Lesson Title: Body in Motion

Overview: The major elements of consideration are: looking at, learning about and creating imagery which echos the movement of the human figure. How the body moves and how the body parts all fit together; head to neck, to shoulders, to arms, elbows, forearms etc. Art skills developed inside of this lesson are: understanding basic shapes - curves, angles and lines lessons in looking form as construction using collage quick gesture drawing porportion animation in hyperstudio or gifbuilder

Frameworks: View how this lesson ties into the Massachusetts Frameworks. Creating and Performing Strand: Learning Standard 1. Creating and Performing Strand: Learning Standard 2. Thinking and Responding Strand: Learning Standard 3. Thinking and Responding Strand: Learning Standard 4. Connecting and Contributing Strand: Learning Standard 7. Connecting and Contributing Strand: Learning Standard 8.

Grade Level: Grades 2 & 3

Objectives: To introduce basic art distinctions of line and form through a study of movement of the self/human figure. To develop collage and drawing skills, looking skills, and critical thinking skills of working and reworking their "active" figures by working the same ideas in various media. For students to learn how to scan images into a computer and how to manipulate images and create multiple cards of their images in order to create an animation. To isolate body parts and discover expanding their art skills through a study of movement, finally combining, and superimposing their drawings/collages to simulate movement.

Time: This is a unit not a single project. The unit takes 10 -11 one hour lessons. Look at art work of motivation gesture drawings and begin drawing (1 - 2 lessons) Basic shape conversation with building collage bodies. (2 lessons) Discussion of types of lines, straight, curved, angular - gesture drawings looking distinguishing these lines in the figure. (2 lessons - first short poses and then longer poses) A series of moving poses developed in pencil and then later added to with either collage, paint, marker or oil pastel. (2 lessons) Scan and manipulate in the computer. (3 lessons)

Motivation: We will look at reproductions of artwork which have figures in them. Discuss the movement, what we think people are up to, what their gestures make us think they are doing or feeling. Then look at ourselves and eachother moving in space. Look at the relationships of body shapes, joints, where and how we move, necks, sholders, elbows, hands, hips, knees, and ankles. Study body proportions, sizes look at the lines that make up people even action figures.

Procedures: .... The students will begin with active looking, applying specific ideas about form and line in two 2-D art forms and learn to blend their hand work with computer technology, utilizing the computer not as a tool to generate the work but to further develop and create new possibilities, allowing the students to actualize movement.

Reflections: Students will be able to identify how the body moves and looks from different vantage points, consider movement and the relationships of parts to the whole.They will have developed a greater sense of their skills in distinguishing, looking, and creating with cut paper or drawing. They will develop a sense of confidence about using the materials and the concepts of reproducing the figure.

Resources: Links: Drawing with Children Mona Brookes.

Modifications: This lesson can be adapted to various grade levels, integrate computers at various stages and be taught with single or multi computer classrooms.

Author: Adina Sabghir