### Year 9 Art Lesson Plan: Art History (Renaissance to Modern)
#### Objective:
Students will explore the evolution of Western art from the Renaissance to modern times, understand key movements, and create an artwork inspired by a chosen period.
#### Duration:
5 sessions (60 minutes each)
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### Session 1: Introduction to Art History
**Objective:**
Introduce students to art history, focusing on key periods from the Renaissance to modern times.
1. **Bell Work (5 minutes):**
- Discuss with a partner what you think "art history" means. Share a famous artwork you know.
2. **Lecture & Discussion (25 minutes):**
- Brief overview of key periods: Renaissance, Baroque, Rococo, Neoclassicism, Romanticism, Realism, Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Modernism.
- Highlight defining characteristics and notable artists of each period.
- Show images of significant works from each era.
3. **Class Activity (20 minutes):**
- Group students into pairs and assign each pair a period.
- Students research and create a short presentation on their assigned art period, focusing on key characteristics, notable artists, and one significant work.
4. **Assignment (10 minutes):**
- Each student selects a favorite period introduced and writes a brief paragraph on why it interests them.
---
### Session 2: Renaissance and Baroque Art
**Objective:**
Understand the characteristics of Renaissance and Baroque art and their impact on later periods.
1. **Bell Work (5 minutes):**
- Sketch a quick drawing inspired by the Renaissance or Baroque period.
2. **Lecture & Discussion (20 minutes):**
- Deep dive into the Renaissance: focus on humanism, perspective, notable artists (Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael).
- Define Baroque art: drama, movement, tension, focus on light and shadow (e.g., Caravaggio, Bernini).
3. **Class Activity (25 minutes):**
- Analyze and compare artworks from both periods.
- Students work in groups to create a comparison chart highlighting similarities and differences between Renaissance and Baroque art.
4. **Homework (10 minutes):**
- Students research a Renaissance or Baroque artist and write a short profile including a famous work.
---
### Session 3: Impressionism and Post-Impressionism
**Objective:**
Understand the shift from Realism to Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, focusing on the impact on modern art.
1. **Bell Work (5 minutes):**
- Write down one word you associate with Impressionism.
2. **Lecture & Discussion (20 minutes):**
- Discuss Realism briefly, then transition to Impressionism (Monet, Degas, Renoir).
- Explore Post-Impressionism: individual styles emerging (Van Gogh, Gauguin, Cézanne).
3. **Class Activity (25 minutes):**
- Students pair up to analyze an Impressionist and a Post-Impressionist artwork, noting techniques and themes.
- Create a Venn diagram comparing the two movements.
4. **Art Project Launch (10 minutes):**
- Introduce an art project where students create a painting inspired by either the Impressionist or Post-Impressionist style.
---
### Session 4: Modernism and Abstract Art
**Objective:**
Examine the rise of modernism and abstract art, understanding their radical departure from traditional forms.
1. **Bell Work (5 minutes):**
- Reflect on what “modern” art means to you.
2. **Lecture & Discussion (20 minutes):**
- Overview of Modernism: context, key ideas, and artists (Picasso, Dali, Kandinsky).
- Introduction to Abstract Art: key features and prominent figures (Mondrian, Pollock).
3. **Class Activity (25 minutes):**
- In groups, students create a timeline of Modernist and Abstract movements, highlighting significant events and artworks.
- Each group presents their timeline to the class.
4. **Project Work (10 minutes):**
- Continue working on the Impressionist/Post-Impressionist art project or (for early finishers) start brainstorming for a Modernism-inspired piece.
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### Session 5: Student Presentations and Final Discussions
**Objective:**
Students will present their findings and artworks, and participate in discussions to consolidate learning.
1. **Bell Work (5 minutes):**
- Set up your artwork for display.
2. **Student Presentations (30 minutes):**
- Each student/pair presents their research on their chosen period and displays their artwork.
- Critique and discuss as a class, focusing on how well the artwork reflects the chosen period’s characteristics.
3. **Class Discussion (20 minutes):**
- Reflect on the evolution of art from the Renaissance to modern times.
- Discuss how historical contexts influenced the art of each period.
4. **Final Reflection Assignment (10 minutes):**
- Students write a short reflection on what they learned about art history and how it influenced their perception of modern art.
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### Materials Needed:
- Projector/Screen for images and presentations
- Computers/tablets with internet access for research
- Art supplies: paper, pencils, paints, brushes, canvases, etc.
- Poster boards/whiteboards for group activities
### Assessment:
- Participation in discussions and activities
- Quality of group presentations and research
- Artistic project inspired by a historical period
- Final reflection paper
This lesson plan encourages a comprehensive understanding of art history while allowing creativity and personal expression through practical art projects.