Silhouette Lesson Plan

Teacher: Devon Sparks

Grade Level: 6th grade

Title: Landscape Silhouettes

History/Background: Silhouettes began appearing and being used in the 17th century as portrait pieces for families. They have originated in modern times to encompass anything that you would like to form a picture with light background and contrasting dark foreground images.



PA standards:

9.1.6 A. Know and use the elements and principles of each art form to create works in the arts and humanities.
9.1.6 B. Recognize, know, use, and demonstrate a variety of appropriate arts elements and principles to produce, review, and revise original works in the arts.
9.1.6 C. Identify and use comprehensive vocabulary within each of the arts forms.
9.2.6 C. Relate works in the arts to varying styles and genre and to the periods in which they were created.
9.3.6 A. Know and use the critical process if the examination of works in the arts and humanities.
9.3.6 D. Evaluate works in the arts and humanities using a complex vocabulary of critical response.
9.4.6 D. Describe to what purpose philosophical ideas generated by artists can be conveyed through works in the arts and humanities.

Goal: To create a winter landscape silhouette

Objectives:
1. Learn about silhouettes in art.
2. Learn about blending water colors.
3. Learn about drawing shapes and using them as silhouettes.

Requirements: To design a stark winter landscape with long shadows using silhouettes of trees, skiers, sleighs, or other winter scenes.

Resource Materials/visual aids: silhouettes in art, examples of snow scenes, Monet's painting, Haystacks in the Snow.

Supplies/Materials: watercolor paints, kosher salt, black construction paper, white watercolor paper, paint brushes, glue, scissors, sponges (optional for added texture)

Teacher Preparation: Gather silhouette visual aids, prepare supplies for each student to use individually or share, have an exemplar ready to show, demonstrate blending water color technique and kosher salt if necessary.

Introduction: Ask students what they think of when they think of the word silhouette, and what they think it means? Ask students if they can think of an example to explain of a silhouette. Talk to students about how snow effects are achieved by artists. Show an exemplar of Monet's painting, Haystacks in the Snow and describe his use of dark colors on a light background. Discuss silhouette history through out time, focusing on landscapes.

Directions:

1. Wet your water color paper with a sponge or paintbrush.

2. Choose one watercolor and brush the wet color over the wet paper. Rinse your brush and add a second color, blending the colors together on the paper. Cover the entire page to resemble sky colors of your choosing.

3. while the paint is still wet, sprinkle kosher salt on the painting. Watch the salt absorb the watercolors to make a crystal or snowy pattern. Let Dry.

4. While the paint is drying get out the black construction paper and sketch silhouette images on your paper. Winter appropriate images such as skiers, snowboarders, a ski lodge, a house, a barn, trees, skylines, sleighs, ect. Cut out these images and attach to your winter sky with glue.

Closure: Students will clean up, allow work to dry and then talk about students different ideas on silhouette and the winter images.

Critique/evaluation/assessment: Students will discuss what successfully worked for other students, constructive criticism and participation is a must.

Extensions: If students are done early they can begin working on another silhouette of choice.

Time Budget:
10 minutes- Demo/introduction
30 minutes - work time
20 minutes- clean up and critique

Vocabulary: silhouette, Monet, landscape

safety concerns: none





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