Author:
OER Administrator
Subject:
English Language Arts
Material Type:
Lesson Plan
Level:
High School
Grade:
12
Tags:
  • Grade 12 ELA
  • Presentations
  • Projects
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial
    Language:
    English

    Artist's Statements

    Artist's Statements

    Overview

    How will students explain their work? What do they want their audience to know about their creative process? They’ll look at examples of Artist’s Statements and start to plan their own statement. With the class, they’ll create a checklist of requirements for writing an Artist’s Statement.

    Preparation

    • Read the lesson and student content.
    • Anticipate student difficulties and identify the differentiation options you will choose for working with your students.

    Your Work and Your Creative Process

    • In this lesson, students will learn about Artist’s Statements and plan their own Artist’s Statement.
    • Review the Self-Portrait Project if necessary.

    Opening

    Think back on the work you’ve done and your completed project.

    • What three things do you want to make sure your audience understands about you, your creative process, and your work?

    Open Notebook

    Discuss your response with your class.

    Artist's Statements

    • Discuss with students why it is important for artists and writers to communicate directly with their audience. Ask students why artists or writers might want to do so—is it to eliminate confusion? To make their purpose or message clear? To set a personal context for the work? To help clarify for themselves what they hope to communicate? To show what creating the work of art has meant to them?
    • Ask students what other reasons they can come up with for writing an Artist’s Statement.

    Work Time

    With your class, discuss what it means to write an Artist’s Statement.

    • Why might an artist or writer want to include an Artist’s Statement?
    • Ideally, what should an Artist’s Statement accomplish?

    Sample Artist's Statements

    • Circulate as students work, checking in with individuals and groups to make sure a variety of criteria are being developed. SWD: In allowing students to work collaboratively, ensure that SWDs have a learning environment where they can be productive.

    Work Time

    Review the Sample Artist’s Statements.

    • Create a checklist of what an Artist’s Statements should include.

    Open Notebook

    You Have a Choice

    You can choose whether to work individually, with a partner, or in a small group. Let your teacher know what you choose.

    Artist's Statement Checklist

    • Create an Artist’s Statement Checklist class chart of requirements that students can use as they plan and write their own Artist’s Statement. ELL: Monitor that ELLs do not avoid this activity by not volunteering and staying quiet. Ensure that ELLs feel encouraged to share even if their command of the languages is weaker and their pace is slower.

    Work Time

    Share your checklist with the class.

    • With your classmates, come up with a class checklist for writing an Artist’s Statement.

    Artist's Statement Outline

    • Students will spend the next lesson writing their Artist’s Statement. SWD: Consider grouping those who need extra help and working with them as a way of providing support.

    Work Time

    Think about what you want to accomplish in your Artist’s Statement. There are a variety of topics you might cover. Some possible topics include, but are not limited to, the following: the creative process, your intended message, technical explanations, events in your past that led you to create what you did, your experience in a particular artistic medium, what you learned while creating this project.

    • Complete the Artist’s Statement Outline for your Artist’s Statement.
      • What points will you make about your work, and what evidence will you use to support those points?
      • What anecdotes will you share about your creative process?

    Inspiring Artist's Statements

    • Have several students share their responses with the class. Their classmates’ answers might inspire students to come up with additional things to share about themselves. ELL: If you deem it necessary, allow ELLs to prepare and practice before sharing. Offer assistance as needed.

    Closing

    Complete a Quick Write.

    • What do you think is the most interesting thing you will share in your Artist’s Statement?

    Open Notebook

    Discuss your Artist’s Statement Outline and plans with your class.

    Your Artist's Statement

    • The next lesson is the final Work Time before students will share and celebrate their work.

    Homework

    During the next lesson you will write your Artist’s Statement. You will only have this one lesson to write your statement, so make sure you are prepared.

    • Finish your Artist’s Statement Outline.
    • Begin your Artist’s Statement if you think you will need the time to complete it for next lesson.
    • Collect any artifacts you would like to include with your Artist’s Statement.

    Open Notebook