LESSON PLAN FORMAT

University of North Texas Art Education

I. Lesson Number, Grade Levels, Title, and Duration:

Lesson 2: Operation Green
8th Grade
Five 50 minute class periods

II. Lesson Rationale:

Students will learn about changes that can happen in the environment through research and learn how
to convey this change in their art. Art making to promote awareness for a cause is very powerful and
being able to convey this in art can be inspirational for children.

III. Key Concepts:

o Humans cause change in the environment
IV. Essential Question:
o What changes are humans causing in the environment?
V. Lesson Objectives:
o Students will depict changes that humans are causing in the environment
o Students will develop basic knowledge of photoshop
o Students will identify various environmental problems
VI. Specific Art Content:
o Students will explore photoshop techniques
o Students will think about how to create metaphors through art
o Students will explore digital art-making
o Students will consider how manipulation in photography effects meaning

VII. Resources & Materials for Teacher:

Materials
o Computers
o Photoshop or photo editing software for students to use
o Projector to show videos
o Access to library to allow students to research environmental problems
Resources
o Florian Maier-Aichen: Infrared Landscapes. Art21 "Exclusive"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bePIROIHKqY
o Intro Day 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eTCZ9L834s
o Channel for students to explore:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNdTKZkV_GiIYXpV9w
4WxbX

VIII. Resources & Materials for Students:

o Photoshop tutorial video
o Computers

IX. Instruction and Its Sequencing:

Day 1: Introduction/Research
1. Introduction/Motivation: (20 min)
 o Lead Discussion over essential question:
Do you think humans are causing changes in the environment?
What changes are humans causing in the environment?
Show Crash Course YouTube video
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eTCZ9L834s]
Go back to discussion questions. Have student opinions changed?
o Introduce Project
Research environmental change
Alter landscape image in photoshop to portray chosen change.
2. Guided Practice (5 min)
Explore Crash Course YouTube channel with students on projector to get them started
on research
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNdTKZkV_GiIYXpV9w
4WxbX

3. Independent Practice (20 min)

o Have students pick an environmental change that is caused by humans and research it
on iPads.
4. Closure (5 min)
o Ask students to bring digital copy of a landscape image from home to the next class
5. Formative Evaluation
o Check in with students while they are working independently and confirm topic choice
with each student.
6. Classroom Management Procedures
o Walk the classroom to ensure students are on task.

Day 2: Photoshop Tutorial/Practice (Meet in computer lab)

1. Introduction/Motivation:
Introduce Art21 Artist, Florian Maier-Aichen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bePIROIHKqY

2. Guided Practice
o Teacher will do a demo on the basic functions of photoshop on overhead projector.
o Teacher will show students where to find royalty free photos to use if they were unable
to bring photos from home.
3. Independent Practice
o Students will have time to explore the different functions of photoshop.
o Students should also take this time to find a royalty free landscape photo.
4. Closure
o Tell students that they should have plans for next class on how they want to alter their
landscapes to reflect there chosen environmental change.
o Have students shutdown computers
5. Formative Evaluation
Teacher will observe students to ensure that they are using this time to explore
photoshop techniques.
Teacher will briefly check in with students to see what they ideas they have for relating
these techniques to there changes.
 6. Classroom Management Procedures
o Teacher should stay actively walking and observing students computer use.
o No food/drinks in computer lab

Day 3: Workday (Meet in computer lab)

1. Introduction/Motivation:
o Introduce artist Robert Adams:
Show- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1THBasOVFjQ
2. Guided Practice
o Teacher will give demo of some additional features of photoshop that they can consider
using in their images.
3. Independent Practice
o Students begin/continue working on altering their landscape photo
4. Closure
o Have students write down their chosen environmental change and at least one way that
we can see this change occurring in the world.
o Have students turn it in on their way out of class.
5. Formative Evaluation
Teacher will check in with each student at some point during the class and discuss their
concepts and how they plan to portray this using photoshop.
Students written 'daily assignment'
6. Classroom Management Procedures
o Teacher should stay actively walking and observing students computer use.
o No food/drinks in computer lab
Day 4: Workday (Meet in computer lab)
1. Introduction/Motivation:
o Teacher will introduce artist statements to the class and show some examples of artist
statement's.
2. Guided Practice
o Teacher will lead the class through creating a mock artists statement as a class; based on
teachers example landscape image.
3. Independent Practice
o Students will complete their landscape alterations in photoshop and begin writing their
artist statements.
4. Closure
o Remind students that they will need to have their artist statement completed and printed
for the next class.
5. Formative Evaluation
Teacher will note participation in intro activity and productivity during class.
6. Classroom Management Procedures
o Teacher should stay actively walking and observing students computer use.
o No food/drinks in computer lab

Day 5: Gallery Walk/Critique

1. Introduction/Motivation: (5 mins)
o Teacher will briefly go over proper critique etiquette and will inform the students that
they should all speak at least once during the critique
 o Explain that when giving feedback they should give two compliments and an
improvement.
2. Guided Practice
o Teacher will give feedback on students work during the critique
3. Independent Practice (42 mins)
o Students will lead the critique and will each be required to speak at least once during the
critique following the two compliments and one improvement model.
4. Closure (3 mins)
o Ask students what they liked and disliked about the project
o Ask students what they thought was difficult about the project
5. Formative Evaluation
o Teacher will keep track of who speaks during critique and if they don't speak at least
once then their grade will be deducted points in the "time and effort category"
6. Classroom Management Procedures
o Have artwork displayed before students come in so time isn't wasted finding spots.
o Make sure comments that students make are constructive and not mean.

X. Summative Assessment and Evaluation:

Grade Excellent Good Developing

Attention to theme The student shows a The student shows a The student shows
clear understanding of fairly reasonable little to no
__/40pts the theme. The understanding of the understanding of the
relationship is clear theme. The relationship theme.
without explanation. is somewhat clear in the
final image.
Creativity The student connects The student somewhat The student does not
the digital image(s) to connects the digital connect the digital
__/20pts environmental concern. image(s) to image(s) to
environmental concern. environmental
concern.
Time and Effort Class time was used Class time was some Class time was not
wisely. It is clear that what used wisely. The used wisely. No time
__/25 the student put in time student could have put or effort was put into
and paid attention to in more effort to designing or planning.
planning and planning and designing.
designing.
Quality of Construction The digital image(s) The digital image(s) The digital image(s)
shows considerable shows some consideration shows little no
__/15 attention to detail. to detail. consideration to detail.

XI. Interdisciplinary Connections:

Science: can connect to environmental sciences, exploration of environmental changes in the world.
History: can connect to how humans have effected the earth over the course of human history.
XII. References & Resources:
[Art21]. (2010, 5 28). Florian Maier-Aichen: Infrared Landscapes. Art 21 "Exclusive" [YouTube
Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bePIROIHKqY
[Crash Course]. (2012, 11 3-2013, 1 21). Ecology [YouTube Playlist]. Retrieved from:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtNdTKZkV_GiIYXpV9w4WxbX
[Crash Course]. (2013, 1 7). 5 Human Impacts on the Environment: Crash Course Ecology #10
[YouTube Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eTCZ9L834s

XIII. Art TEKS

117.204 Art, Middle School 3
(b) Knowledge and skills
(1) Foundations
(2) Creative expression.
(3) Historical and cultural relevance
(4) Critical evaluation and response
XIV. National Art Standards
VA:Cr2.1.8a
VA:Cr3.1.8a
VA:Pr4.1.8a
VA:Re.7.1.8a
VA:Cn11.1.8a