure in elementary education. Visual arts are easily integrated into language arts.
American art is a great tool to grab students’ interest into a historical time period.