Hi! My name’s Courtney, and I’ve been teaching art for nearly a decade, but I’m starting this school year at a new school, and one of my biggest undertakings right now is learning every student’s name that comes into the art room.

Knowing a student’s name, can often be the most influential tool a teacher can use. Every student comes into the art room with their own identity, background, and personality. Feeling “known” even by a teacher can boost a student’s confidence and help them to feel “seen.” You never know what a student’s day has looked like so far, sometimes a simple “Hello (insert student’s name here)” can go a long way in improving a kid’s day.

For this lesson, I want to better learn all my student’s names and allow students will use art to express their uniqueness and personality.

·      What do they care about or believe in?

·      What are they proud of?

·      What are they interested in, but haven’t tried yet?

·      What are some of their favorite colors?

·      What are some of their biggest worries?

Lesson I: What Is A Name?

Materials Needed:

•   Drawing Paper (We used 8.5 x 11”)

• #2 Pencils

• Rulers

• Fine Tip Sharpies (Color and Black)

• Crayola Crayons

• Colored Pencils

• Crayola Washable Markers

Essential Questions:

1. What is my biggest strength?
2. What are some of my favorite colors?
3. What am I interested in, but haven’t tried yet?

4. What do I care a lot about?

5. What is something that I am proud of?

Older Students: What factors shape our identities? What dilemmas arise when others view us differently than we view ourselves? How do our identities influence our choices?

Instruction:

Students will draw out their own names in large clear lettering. The letters can be creative, but must be legible. Discuss contrasting colors and how to make the letters stand out from the background.

Lesson 2: Name Artwork in One Point Perspective

The dictionary defines one point perspective as:

“…a mathematical system for representing three-dimensional objects and space on a two-dimensional surface by means of intersecting lines that are drawn vertically and horizontally and that radiate from one point on a horizon line…”

Although this definition sounds complicated, the concept is relatively simple. One point perspective is a drawing method that shows how things appear to get smaller as they get further away, converging towards a single ‘vanishing point’ on the horizon line. It is a way of drawing objects upon a flat piece of paper (or other drawing surface) so that they look three-dimensional and realistic.

Key Points:

• Surfaces that face the viewer are drawn using their true shape

• Surfaces that travel away from the viewer converge towards a single vanishing point

Materials Needed:

• Drawing Paper (We used 8.5 x 11”)

• #2 Pencils

• Rulers

• Fine Tip Sharpies (Color and Black)

• Crayola Washable Markers

• Colored Pencils

See Video Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COACq4jtkpU

Pause the video to go over any key points. Students may need to rewind and watch some parts again.

If you try this lesson in your own class, let me know in the comments below how it goes! I look forward to your feedback. Thank you for looking and reading.