Lesson summary
In this activity, students will consider political and environmental cartoons as an art form for communicating messages about sustainability. They will explore environmental issues that are relevant to them, document their ideas and plan their own cartoon illustration. Using watercolour techniques, students will create their own cartoon portraying a message about their chosen issue.
Learning intentions:
Students will...
- understand how artists from different times, working with different media, share a common message of sustainability through their artwork
- be able to analyse how artists use visual conventions to enhance the meanings and messages within their work
- understand how artists consider the display of their work in order to clearly communicate their ideas to the audience.
Success criteria:
Students can...
- critically analyse and compare artworks from different times and cultures
- interpret ways in which artists share the common message of sustainability in their work
- describe their ideas in a visual thinking routine.
Lesson guides and printables
Lesson details
Curriculum mapping
Australian Curriculum content descriptions:
Year 7 & 8 Visual Arts:
- Develop planning skills for art-making by exploring techniques and processes used by different artists (ACAVAM120).
- Analyse how artists use visual conventions in artworks (ACAVAR123).
Syllabus outcomes: VAS4.5
General capabilities: Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Understanding, Intercultural Understanding.
Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability
Relevant parts of Year 7 & 8 Visual Arts achievement standards: Students identify and analyse how other artists use visual conventions and viewpoints to communicate ideas. They evaluate how they and others are influenced by artworks from different cultures, times and places.
Unit of work: Creative Sustainability – Year 7 & 8 – Visual Arts
Time required: 60 mins.
Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – facilitate class discussion and analysis activity.
Resources required
- Student Worksheets – one copy per student, device to show images and YouTube clips
- Art Elements and Principles Factsheet, art tools such as coloured pencils and Connector Pens
Skills
This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:
- Communication
- Creativity
- Critical thinking
- Cultural Understanding
Additional info
Faber-Castell has long understood the importance of creativity to all people, especially to young people. It is also continuously searching for environmentally friendly processes and high-quality materials to enhance children’s creative experience throughout every development phase. For more information about Faber-Castell, click here.
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