If Rocks Could Talk

Lesson Plan by Sharon Gibson

Purpose:

To introduce students to the rock art of the southwest. Students will know the difference between a petroglyph and pictograph. To provide an art experience that teaches a simple monoprint and the use of stencils. Students will also be learning about negative space.

Motivation:

If Rocks Could Talk by Jane Bush. Also available in video. Look at a lot of pictures of rock art and discuss what sort of stories the rocks might tell. Demonstrate the simple monoprint method and how to make and use a stencil. Listen to Native American flute music while students work.


Process:

Day 1

  1. Students will draw a simple petroglyph symbol on their paper.
  2. On the other side of the paper students will create a "rock" surface using side of colored chalk. No lines.
  3. Students will place the paper chalk side down on black finger paint that has been rolled thin, and trace the petroglyph image.
  4. They will pull the print off the finger paint surface and let it dry.

Day 2

  1. Students will draw a small animal image on tag board. This will be a pictograph.
  2. Students will cut the animal out making sure the negative space remains intact. Use tape to connect cut side of frame.
  3. With white tempera and a sponge add the animal image pictograph to the chalk picture. Be sure to make several stencil prints and overlap.
  4. Have students write a story about their rock art. Share the stories with the rest of the class.
  5. Tear the edges of the paper and frame.

Vocabulary: petroglyph, pictograph, monoprint, stencil, negative space

Instructional Resources: "If Rocks Could Talk" by Jane Bush, photos of rock art, music, samples of rock art.

Materials: Tan or gray construction paper 9 x 12, earth colored chalk, hair spray for fixative, black finger paint, brayer, colored crayon to trace, tag board, pencils, scissors, masking tape, small sponges, white tempera, paint.

Evaluation: Did students:

  1. Learn about rock art?
  2. Create a simple monoprint?
  3. Understand the concept of negative space by creating and using a stencil?
Integration with Social Studies and Language Arts

Content Standard Objectives:

1.  Students recognize and use the visual arts as a form of communication.

    -Identify visual images, themes, and ideas, for works of art; select and use visual images, themes, and ideas to communicate meaning and compare the use of visual images and ideas

2.   Students know and apply elements of art, principles of design, and sensory and expressive features of visual arts.

    -Line, shape, texture, color, value, space, and form repetition, balance, emphasis, harmony, rhythm, contrast, movement, unity, and proportion.

3.  Students know and apply visual arts materials, techique and processes: chalk, monoprint, stencil, sponge painting

4.  Students relate the visual arts to history and culture.

    -Identify and compare works as belongings to various cultures, times and places; and create art based on interpretation of historical and cultral ideas.

5.  Students analyze and evalute the characteristics, merits and meaning of works of art

    -Observe and describe a variety of art including their own; use specific criteria to analyze works of art and to evaluate works of art; discuss reasons for creating art; form personal and critical response. Identify and compare works as belonging to various cultures, times and places; and create art based on interpretation of historical and cultural ideas

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