Art and Emotions Lesson: Oceans
Lesson Plan
1 hourGradesK, 1, 2Visual and Performing Arts
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Written by Monica Lilley
About this lesson
This lesson engages students through a read-aloud and teaches them to use their artistic skills to create an artwork that conveys a message.
Inquire: Students discuss plastic usage in their community.
Investigate: Students read Somebody Swallowed Stanley and discuss the message and emotions in the book.
Inspire: Students create artworks that convey a message and display them around their school or local community for others to view.
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Teaching tips
Suggestions
- This unit can be used as a part of an art unit or to accompany science or language arts content.
- This lesson could be taught in 2 days. Day 1: Inquire, Investigate; Day 2: Inspire.
- The Investigate read-aloud can be extended into a reading or ELA block, with teachers developing more guided discussion and reading comprehension questions.
- Feelings words are listed in English and Spanish and paired with a facial expression.
- The lessons in this unit may evoke strong feelings. Refer to the Climate Anxiety Toolkit: SEL Resources for Teachers for support in navigating student emotions.
- Students practice artistic techniques in their own artwork and learn to take climate action through the awareness created in their artworks.
Prerequisites
- This is Lesson 3 of 3 in the K-2 Art and Emotions unit.
- Teachers will need to obtain a copy of the picture book from their local library or school library.
- Teachers will need to collect clean recyclable materials for art-making. Students can bring in materials, if desired.
Differentiation
- Alternatively, students can engage in a different type of art learned in Lessons 1 or 2 (collage, watercolor).
- Students can be supported in the creation of the artwork by having examples on display or pre-cutting collaging materials if this mode is chosen.
- Art teachers can guide students through the exploration of mixed media using tempera or acrylic paint, oil pastels, and chalk pastels with other materials.
From the scientist review
This lesson allows students to learn about how to create an appealing piece of art to communicate the impact of environmental degradation by human activities and to also lead in climate action. On that account, this lesson is recommended for teaching.
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